How to Make a Delicious, Foamy, Perfect Matcha Green Tea

Drinking and eating healthy has been a trend as people become more aware of the many health issues that they could encounter.

One of the health drinks that’s gaining attention is matcha. In this article, we’ll explain what matcha is, get to know its health benefits, and lastly, we’ll provide you with tips for making a perfect cup of matcha. Let’s proceed, shall we?

What is Matcha?

For those who are unfamiliar with what matcha is, it's a Japanese green tea powder that’s made from finely powdered dried tea leaves. The taste of matcha is best described as slightly bitter with a vegetal taste while it has a very vibrant green color due to the tea leaves having high amounts of chlorophyll in them. The matcha has been the cornerstone of the traditional tea ceremonies being done in Japan for a long, long time and more recently, the tea powder is starting to become popular around the world due to the health benefits that it can bring.

Health Benefits

We all know that regular green tea is advertised and proven as a potent antioxidant powerhouse but matcha takes it to the next level. Unlike other variations of green tea which involves steeping the leaves in hot water and then discarding them afterward – matcha is consuming the whole leaf when you drink it! That’s because when you make matcha, you don’t steep but instead, you whisk and mix the powder into hot water or milk.

The antioxidants that matcha has can lower blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart diseases, and can improve your metabolism. While matcha does have a higher caffeine count than regular green tea, it doesn’t give you that crazy rushing-like sensation after drinking coffee. Overall, after you drink a cup of matcha you will feel energized and focused yet you remain calm and composed.

Making the perfect Matcha Green Tea

Now for the focus of this article, we’ll discuss what's needed to prepare, and the steps to make a nice cup of matcha.

Time needed: 5 minutes.

Let’s start with the ingredients first:
¼ teaspoon matcha
2 ounces of boiling water
6 additional ounces of boiling water or steamed milk of choice
Sweetener, optional
With the ingredients prepared, let’s make matcha!

1. Start Sifting Start by sifting the matcha into a small bowl or mug to get rid of clumps. You can also use a tea strainer to spread the matcha powder perfectly and remove any clumps.
2. Pour some water Once the clumps are gone, you can start pouring the 2 ounces of boiling water.
3. Start Whisking Use a matcha whisk (chasen), or a regular whisk if not available, to whisk the matcha briskly from side to side until it is fully dispersed and you are starting to see a foamy layer at the top.
4. Once foaming, add more water If the matcha is starting to form a foam at the top layer, that’s when you start adding additional boiling water or steamed milk. Whisk again until the mixture is foamy.
5. Pour some sweet Finish it off with a sweetener of your liking (optional) and enjoy!.

REMINDER: As stated earlier – if you are a first-timer to making matcha, it is best advised you would sweeten the tea to your liking as matcha is an acquired taste.

Helpful Tips

1. Quality varies – The quality of matcha varies depending on the brand and purpose. For instance, the ceremonial-grade matcha tends to be more expensive as it is made out of the youngest tea leaves. Ceremonial-grade matcha tends to have a mellow flavor. Whereas the culinary-grade matcha tends to have a stronger or more bitter flavor which acts as a balancer in lattes, desserts, or sweets in general. Do a little research first on the matcha that you can avail of before purchasing.
2. Whisk it! – When making matcha, it is suggested that you would use a matcha whisk known as a chasen which has a design that’s made to break up clumps and create a foamy layer on top of the tea. If the chasen is not available to you then an electric milk frother or a regular whisk should do fine. Take note that whisking or stirring with a fork or spoon will not work on matcha.
3. Matcha doesn’t last forever – Once opened, matcha will have around 2 months of shelf life which is the time when it has the best color and flavor. For starters, buy matcha in small quantities and store them in the fridge when not being used to preserve its freshness.
4. Adapt to the taste over time – The grassy and umami flavor of the Matcha takes time to get used to. It is advised that when you are new to making matcha – you can add a few drops or spoons of sweetener of your likings such as syrups or sugar. It is advised to add sweeteners to your tea if the matcha powder you are using is noticeably bitter.

Conclusion

Making matcha requires a bit of research especially if you’re a first-timer since you will need to know which matcha you are looking for (ceremonial or culinary-grade). Matcha is an acquired taste which means you will need to slowly get adapted to its grassy and umami flavor over time – this can be done by adding a bit of sweetener at first. 

On the other hand, once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you will get to enjoy both the flavor and the health benefits that it has to offer – matcha offers the same energizing benefits of coffee and tea without the buzzy and rushing sensation that coffee drinkers tend to feel. On top of that, it is a potent antioxidant powerhouse that reduces the chances of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, and improves your metabolism/appetite. Getting to work with this wonderful drink will be truly worth your time and effort.