What is matcha powder made of? a step course on how to make matcha green tea powder at home.

Of the thousands of teas in existence, none can compete with matcha green tea-it is smooth, delicious, rich in taste, and has all those wonderful health benefits.

But before you sip this delightful tea again, take a minute to learn more about this unique drink that was once available only to Japanese aristocrats. We will detail everything about matcha green tea-its history, culture, health characteristics, and how to make it-so that you can improve your enjoyment and get the most out of each mouthful.

History

There is nothing better than to enjoy traditional Japanese matcha.

But does tea really come from Japan?

The origin of this unique tea can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in China. During this period, Zen Buddhists began to use a kind of Yulu tea called Yulu tea to make powdered tea. After steaming and drying the tea, they pick the leaves-called "ground tea"-and ground it into a powder called "matcha" (matcha).

In 1191, a Zen master named Eisai came to Japan to learn matcha and introduced it to Japan. Although this kind of pink tea has gradually lost its popularity in China, the Japanese still like it and regard it as an important part of Zen temple rituals. In addition, with the increase in consumption, the Japanese continue to improve the process of making matcha.

For many years, however, only shogunate generals and aristocrats could drink matcha because its production was very small. Then, in 1738, Hasegawa invented a method of making matcha, a much more efficient method and a standard still in use today.

Tradition and culture

Matcha green tea has a long and rich history, but also has an extraordinary culture and tradition.

The early Zen Buddhists who first invented matcha also seem to feel the benefits of this tea-they believe that drinking it makes them clearer, more focused and calmer, and it has become an integral part of their meditation. (for more scientific reasons, we will discuss later that the properties of matcha are related to raising energy levels while making you relaxed and stress-free.)

Japanese samurai also understand the power of tea, and it is said that they drink matcha before fighting to gain more energy and attention.

Making tea is quite another matter. Traditionally, it is performed in a tea ceremony called chanoyu. The performance looks simple, but it may take nearly a decade to master all the steps.) Every action of the ceremony is planned and choreographed, with great emphasis on spirituality, serenity and silence-it is about being completely focused on the present and immersed in every action.

Finally, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony reflects the principles of harmony (harmony), respect (respect), purity (clarity), and serenity (silence). Matcha green tea powder has such a delicious and luxurious taste, which deepens the meditation and serenity of the ceremony.

How is matcha made?

Let's take a look at the harvest of this delicious matcha green tea.

First of all, the leaves of fried tea should grow in the shade for 20 days. By doing so, when the leaves turn black, it slows down the growth of the leaves, increases the content of chlorophyll (because the color darkens), and produces amino acids. What is the result of the combination of these natural effects?

They help to produce and improve the incredible health benefits of matcha green tea.

There, only the best tea buds are picked by hand and steamed, which is a Japanese way to deal with tea. Tea, known as "grinding tea", is placed in a rotating cylinder full of ceramic-covered magnets that bounce quickly and collide with each other to slowly and finely grind the tea to keep it alive.

Finally, we got delicious matcha green tea, which we call Grade A matcha.