. Revealing a delightful nutty sweetness, grassy notes and the fresh flavour of green tea, matcha tea is a green tea powder from Japan that is rich in antioxidants. The characteristic vibrant green colour, energising properties and complex flavours of matcha make it a favourite of tea-lovers around the world, and as it is a very versatile flavour it can be enjoyed as a tea, added to smoothies and shakes or even used as an ingredient in sweet and savoury dishes.
To prepare matcha tea, simply add half a heaped teaspoon of matcha into a bowl or wide-mouthed mug, add a few drops of hot (but not boiling) water and mix to create a paste, then add 70ml of boiled water which has been cooled to between 70°c- 80°c and whisk until frothy and smooth.
Tea leaves grown for matcha are shaded three to four weeks ahead of harvesting, a process that allows the leaves to become packed with chlorophyll and amino acids, before being stone-ground to a fine powder. Matcha also contains L-theanine, which is known for its stress reducing properties and other health benefits.