Matcha has gone from a Japanese tea ceremony tradition to a global favourite — and for good reason. It is vivid green, smooth and endlessly adaptable, from a simple hot cup to lattes, smoothies and baking. If you are new to it, here is everything you need to make a beautiful cup at home.
How matcha is different from green tea
With ordinary green tea, you steep the leaves and then discard them. Matcha is the whole leaf, stone-ground into a fine powder, which you whisk into water and drink entirely. Because you consume the leaf itself, matcha has a richer, more concentrated flavour and colour, along with the naturally occurring antioxidants of green tea.
How to prepare matcha, step by step
Sift one teaspoon of matcha into a bowl or wide cup to remove lumps. Add a small amount of hot — not boiling — water; water just off the boil keeps matcha smooth rather than bitter. Whisk briskly in a zig-zag motion (a bamboo whisk is traditional, but a small hand frother works well) until a fine froth forms. Top up with more hot water for a classic cup, or with steamed milk for a latte.
Beyond the cup
Matcha is wonderfully versatile. Blend it into a banana or mango smoothie, stir it into yoghurt, or fold it into cakes and cookies for a natural green colour and gentle flavour. Lavina’s Organic Premium Matcha is finely ground from carefully selected leaves, so it whisks smoothly whether you drink it or cook with it.
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