Matcha Tea FAQs
What is matcha tea?
Matcha tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis (Chinese small leaf tea) plant. The plant is grown in the shade and this helps the leaves retain their intense green colour. When the leaves are harvested, they are steamed and dried, before being turned into a powder.
Is it hard to brew matcha tea?
The process for brewing matcha tea is quite simple. It takes a little time, but no more than brewing your standard cup of filter coffee or black tea, in fact, it’s probably quicker.
For best results, invest in a Matcha whisk, a delightful little device made from bamboo, that you will come to treasure. In terms of a drinking vessel, many matcha fans invest in a matcha drinking bowl, to allow space for whisking, however a ceramic tea cup or mug can work just fine.
- Place your matcha powder in the bowl or cup (see the next question for best matcha to water ratio)
- Add your water. The ideal temperature is 80°C, so not boiling.
- Use your bamboo whisk to mix the matcha powder in with the hot water. Whisk in a W-Pattern until the mixture becomes frothy. (If you don’t have a whisk, you can use a milk frother to achieve a frothy texture. You can also use a teaspoon, however you won’t achieve the same texture and the mix may form lumps.)
- Enjoy drinking your tea!
What’s the ideal ratio of matcha tea powder to water?
It depends on how strong you like to drink your tea. The more matcha powder you use, the thicker the tea will be, and the bolder the flavour.
For a standard brew, use 2 grams of matcha powder (a little less than half a teaspoon) per 100 mL of water.
For a thinner brew, halve the amount of powder, aiming for approximately one quarter of a teaspoon per 100 mL of water.
With these quantities of matcha powder, you can see that your matcha tea purchase will go the distance!
For a standard brew, use 2 grams of matcha powder (a little less than half a teaspoon) per 100 mL of water.
For a thinner brew, halve the amount of powder, aiming for approximately one quarter of a teaspoon per 100 mL of water.
With these quantities of matcha powder, you can see that your matcha tea purchase will go the distance!
How much caffeine is in matcha tea?
The average cup of matcha tea contains approximately 70 mg of caffeine. This makes it more caffeinated than green leaf tea (approximately 20-50 mg per cup), but less caffeinated than an average cup of coffee (approximately 95 mg per cup for filter coffee). So, by drinking matcha, you’ll get more of an intense buzz that you will from drinking green leaf tea, however less of the jitters of caffeine.
Is it true that drinking matcha tea can make you feel calm?
Matcha tea contains L-theanine, which is said to promote calmness. Also, the step-by-step ritual of brewing matcha tea is relaxing. This is one reason why matcha tea is brewed as part of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
Does drinking matcha tea offer any health benefits?
Aside from the calming benefits of taking a moment to brew matcha tea, there are some other health benefits to drinking matcha. Matcha tea contains catechins, which act as antioxidants, and thus help to prevent cell damage from free radicals. Green teas of any variety are also thought to assist brain function and promote heart health.
Is green tea the same as matcha?
While both are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, a matcha tea brew uses only the leaf of the plant, whereas green tea uses both the leaves and the buds of the plant.
Additionally, the tea plant used for making matcha tea is grown beneath shade cloth, rather than out under the sun.
Finally, when brewing matcha tea, all of the leaf is retained in the cup, rather than being discarded after steeping the leaves, as is the case when brewing green tea.
Additionally, the tea plant used for making matcha tea is grown beneath shade cloth, rather than out under the sun.
Finally, when brewing matcha tea, all of the leaf is retained in the cup, rather than being discarded after steeping the leaves, as is the case when brewing green tea.