Matcha has always been popular, but it’s exploded in popularity recently thanks to Instagram and TikTok. You even wonder what is matcha green tea after seeing video after video of delicious matcha lattes, home matcha stations, and matcha powder reviews.

But with all the matcha information out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s everything you need to know about matcha and how to make matcha correctly.

What is Matcha Green Tea?

Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder made from shade-grown tea leaves called tencha. It’s a superfood with lots of antioxidants and a healthy, sustainable caffeine boost.

Depending on the origin and blend, matcha green tea can have a variety of flavors, including sweet, creamy, nutty, umami, savory, roasted, chocolate, and more. However, most matchas will have an earthy taste with slight umaminess.

It’s perfect on its own or with a little sweetener and milk as a latte!

How to Make Matcha Powder?

Tencha leaves, once harvested, are steamed for preservation, dried, and then deveined before getting milled into a fine powder. Many farmers use stone mills because they grind the matcha slower and finer, retaining all the delicious matcha flavor that a machine mill does not have. It can take up to an hour just to make one 30 g tin of matcha.

Dozens of leaves are ground to make just one tin of matcha, and it takes a lot of care and time to grow the best quality leaves.

If you have dried tencha, you can even ground matcha yourself! However, a stonemill gives the best results and unfortunately, they are extremely expensive.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea

Matcha brands, especially in the West, market matcha as a healthy, antioxidant food, which it is! Many people turn to matcha as a replacement for coffee and a way to get jitter-less energy.

The reason why matcha is so high in antioxidants is thanks to the young tea leaves, which are shade-grown to pump them with chlorophyll (The thing that plants use for photosynthesis.)

This chemical compound is full of nutrients like catechins that give matcha its anti-inflammation and L-theanine which has relaxing effects. It’s crazy how beneficial matcha is, so it’s no wonder people are consuming it like crazy!

Caffeine in Matcha

However, just because it’s a coffee replacement does not mean it has low caffeine. In fact, matcha green tea powder is extremely caffeinated. Since you’re consuming the entire leaf, and not just the brewed tea, you ingest much more caffeine than other teas.

One teaspoon of matcha green tea powder can have on average 65 mg of caffeine, but vary depending on the matcha quality.

Higher-quality matchas tend to have more caffeine while lower-quality ones have less. This is because higher-quality matchas tend to have the first picked leaves of a crop, which have more caffeine in them. The leaves are also deveined, so you are getting pure tencha leaves in your powder.

How to Make Matcha Tea The Proper Way

Now, to the bread and butter of this blog! I’m sure you’re interested in matcha and want to make sure you’re preparing it correctly to get the full experience.

Matcha should be whisked at room temperature or hot (but not boiling) water for the best texture.

You’ll need: a sifter, matcha bowl, and matcha bamboo whisk.

The matcha whisk or chasen is the most important part of the matcha preparation process, as you can use pretty much any large, medium-sized bowl and any fine mesh sifter and achieve the same results with a bamboo whisk. But it’s so fun to find a unique matcha bowl (chawan) you love!

Note: You also don’t need the most expensive whisk out there to make a good matcha; the whisking technique is more important! It’s like a musician: a good musician can make any instrument sound good, but a great instrument will change the tone significantly.

You can find matcha tools sold as a set online or in tea stores, or you can collect each tool individually!

A set can run you anywhere from $30-50 depending on the quality and tool style. Individual pieces start at $3 for a chashuku (bamboo scoop), $15-20 for a whisk, and $30-50 for a bowl (bonus points for one with a spout.)

Do You Have to Whisk Matcha?

One thing that makes matcha preparation unique is that you need to whisk it with water before drinking. This is different from most teas which require brewing.

Why whisk? Because matcha is finely ground tea, whisking it into water is the best way to drink it. The powder is too fine to eat on its own, and if you try eating straight-up matcha powder, you can choke on it and it’ll go everywhere (just remember the days of the cinnamon challenge… brown clouds of dust instantly.)

You might wonder, can’t I just mix water and matcha without whisking? And yes, there are ways to do it without a whisk (more on that later), but a bamboo whisk most effectively whisks matcha into a smooth and frothy liquid.

Why whisking works. If you’ve ever tried mixing any powder into water, you’ll quickly realize that powders do not like water. Most powders, like flour, cocoa, or powdered sugar, are hydrophobic, meaning they do not like water. This is why we use a whisk when we bake, which breaks up any powder clumps so it easily forms a batter or paste.

Similarly, we should use a bamboo whisk with matcha for the best result.

Best Matcha Ratio

Now that you understand why we whisk matcha, the next step is getting the right matcha ratio.

If you think back to your general chemistry class, you’ll know that concentrations, which is the amount of solute in a given solution volume, are important. In plain terms, how much matcha powder to liquid (water or milk) there is.

The matcha concentration directly affects how your drink tastes.

Generally, from my experience, a higher matcha concentration gives you a stronger (and better-tasting) drink. A low matcha concentration often gives you a bland or weak-tasting matcha latte (and a sad, light green color for your latte.)

Obviously, the best concentration of matcha ratio for you will vary depending on your tastes.

These days, people are really into bold matcha flavors with deep green lattes (see: TikTok videos of people sharing their sad, light-colored matchas.)

