6 things to look for when buying Matcha

August 14, 2022

HOW DO YOU PICK THE BEST MATCHA POWDER TO BUY & DRINK?

Here are 6 things to keep in mind when buying Matcha that will be delicious to drink.

1. COLOUR

Matcha Green Tea should be bright green (as the name suggests!).

Dull, yellowish Matcha is a dead giveaway for poor quality Matcha and could also be a sign it’s been stored incorrectly (but more on that later).

The shade cloth covering of tea leaves before harvest increases the amount of chlorophyll, leading to that vibrant shade of green.

The youngest freshest leaves that are picked (from the first tea harvest in late Spring) are richest in chlorophyll and this results in a bright green powder when the leaves are steamed then ground down into powder.

The leaves picked first also contain the most L-theanine (Amino Acid) and also deliver the best taste, with far less bitterness than tea leaves picked later in the year.

Matcha Latte

2. ORIGIN

Japan has been in the Matcha tea growing business for centuries and the skills and knowledge required to grow excellent tea is reflected in Japanese sourced Matcha.

Although the seeds for Matcha did originate in China, the method for growing and perfecting delicious Matcha has been part of the Japanese culture since the 13th century. Japan also was the first to develop cultivation by way of the “covering method” for keeping the sun off using shade cloths.

The climate is also ideal for Matcha production, especially in places like Uji where there is enough annual rainfall to provide ample pure water, frequent fog which maintains air moisture due to large temperature differences between day and night and rich fertile soil (containing magnesium).

TEA PICKER

3. PRICE

In the case of Matcha, cheaper is not better.

Price reflects the skills and knowledge of expert Tea Farmers and Farms who have been operating for a long time, often hundreds of years. It requires significantly more work to produce Matcha than any other type of Green Tea.

There is additional expense using the "shading" farming method. The final harvest amount is also less than Sencha (usual Japanese green tea) as the covering process restrains photosynthesis, which yields fewer leaves.

Making quality matcha requires a specialised process that requires the removal of stems and veins and powdering the leaves, with special (and expensive!) stone ground mill machines being used.

You usually find that High-Grade Matcha (often named Ceremonial or Premium Grade) is made from tea leaves from 1st Harvest. This makes this grade more expensive due to the effort taken to ensure these young fresh leaves are of optimum quality when it comes to picking. Some tea farms even still use the traditional hand-picked method which is becoming rarer these days.

The Matcha we sell is all from the first harvest, using the youngest leaves for the highest quality.

TEA FIELD

4. STORAGE

Has the Matcha been stored in a fridge prior to you buying it? Matcha is subject to air, light and heat and will deteriorate quickly if not stored correctly in an airtight, non-see-through container or pack.

We also 100% recommend storing your Matcha at home in a fridge. You can either keep the tea in our resealable high barrier pouches or transfer it to an airtight Tea Canister.

The Matcha you buy from us is refrigerated before posting to you to ensure it remains nice and fresh.

If you buy Matcha from a store shelf, you don't know how long it's been sitting there deteriorating in the elements. If it's kept refrigerated in a store, it's a very good sign!

5. SMELL

It should smell fresh with grassy notes, with a slight vegetal smell.

High-grade Matcha will draw you in with its fresh, sweet smell. It becomes quite addictive to smell if we do say so ourselves.

It shouldn't smell fishy or like seaweed - that's a sure sign of poor quality if it does smell anything like that!

SMELLING MATCHA GREEN TEA

6. TEXTURE

Good quality Matcha should be silky and fine. Although static electricity in packets cause the Matcha to sometimes clump together, it should be come very fine again provided you sift it.

Sifting is a key part of ensuring you have a super smooth drink to enjoy. You can place a tea sieve over your bowl or use the one included in our Tea Shaker Set.

MATCHA POWDER
PSST...last but not least. Matcha should also froth well. If it doesn't produce nice frothy bubbles, this could be another sign of poor quality.

We hope these help you to select good quality Matcha.

We pride ourselves on offering excellent quality tea and consider all of the above factors when it comes to the Matcha we offer.