Mitchell Kwan • 2023-12-18
New to matcha? Here’s the perfect introduction for a matcha-better day! 🍵
By now, everyone's heard of matcha - known for its vibrant green color, refreshing flavor, and countless appearances in drinks and desserts. But it begs the question, what exactly is matcha? What are its origins? What are the different grades? What are the health benefits? These are all questions we're here to answer at The Matcha Vibe!
Matcha is a stone-milled green tea powder from Japan. By itself, it's just a powder - but when mixed with water, it becomes matcha tea; one of its most recognized forms.
When preparing matcha with water, there are generally two styles you can follow:
The main difference between ushucha and koicha lies in the matcha-to-water ratio; with koicha having a higher ratio of matcha-to-water compared to ushucha.
Despite being popularised in Japan, matcha first originates from Chinese culture - where green tea leaves were ground into a fine powder more than a millennium ago. This ancient practice laid the groundwork for what would later become the revered Japanese tea ceremony.
The origins of matcha trace back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) in China, where the technique of stone-grinding tea leaves into a powdered form was born. Known as "luo cha" or "whipped tea," this early version of powdered tea gained popularity among Chinese monks and the aristocracy.
However, it was the exchange of cultural ideas, goods, and spiritual practices between China and Japan that led to the transformative journey of matcha. In the 12th century, Buddhist monk Eisai, credited with introducing Zen Buddhism to Japan, brought back tea seeds from his travels to China. Eisai championed the cultivation and consumption of tea for its potential to enhance meditation and overall well-being.
Under the influence of Zen monks, particularly the monk Myoan Eisai, the cultivation of tea plants and the method of powdered tea preparation flourished in Japan. The art of whisking powdered tea, as part of the Japanese tea ceremony, became deeply ingrained in the country's cultural fabric.
By the 16th century, tea master Sen no Rikyu refined the ceremony, emphasising simplicity, harmony, and respect. Matcha then became the focal point of the tea ceremony; representing purity and tranquility.
Generally, there are two grades of matcha:
The increasing popularity in matcha is in part due to its range of science-backed health benefits.
Stay tuned for our next blog post where we dive deeper into the world of matcha and share 10 ways to improve your matcha experience!
Cardy
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