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Jun 25, 2023

What Is Matcha and How to Make It

For hundreds of years, many people across Asia have enjoyed the rich green tea concoction known as matcha. Created in China during the Tang Dynasty, it was brought to feudal Japan by Buddhist monks

For hundreds of years, many people across Asia have enjoyed the rich green tea concoction known as matcha. Created in China during the Tang Dynasty, it was brought to feudal Japan by Buddhist monks who used it to keep alert during long hours of meditation. It remains a big part of Japanese culture, as it is still used in the ritual tea ceremony called temae.

Today, matcha has found popularity across the globe, not just with tea connoisseurs and gourmands, but with health-conscious individuals who enjoy its purported wellness benefits and lower caffeine content.

Translated to "powdered tea," matcha is made from partially shade-grown tea leaves that are then steamed, deveined, and destemmed (then called tencha). Stone-ground into the fine powder known as matcha, it is traditionally prepared by whisking it with hot water, resulting in a slightly bitter, uniquely vegetal drink.

"Since matcha is a powder, it is a suspension rather than an infusion," says tea educator Nicole Wilson of Tea For Me Please. "We consume the entire tea leaf instead of steeping like you would with loose leaf or tea bags." Packed with antioxidants, it has the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regular brewed green tea.

And though a simple cup of matcha is its purest iteration, matcha can be used to make other drinks — from lattes to cocktails — in addition to desserts and other gourmet recipes. With centuries of history behind it and its proliferation on drink menus everywhere, it's safe to say matcha is not just a passing fad.

Quick tip: Matcha delivers a calm alertness instead of the caffeinated jolt of coffee, with only about 70 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup (30 percent less than coffee). "Matcha is energizing, but the buzz is different because of tea's secret weapon: L-theanine," says Wilson. "It's known to reduce stress and slow the absorption of caffeine, giving sustained energy rather than the rush and crash normally associated with coffee."

Quick Tip: While you can certainly buy pre-ground matcha powder, you can also try to make it at home. Matcha is typically gently stone-ground to a very fine powder, but you can use a spice grinder or powerful blender to pulverize dried, whole tencha leaves by using short pulses. If the matcha is still too coarse, you can grind it further by using a mortar and pestle.

Matcha is more delicate than other teas and can lose its freshness quickly. "Once a container has been opened it should be consumed within 30 days, preferably sooner," says Wilson. "Refrigerating your matcha can help keep it as fresh as possible." Be aware that tea might absorb odors easily, so Wilson advises against storing it near anything with a strong smell.

Once you've made a matcha drink, be sure to enjoy it right away. Wilson notes that matcha can clump and settle on the bottom of the cup if it sits too long, or it can oxidize and start to turn brown.

Matcha is an easy-to-prepare beverage that offers a plethora of antioxidants and the alertness of caffeine without the jitters. Its earthy, slightly umami flavor works well when mixed into a variety of drinks, from sweetened matcha lattes to green tea margaritas.