If you’re new to matcha, you might think that a chasen (or also known as bamboo whisk) is needed to make matcha tea. Well, that depends. The bamboo whisk has an essential tool in Japanese tea ceremonies, and it’s specially designed to whisk matcha. Traditionally, this simple tool helps to create a thick frothy layer …
While there are several factors that can affect the taste of your matcha tea, the condition of your matcha bamboo whisk or chasen also plays an important role. A broken or a thinning matcha whisk prong may not be able to blend or remove the clumps in your matcha smoothly. As the matcha bamboo whisk …
A guide on how to care for bamboo matcha whisk properly Read More »
This guide is a framework for helping you understand how to make matcha lattes so you can tweak the formulas on your own. It is not a recipe to simply follow, though we do have many of those that we will link at the end of article. Navigate the topics in this guide Basic formula …
Most matcha companies outside of Japan divide matcha into two types of matcha grades; ceremonial grade matcha and culinary grade matcha. The idea is that ceremonial grade matcha is most appropriate for drinking in tea ceremonies, whereas culinary grade matcha is more suitable for ingredient use in recipes due to its more pronounced bitter taste. …
Understanding the real difference between ceremonial and culinary grade matcha Read More »
In America and Europe, organic foods are typically perceived to be of higher quality. Based on the volume of enquiries we receive on the topic of organic matcha tea, it does seem that there is a market need for more organic matcha. Yet, most Japanese matcha companies do not offer any organic matcha tea blends. …
Why it is hard to find good organic matcha from Japan Read More »
More than 70% of all tea plants grown in Japan are genetically identical. This is because they were propagated from cuttings rather than grown from seeds. This is known as a “cultivar”, and it allows farmers to standardize quality and output of matcha tea year after year. Certain tea cultivars are said to be better …
What are tea cultivars and should you pay any attention to them? Read More »
How this article is organized What is “matcha tea”? What we mean by “matcha tea” is simply a category of matcha drinks made with matcha and water only. So this means that within the category of “matcha tea”, there would be many types of matcha drinks, including: Traditional matcha tea Usucha Koicha Non-traditional matcha tea …
In the first week of May each year, there is a palpable energy in the tea growing regions of Japan. It is time for the annual first tea harvest, the busiest time for the entire tea industry. Farmers rush to harvest the tea within a short two week period. Manufacturers and retailers process the tea …
What is the “first harvest” and why is it so important? Read More »
Producing matcha tea is a process which requires skilled labor at each stage. The tea plants must be cared for, properly shaded, and then processed in specific methods. Thereafter, a tea master will sample processed tea leaves (tencha) to assess quality and flavor. Once the tea master is confident of its quality and flavor, tea …
From the right water temperature to the amount and type of matcha blend used, this article has it all to teach you how to make the best matcha drinks!