Matcha 抹茶 is a traditional Japanese green tea in the form of finely ground fresh green powder. It is made from specially shielded tea leaves from which the stems and veins are removed and slowly ground on stone mills. Thanks to the shielding, matcha has an intense green colour, a high antioxidant content and a rich umami flavour.
It contains fewer catechins and has the highest amino acid content of all teas, including L-theanine. The latter, despite the high caffeine content of the leaves, is very soothing.
Matcha is often divided into a ceremonial class (used in traditional tea ceremonies) and a culinary class (used in cooking or in drinks). The ceremonial grade must meet stricter standards of taste and texture.
When drinking matcha tea, the whole leaves are consumed (not just the water-soluble substances as in infused teas) and therefore their quality is very important. No additives, sweeteners or preservatives are allowed in its production. True matcha is 100% pure green tea powder.
