What is Matcha Tea?—Question Answered

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After being a fan of the beverage, there is a chance that you still have this question lingering on your mind: what is matcha tea? For a long time, you only know about how good the beverage tastes in your mouth and that there are snacks and desserts made of it, which taste equally as good in your mouth. Matcha enjoys a significant spotlight in recent years; the tea can be said to be one of the most hyped trend in modern living. But that, of course, does not answer your initial question.

So, what is match tea? Matcha tea (or simply “matcha” as adding “tea” behind it is redundant) is basically your regular green tea except that it is presented in ground form. Simply put, matcha is green tea powder. The method of growing and processing green tea plants to be made into matcha is special. The plants need to be shade-grown and stems and veins are to be removed prior to grinding. Shade-grown green tea plants produce higher level of caffeine and L-theanine. The former increases alertness while the latter relaxes your body, a combination of which results in calmness you experience following consumption of matcha. In contrast with other types of tea, matcha (due to its consistency) is not steeped or soaked in hot or boiling water. Instead, the powder is dissolved in liquid, either water or milk. That unique taste you experience every time you drink matcha or eat something containing it is courtesy of the tea’s inherent contents of amino acids.

What is Matcha Tea Grade?

Now that your question of “what is matcha tea” is satisfied, you may find something good in knowing about the grades of matcha. Match-grading is important to separate the variety used for specific purposes. Different grades also indicate different flavors.

Ceremonial-grade matcha

As the name indicates, matcha of this grade is of the highest possible quality and is mainly used for religious ceremonies in Buddhist temples in Japan. Using granite stone mills, matcha leaves are ground into fine powder. Being of the best quality, matcha of this grade is typically more expensive, about $100 – 140 per 100 gram.

Premium-grade matcha

Premium matcha contains high nutritional contents. This grade uses tea leaves that are located higher on the tea plant and costs about $50 – 80 per 100 gram. Matcha of this grade are of high quality and is perfect for everyday drinker or someone new to the experience.

As a side note, to those with untrained tongue, it might be hard to tell ceremonial matcha from the premium one. While premium grade tastes generally fresh, ceremonial grade has umami tone to it.

Cooking-/culinary-grade matcha

Matcha of this grade costs about $15 – 40 per 100 gram and is made using tea leaves on the lower side of the plant. As a result, it tastes somewhat bitter.