抹茶 or matcha means 'ground tea', which is exactly what it is. 

Matcha is a stone mill-ground green tea powder originating from Japan and a centuries-old tea ceremony. It is said that the special and now famous matcha tea was created by accident.

Matcha is special because a unique cultivation process is used, which means that the vitamin and antioxidant levels are much higher than in regular green teas. The tea is mainly grown on the Goko or Samidori tea plants. During the cultivation process, the tea plants are covered with a canopy in the last period before harvest, this means that the tea leaves are only reached by 10% sunlight and the chlorophyll in the plant increases. The fine leaves are then picked and laid out to dry. Finally, the tea leaves are ground in special stone mills, which then creates a fine-grained and vitamin-rich matcha powder.

In recent years, matcha has spread beyond the borders of Asia and is today found in various small trends all over the world. It is a versatile and healthy food enriched with vitamins, antioxidants and L-theanine. Matcha is used in beverages as well as cooking and baking.

L-Theanine, together with caffeine, provides focus and an invigorating effect that spreads evenly throughout the day. So most people don't get a caffeine kick from matcha. It is usually said that a matcha latte contains approximately 40mg of caffeine. Therefore, matcha is an excellent complement to coffee.

The cultivation process consists of several steps to create the delicious and vitamin-rich matcha tea. Consumers notice a big difference between different matcha powders and their quality, which is due to tea producers using different kinds of cultivation and handling processes.

High-quality matcha is generally grown in Japan on organic tea farms in mineral-rich soil. As Japan is the country of origin, the cultivation and handling process is also well developed and well known in the areas where matcha is produced.

Guide to high-quality matcha:

✓ Vibrant green - A matcha powder with bright green color has high quality and thus also high vitamin and antioxidant content.

✓ Low bitterness - The taste of matcha often reveals its quality. A matcha with a lower bitterness has a higher quality.

✓ Well Ground Powder - Is your matcha powder well ground? Yes, then it has probably undergone a good handling process in the unique stone mills.

Matcha is prepared with about 70° water and a bamboo whisk, this reduces lumps and activates the matcha tea. The so-called matcha shot can then be drunk straight, diluted into a tea or mixed with milk to create a latte. It is also possible to use matcha in many other drinks, cooking and baking. 

See recipe tips here.