What is Matcha?

Matcha is a special form of green tea.

Matcha literally means "powdered tea." When you order traditional green tea, components from the leaves get infused into the hot water, then the leaves are discarded. With matcha, you’re drinking the actual leaves, which have been finely powdered and made into a solution, traditionally by mixing about a teaspoon of matcha powder with a third cup of hot water (heated to less than a boil), which is then whisked with a bamboo brush until it froths.

Unlike traditional green tea, matcha preparation involves covering the tea plants with shade cloths before they’re harvested. This triggers the growth of leaves with better flavor and texture, which are hand selected, steamed briefly to stop fermentation, then dried and aged in cold storage, which deepens the flavor. The dried leaves are then stone-ground into a fine powder.

The Different Grades of Matcha: Ceremonial and Culinary

If you’re interested in learning more...

	CEREMONIAL GRADE	CULINARY GRADE
USE	Whisk hot or shake cold, with a single beverage (water, lemonade and milk).	Blend, bake, cook or sprinkle as an ingredient (smoothies, sweet treats and savory snacks).
QUALITY	Highest quality, worthy of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.	Premium quality, blended specifically for versatility in the kitchen.
FLAVOR	Delicate, yet rich, with a touch of sweetness. Stands well on its own, but overpowered when mixed with too many other flavors.	Strong and robust. Distinct flavor remains true when other flavors are mixed alongside it. *NOT meant for sipping.
MADE FROM	The youngest and finest leaves only.	A variety of more mature leaves.
COLOR	Vibrant green.	Lighter green.
LEARN	How to Make Ceremonial Grade Matcha Tea	Delicious recipes
HEALTH BENEFITS	Highest Quality = Most Nutritionally Dense Antioxidant Activity Metabolism Support Energy & Alertness Slightly More Amino Acids	Antioxidant Activity Metabolism Support Energy & Alertness

Important Note: Both grades of JQ matcha are 100% pure leaf, providing 100% nutrition and 100% natural energy, 100% organic. They are shaded, picked, steamed, dried and stone-grounded into fine powder. Both grades are meant for everyday use, allowing more ways for matcha to be incorporated into daily routines.