Matcha

While matcha is a product of Japan, the origins of the green tea powder traces its history back more than 1000 years to the Chinese Tang dynasty. At this time tea leaves were steamed and formed into bricks. These bricks made it easier, both for storage as well as for shipping in trade. When ready for consumption, the tea powder was then added to hot water with some salt. A few hundred years later, a Buddhist monk travelled to Japan and brought with him some tea seeds and planted them on the temple grounds in Kyoto. Matcha goes through a process called tencha three weeks before harvest. At this point, the tea plants are covered to shelter them from direct sunlight. This process creates an overproduction of chlorophyll which locks in the vibrant green colour. Given the health benefits of drinking green tea, imagine consuming the entire leaf, that’s what happens with matcha. The green tea leaves are ground into a powder and then at time of consumption, combined with boiling water. This leads to a higher concentration of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds, vitamins and minerals. Whether your partial to the ceremonial blend, or one of the many flavours, we are certain that you’re going to enjoy this delicious cup of matcha.