If you enjoy matcha for wellness, our pesticide-free Organic Ceremonial Matcha green tea is for you. Boasting all the qualities of premium matcha, this high quality vivid organic green powder has spring-like notes of flowers and fresh grass, with an intensely vegetal, creamy, sweet flavour that won it two stars at the Great Taste Awards. Meticulously made from certified organic tea leaves in Mie Prefecture, Japan, this luxury brew contains nothing but goodness. One of the features of matcha is that, unlike other teas, the entire leaf is consumed, stone-ground in powdered form. By offering an organic version of this nutrient-rich tea, you're guaranteed a drink that comes with no chemicals – only the health benefits of matcha. Thanks to matcha's high levels of healthy amino acids and polyphenols, these have been linked to everything from lowered blood pressure to a reduction in the free radicals thought to be a key factor in tumour growth. While matcha contains moderate amounts of caffeine, studies have also shown that it's released more slowly in matcha due to its interaction with the amino acid L-theanine, creating a more calm sense of focus rather than the jolt you might get from, say, a strong cup of coffee. Even the ritual of making this ancient Japanese tea has a calming effect. You'll want to do it right to, a) maximise the flavour of this deep green tea, but also to b) honour a tradition that has been carried out in Japan since the 12th century, when a Buddhist monk called Myoan Eisai discovered it on a visit to China. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to find out how to make the perfect matcha tea. ) How is matcha produced? Our authentic organic matcha is made from only the highest-quality hand-picked buds of Camellia sinensis bushes, shade-grown in the Ise Bay district, where green tea has been grown for 800 years. The tea bushes are covered in the last 20 days before the early spring harvest to limit sunlight. This process, known as ‘shading’, slows down growth, pushes the bushes to produce high levels of chlorophyll and causes an escalation in the production of healthy amino acids. Our tea farmers, who have been growing matcha in the Ise Bay area for generations, then steam the leaves, halting oxidation and locking in matcha’s unique vegetal characteristics and vibrant. After this, the leaves are graded, destemmed and deveined before being left to dry and then stone-ground to a fine powder in granite stone mills. It can take up to one hour to grind just 30g of matcha, but it’s worthwhile. Mellow and deep in flavour with a silky texture, our Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha is one of the most sublime green teas you’ll find. How to brew, whisk and serve matcha This premium organic matcha can be whisked the traditional way, in accordance with the Japanese tea ceremony, for a healthy tea added to smoothies and juices at breakfast or used as a natural flavour enhancer and colouring in your culinary creations. To make a traditional matcha tea, it’s important to know that it can be prepared for different liquid consistencies. For thin tea, use approximately 1.75g of matcha powder with 75ml hot water. For thick tea, use 3.75g of matcha powder with 40ml of hot water. To prepare your matcha tea, place a small amount of sieved matcha powder into your matcha bowl using a bamboo spatula. Add 60 - 70°C hot water, then whisk the mixture using a bamboo whisk in an 'M' pattern, aka a chasen, until the liquid has a uniform consistency. Finally, when enough foam has formed on the surface, beat at a medium speed to produce finer bubbles. Serve and enjoy all that green goodness. Alternatives to our highest grade Japanese green tea powder We also offer the unique taste of this Japanese speciality tea in our non-organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha. If you’re new to this powerhouse brew or looking to use it purely for cooking, we recommend our mellow Standard Matcha or Organic Matcha teas. You can experience two of Japan’s most famous tea exports in a caddy of clean-tasting Sencha Matcha or, for the vegetal characters of matcha combined with the warm notes of toasted rice, our Genmaicha Iri Matcha is comforting and delicious. Shop for all your Matcha Essentials in our Teaware store, and discover more about matcha’s history and its many uses in our Tea Journal.
