Let’s not stand on ceremony here: this 2021 Great Taste award-winning matcha is one of our finest luxury green teas. Harvested in the historic tea-growing district of Ise Bay, Japan, our vibrant green Ceremonial Matcha is an exceptionally high-grade tea with intense sweetness and a much deeper, less bitter flavour than standard-quality matcha powders. Made from only the highest quality shade-grown Camellia Sinensis tea leaves that are steamed and stone-ground in the traditional way, this brilliant green tea captures all the goodness of the early spring flush. It has a mild aroma of fresh grass with a hint of fruitiness and a rich, creamy flavour underscored by a subtle vegetal sweetness. Little wonder it was a two-star winner at the Great Taste Awards. Every aspect of our Ceremonial Grade Matcha’s production is meticulously overseen by the specialist Japanese farmers we source our tea from. Ise Bay is located on the Pacific Coast of Mie Prefecture in Honshu, where the heritage of matcha goes back 800 years. Here, the knowledge of tea growing is passed down through the generations. For these growers, matcha is more than a commodity; it’s a precious part of Japanese culture, enjoyed throughout history by everyone from Samurai warriors searching for an energy boost to Buddhist monks as an aid to meditation. The health benefits of matcha Those Buddhist monks knew that among the benefits of matcha is how it offers a slow release of caffeine, thus avoiding the spike-then-slump of coffee and some teas. But the health benefits of drinking matcha go way beyond sustained mental clarity. Key among them are the plant-derived antioxidants called catechins, of which one – epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – is found in particularly high quantities in matcha. Studies have found that, among other things, EGCG can help neutralise free radicals, fight cancer and reduce ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol. In addition, matcha has a high concentration of L-theanine, an amino acid that can ease anxiety, helping with relaxation and sleep. How to brew this powdered green tea First, let’s talk tea. Matcha can be prepared for different liquid consistencies. For thin tea, use approximately 1.75g of matcha powder with 60 - 70°C hot water. For thick tea, use 3.75g of matcha powder with 60 - 70°C 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 70C hot water, then whisk the mixture using a bamboo whisk, 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. Beyond your daily brew, however, this verdant powder offers plenty of culinary uses. Matcha’s grassiness lends dishes a unique savoury flavour with bittersweet undertones, while its dazzling colour can be used to great effect as a natural food colouring. Being particularly smooth and sweet, our Ceremonial Grade Matcha powder is perfect for making delicious desserts and for adding to spicy coconut curries. Use it in baking or add to icing. And for an easy win that ups your nutrient intake, sprinkle it over eggs, add a teaspoon to a smoothie, or mix it with natural yoghurt and fruit for a healthy breakfast bowl. Meet our range of Japanese Matcha For the ultimate clean, green taste of this Japanese speciality tea, you can also enjoy our silky-smooth Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha. 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. You can also transport yourself into the calm serenity of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony with our Ceremonial Matcha candle. Want to make matcha green tea properly? It would help if you had a couple of tools, including a bowl and the traditional bamboo whisk called a chasen. Kit yourself up with all the Matcha Essentials from our range of Teaware, and read more about the traditional tea ceremony, for which our Ceremonial Grade Matcha is named, in our Tea Journal. Want to make matcha green tea properly? It would help if you had a couple of tools, including a bowl and the traditional bamboo whisk called a chasen. Kit yourself up with all the Matcha Essentials from our range of Teaware, and read more about the traditional tea ceremony, for which our Ceremonial Grade Matcha is named, in our Tea Journal.
