WHAT IS MATCHA?

Matcha is the Japanese word for “fine powdered tea.” Matcha is the result of high quality green tea leaves picked and processed to become matcha tea. Unlike traditional teas, which are steeped and discarded at the time of use, matcha leaves are directly consumed to maximize health benefits! The process of making a ceremonial grade matcha consists of mixing less than boiling water and matcha powder. You whisk them together, preferably with a bamboo whisk, to create a frothy drink that is enjoyed.

Here’s a great article comparing the different grades of matcha: PREMIUM vs CULINARY

WHERE CAN I BUY MY MATCHA?

my favorite sites are IPPODO TEA and LUPICIA (but not all of their sites have a location for ceremonial matcha). STAY AWAY from anything that says “multi-use, cooking, smoothies…ETC” in the description… this is NOT what you want in a tea. If you accidentally bought this, don’t toss it! You can still use it in other cooking things like pancakes, muffins, etc. It won’t harm you, but certainly won’t give you the benefits you’re looking for. Also, please do not buy off amazon :) Matcha should always be stored in a fridge and handled with care. I can assure you the quality diminishes by the time you get it.

HOW DO I STORE IT

FRIDGE! In an air-tight container. Don’t have one? A zip-lock will do just fine.

DO I NEED A BAMBOO WHISK

Need? No, but you should. I like this one. Try to avoid using any metal with your matcha - it actually changes the chemical properties of the tea and changes the flavor. The way the bamboo whisk is designed is 100% intentional. It is made from 1 bamboo splintered (as you can see from the link). You really should be using one to maintain tea quality AND get the frothy bubbles you’re looking for.

To clean it, just rinse with hot water and leave out to dry!

ORDERING A MATCHA

Ordering a matcha can seem overwhelming if you don’t know much about it, so let me help!

🍵 Traditional matcha consists of two ingredients: ceremonial grade matcha (this is the highest quality you can get), and 1-2 ounces of hot water! THAT👏🏻IS👏🏻IT. The portion would be a little bigger than an espresso shot. This is the base you want to look for when ordering at any shop- it’s okay to ask what grade matcha they use before ordering (I always do)!

If they have ceremonial matcha, there are a few ways you can order it:

CEREMONIAL TEA: 1-2 ounce pour
HOT LATTE: ceremonial tea + whatever steamed milk you love (my favorite is oat milk)
ICED MATCHA: ceremonial tea, water, and ice
ICED LATTE W/ MILK: ceremonial tea, water, ice, milk of your choice
Sometimes I will sweeten it myself, or add cinnamon, otherwise these are the basics :)

🌸 YOU DON’T WANT matcha if it’s a low quality product (see this article for differences)! It toooootally tastes different. Often, if a cafe carries a lower quality matcha, they mask the flavor with sugar + milk. It doesn't even taste relatively close to what you should be looking for! Save your money :) 🌸
🌴 PSA: STARBUCKS DOES NOT MAKE A REAL MATCHA; this is why so many of you message me saying you hate it + have a bad experience. It should taste floral and earthy.