Matcha is a powdered green tea of Japanese origin that comes from China, and it’s popular among tea consumers worldwide.
Matcha was first introduced to Japan in the 1100s by a Zen Buddhist monk returning from a study in China. He brought tea seeds with him and made a practice called “the way of tea,” by which the perfect preparation of tea became an exercise of dedication that honored the beauty found in the flawed world. The tea that was grown for the ceremony was powdered, in the custom of the time, and then whisked with a brush made out of bamboo into boiling water. The tea leaves suspended in the frothy water are drank rather than strained out as they are in the typical steeped tea format.
Combining the words in Japanese matsu, which means “to rub, to daub, or to paint” and cha, “tea,” would come to be the word Matcha. Matcha is grown according to strict rules. Matcha must be taken from shade-grown tea plants, which have heightened leaves of chlorophyll and have a bright green color. Then camellia sinensis, are harvested and the tea leaves are steamed to halt the oxidation process, then defined and ground in stone mills. Because of such tough and exacting production standards, matcha is among the most expensive kinds of teas in the market.
Matcha also contains more caffeine than other green teas. It is an aid to memory and perception, and its high level of antioxidants makes it a healthful supplement, along with possible cancer-fighting properties. Matcha is also able to reduce stress and anxiety, its catechins are also known for helping reduce blood pressure and dietary cholesterol.
Matcha has a slightly nutty, but grassy flavor with a hint of bitterness. In Japan, the best matcha bets, judged by flavor and color, are classified as ceremonial grade and are meant to be consumed on their own without any sweeteners or other ingredients. The culinary grade matcha, somewhat more bitter still, is used in ice cream and is added to milk to make a kind of latte. Some cocktails also contain matcha. Matcha has become popular far outside its country of origin, and is sold in health-food grocery stores and tea and coffee shops.
RELATED STORIES:
https://www.asirecreation.org/recreport/special-feature/701-the-history-of-matcha
https://www.gotmatcha.com/pages/a-brief-history-of-matcha
https://www.britannica.com/topic/matcha
TAKE ACTION:
https://www.loveandlemons.com/matcha-green-tea/
https://www.marukyu-koyamaen.co.jp/english/about-tea/enjoy-matcha.html
