Matcha tea powder is a fine powder from specially grown and processed green tea leaves. It’s a rich source of antioxidants called catechins, which can help prevent damage to cells and reduce the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. The highest quality Matcha should have a vibrant color, an excellent taste, and an aroma that fills the room.
Matcha’s health benefits are attributed to its containing L-Theanine, an amino acid that has been shown to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. L-Theanine works by increasing GABA levels in the body, promoting relaxation while reducing stress hormones like cortisol. Studies show that L-Theanine can increase alpha brain wave activity, thereby promoting a state of relaxed alertness.
Here are steps on how to make traditional Matcha.
1. Choose the Best Grade of Matcha
The first step in making Matcha is choosing the best grade of matcha powder for your needs. There are two main types: ceremonial grade and culinary grade. Ceremonial grade is made from top-quality leaves picked by hand before sunrise, then ground into a fine powder by stone milling or ceramic grinding wheel after harvest. It should be used only for drinking (and not cooking).
Ceremonial grade matcha contains more nutrients than culinary grade because it has less processing and fewer chemicals added during production than culinary grade does – but it also costs more due to its higher quality ingredients.
2. Make a Paste
Grind the tea leaves. Place 1/2 teaspoon of matcha powder in a bowl or large mug and add about 1/4 cup hot water. Use a bamboo whisk to stir the mixture into a paste. If you don’t have a bamboo whisk, you can use a spoon or rubber spatula instead.
Add more hot water if needed. Add hot water until you have the consistency that you want. Add 1/2 teaspoon until the right consistency is reached (this will vary based on how much matcha powder you used).
3. Whisk Until Frothy
Start by whisking rapidly until you have a thick paste. This will take about 20 seconds on high speed in a stand mixer or 5 minutes by hand. Once you’ve made a paste, keep whisking at high speed until it begins to froth (about 30 seconds). You’ll know when it starts to froth because little bubbles will appear on top of your Matcha; this means that it’s ready to drink.
4. Add Hot Water
Add water to a tea bowl and mix the matcha powder with a whisk. The water ratio to Matcha is about 1:1, so use about 1/2 cup (125 ml) of hot water for every 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) of matcha powder. If you’re using a bowl that’s not large enough to hold this much liquid, make sure you use an oversized bowl.
5. Combine Them All
When making a matcha latte, there are a few different ways you can make it. Here’s how you do it:
We start with heated water to around 90 degrees Celsius (194 Fahrenheit).
We use about 1/2 teaspoon of Matcha per serving and then add the matcha powder to the cup. The amount of Matcha you use depends on how strong you want your latte to be!
Then we whisk it vigorously until all the powder is dissolved into the water, which takes about 5 minutes or so.
Once the powder is dissolved, we add hot milk as needed – about 3/4 cup for every 1/2 teaspoon of matcha powder used (so if you use two teaspoons of Matcha in your latte, add 1 cup of milk).
Whisk again until all is blended together well.
Wrapping Up
All in all, making Matcha is a simple process. There’s little to go wrong, and the rewards are myriad. Matcha can be used for cooking or baking, added to favorite beverages like smoothies and lattes, or drunk neat as a healthy drink at any time. The possibilities are endless. And the best part? You’ll feel great after drinking it.