Matcha: Brilliant Color, Flavor & Health Benefits

+ recipes for matcha almond pancakes and matcha frosting

Search #matcha on Instagram and you get more than 7 million posts, from muffins and ice cream to smoothies and lattes, all bearing the vibrant green hue of the unique tea which has been used in traditional Japanese ceremonies for centuries.  It’s no wonder matcha is so popular—this magnificent tea offers so much, including brilliant color, lovely flavor and bona-fide health benefits.

What makes matcha so special?

Matcha is a type of green tea which comes from the same plant as other green, white and black teas do —Camellia sinensis. The way the plant is grown and the leaves are processed determine the type of tea. Matcha is traditionally grown in the shade, and the leaves are steamed, dried and ground soon after being picked so there is minimal oxidation. The result is a high concentration of active compounds, non-bitter, umami-rich taste and gorgeous green color.

When you whisk matcha into a beverage or batter, you are incorporating the whole tea leaf, as opposed to the way you steep other types of tea leaves in water and then discard them. That’s why with matcha you get such a unique flavor, brilliant color and a concentration of tea’s health-protective compounds, which have been shown to offer protection from many diseases and signs of aging, among other benefits.

Buying matcha