What is matcha?
For a detailed breakdown of matcha, read our article “What Does 'Ceremonial Grade Matcha' Really Mean?”. The short answer is that it’s a powdered, shade-grown, steam-treated, green tea from Japan.
How much caffeine does matcha contain?
Caffeine content in Matcha can be somewhat variable. The actual tea powder contains between 19 and 44 milligrams of caffeine per gram.
Usucha style Matcha is the most commonly made and uses roughly 2g of Matcha powder. This would give it an caffeine content of 38-88gm per serving, with an average of 70mg per serving. The average cup of flat white coffee, by contrast, contains 100-140mg of caffeine.
What does matcha taste like?
The taste of Matcha can be somewhat variable. Generally, Matcha should have a distinctly savoury or “umami” quality to it. It should also taste very “green”.
Common descriptions tend to include terms like grassy, vegetal, and may mention specific tastes like Nori seaweed. Some matcha can be slightly sweet, but most are mildly bitter. Good matcha should have a velvety mouthfeel.
What are the health benefits of matcha?
Matcha is rich in antioxidants, amino acids and L-Theanine. The key antioxidant is EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate). Research into EGCG is still ongoing, but it’s currently linked to improving heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, some evidence that it helps with weight loss, and good (if early) evidence that it slows neuro-degenerative diseases.
Where is The Tea Centre's matcha from? Which part of Japan?
Our Matcha comes from Shizuoka, Japan. Shizuoka is on the Pacific coast of Honshu (the biggest island), just to the west of Mount Fuji.
Is The Tea Centre's matcha organic?
No. Our Matcha is not organic.
What grade of matcha do you have? Is it ceremonial grade or culinary grade?
Our matcha is premium grade. It is not marketed as ceremonial, but it is high quality and has a vibrant green hue when whisked. You can learn more about the origins of the phrase 'ceremonial grade' matcha, and why it isn't always a reliable indicator of quality in our blog article, “What Does 'Ceremonial Grade Matcha' Really Mean?”.