If you are not familiar with this tea variant, Matcha is a Japanese Green tea, made from finely powdered dried tea leaves. Unlike our regular Green tea, Matcha tea bushes are shielded from sunlight for about 20-25 days before harvest, resulting in an increase in Chlorophyll content, turning the leaves darker and resulting in an increase in the production of amino acids. Since the whole leaf powder is ingested, Matcha is known to be high in antioxidants as well.
In terms of taste, this high-quality Green tea has grassy, bitter notes and can be enjoyed with a sweetener and/or milk. The backbone of the culturally rich, Japanese tea ceremonies, the tea is cherished for both, its nutritional value and its robust flavour.
While Matcha is available in multiple flavours, with notes of mandarin, berries and turmeric, the original flavour is the most popular.
A step by step guide to enjoying Matcha:
Here’s what you’ll need-
- Karma Kettle Matcha powder
- A handmade bamboo whisk (called chasen)
- A tea bowl (called chawan)
- Ice cubes
Step 1: Scoop 1 ½ tablespoons of Matcha powder into a bowl.
Step 2: Pour clean water (roughly two ounces) into the bowl with the matcha powder
Step 3: Using your chasen, start whisking to combine the tea and allow some air particles into the drink. Whisking is done best in an ‘M’ or a ‘W’ formation with gentle hands
Step 4: In step 4 of making the perfect matcha, lift the bowl with both hands and give it a very gentle shake in a circular motion to allow flow of air. This will ensure a creamier, smoother and richer drink
Step 5: Once the tea obtains a bright green colour, pour your Matcha from the bowl into a teacup full of ice as per your preference
Step 6: Drink up! It's best to drink it right after it's prepared or the powder will begin to settle at the bottom
Matcha can be prepared in several consistencies- Standard, Usucha (thin) and Koicha (thick). Once you discover your favourite consistency, you can enjoy it in many different ways!