I would like to know more about this tea and where to purchase it. I have heard some really great things about it and that you can get it in different blends. I would like information on preparing it and purchasing it.
Thank You,
Carol47
Carol,
Matcha is a green tea powder used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Due to its fine nature, this variety has an extremely short shelf live - only about 30 days. Before making a purchase, please inquire as to its age. And please consider purchasing this tea directly from Japan to ensure freshness.
Michael
Matcha is a green tea powder used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Due to its fine nature, this variety has an extremely short shelf live - only about 30 days. Before making a purchase, please inquire as to its age. And please consider purchasing this tea directly from Japan to ensure freshness.
Michael
Everything Michael said about matcha was completely correct. I hope he doesn't mind me adding in my own comment, though. I've take Japanese tea ceremony lessons and drink matcha fairly regularly. There are two varieties of matcha, usucha (thin tea) and koicha (thick tea). If you are new to matcha, I would suggest usucha; in chanoyu, the first ceremony you learn is the usucha ceremony. As Michael said, it is indeed best to purchase matcha directly from Japan. I would suggest http://www.teatoys.com/kmatcha.html or http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com/. The latter is where I would recommend for those new to matcha, as you can also get a whisk and tea bowl to make and drink your matcha. There are a few places in the United States where you can take chanoyu lessons: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and other scattered locations. Hope that helps.
Adam
Adam
Karen,
You may find caffeine contents for all tea types at http://www.adagio.com/info/caffeine.html. Green tea has approximately 20mg of caffeine, about a quarter of the amount found in coffee.
Michael
You may find caffeine contents for all tea types at http://www.adagio.com/info/caffeine.html. Green tea has approximately 20mg of caffeine, about a quarter of the amount found in coffee.
Michael
By trial and error, I've found putting a serving of matcha powder into a large, round-bottomed tea cup, splashing just a bit of hot water onto the powder, then wisking with the bamboo wisk to eliminate any clumping of the powder, then fill the cup with hot water makes a GREAT cup of emerald green tea.
Rich
Rich
shelf life
Matcha tea has a significantly longer shelf life than 30 days if u properly store it in a dry environment like a freezer, which perfectly fine to do.
The shelf life depends significantly on the quality of the product as well. As with any other teas there are grades. The finer grades do have a shorter "shelf" life. Now the date that is printed on the bottom is usually a "freshness" date not a expiration date. If it is stored in a normal refrigirator it can last a few months. Hopefully you are drinking it enough not to last that long...
Also wanted to add on the point of "thick" matcha as oppossed to "thin" matcha. There are 2 different methods in preparing matcha and it differs on the kind that you are using. However, you can use all of the matcha's to make usucha. The thick method can only be prepared with a kusucha matcha. I use kusucha matcha to make thin tea and it makes a very creamy froth. Malty and less tart.
Cheers
Also wanted to add on the point of "thick" matcha as oppossed to "thin" matcha. There are 2 different methods in preparing matcha and it differs on the kind that you are using. However, you can use all of the matcha's to make usucha. The thick method can only be prepared with a kusucha matcha. I use kusucha matcha to make thin tea and it makes a very creamy froth. Malty and less tart.
Cheers