As a reference, you can try out my favorite matcha ratio, which is:

• 3 grams of matcha (about 1 & 1/2 tsp)
• 30 g water (about 1/4 cup)
• 6 ounces of milk (3/4 cup)
• 1 tsp of your favorite sweetener

This will give you a bold, strong matcha with a nice color!

Depending on how you like that ratio, you can adjust it to your preferences. You can make it stronger or more mild by adjusting the amount of matcha powder.

How to Whisk Matcha

Once you’ve procured a bamboo whisk, here’s how to whisk your matcha properly:

1. Start by warming up your bamboo whisk in warm water. This helps soften the bamboo bristles so that they don’t break while whisking. You can either run the warm water over the bamboo whisk or let the whisk sit in a cup or bowl with hot water. (NOTE: Do NOT use boiling water, you will split your matcha whisk that way!)
2. Sift your matcha powder into your bowl. Sifting helps get rid of any clumps that will be hard to mix into water (and gives you a gritty texture.)
3. Add your hot or room temperature water to your powder. Make sure to gently add it to not send the powder flying everywhere and out of your bowl.
4. Grab your softened bamboo whisk, and hold the top of it between your first three or four fingers.
5. Bring the whisk to the bowl, bristle side down first, and starting from the middle, whisk in a zigzag motion, drawing an “M” shape in the bowl. Try using just the wrist vs your arm, it’s faster and more sustainable in the long run.
6. Whisk vigorously, or as fast as you can, back and forth until you see a froth start forming. Keep whisking until you get a thin layer of microfoam on top of your matcha.
7. Once you’re done whisking, your matcha is ready to use! To clean your whisk, whisk it in warm or hot water until it is clear. You can also rinse it with hot water as well.
8. Let your matcha whisk dry in a matcha whisk holder. Do not dry it upside down, otherwise, you risk mold growing in your whisk!

How to Whisk Matcha Video Tutorial

Here’s a video tutorial for better visuals:

Whisk Without Scraping the Bottom of the Bowl

It might sound counterintuitive, but you want to whisk matcha without scraping the bottom of the bowl. Many people say they don’t touch the bottom of their bowl when they whisk matcha, which is impossible in literal terms.

What they mean is to not continuously whisk against the bottom of the bowl.

You don’t want to press into the bottom of your bowl, otherwise you’ll ruin your whisk! For whisking, hover your hand over your bowl while you whisk. Your whisk will touch the bottom, but it won’t be scraping against it.

Purpose of Matcha Microfoam

A big component of whisking matcha is achieving a smooth, creamy microfoam on top! It’s a thin layer of ultrasmall bubbles that produce a fine, soft foam. This foam is important for texture.

By introducing air into matcha, you’re essentially aerating the tea. Much like “opening up wine” or ladling chai, aerating the tea actually helps it taste better! The air helps develop some of the flavors to “open up”, and also produces a better mouthfeel.

Now, I’m sure the flavor difference between matcha with and without a microfoam is subtle, but the texture is quite significant!

How to Prepare Matcha Without Using a Whisk

Waiting for your matcha whisk to arrive, don’t have a whisk, or want a more convenient way to make matcha? You can make matcha without a whisk! Here are some ways you can prepare matcha easily:

• Shake in a lidded jar
• Use a handheld or electric frother
• Use a blender
• Whisk with a proper whisk or fork
• Shake in a mini-shaker

As mentioned, as long as you mix the matcha powder into water well, you have prepared matcha that you can add to any milk or water! For specific steps, visit my blog: how to whisk matcha without a whisk.

How to Make Matcha Tea Latte

One of the best ways to enjoy matcha is in a latte! Earlier I shared my favorite matcha ratio that gives a bold, strong matcha latte, so here’s how to make it.

Simply whisk your matcha, then add ice, your favorite milk, and your favorite sweetener to a cup, then pour your whisked matcha on top. You can also make this hot by using steamed or hot milk instead.

Liquid sweeteners are best for any latte since they dissolve easily, like honey, maple syrup, or agave. You can also use regular sugar, but you’ll notice (in cold drinks) that the sugar just sits at the bottom of your cup, no matter how much you stir.

You can also use any milk you’d like, like oat, soy, almond, pistachio, you name it! I personally prefer dairy but use whatever you like best.

Best Ways to Enjoy Matcha

My favorite way to enjoy matcha is in a latte! Matcha and milk are a great combination, and you really can’t go wrong. It’s probably everyone’s first introduction to matcha green tea powder, especially from the Starbucks matcha latte (my introduction to matcha!)

And now that you’re a matcha connoisseur, you’re probably interested in experimenting with different flavors!

Some of my favorite iced matcha latte variations include honey matcha, salted honey matcha, strawberry matcha, blueberry matcha, and brown sugar matcha.

I love matcha with a salty and sweet combination or a refreshing fruit flavor! Matcha is quite earthy, so it pairs nicely with tart fruits or sweet and creamy milk.

But matcha is not limited to just lattes, you can make a crisp matcha soda, refreshing matcha coconut water, matcha americano, or even enjoy it straight up!

The possibilities are truly endless with matcha, so get creative!

How to Buy Matcha Powder

Obviously, you want to enjoy the best of the best, right? But it can be hard knowing which matcha powder to try or buy, especially when there are so many options.

Luckily, there’s a matcha out there for everyone!

When looking at which matcha powder to buy, knowing what you like is crucial. Not everyone enjoys the same matcha, and that’s completely normal!

First, look at the tasting notes of a matcha powder. Is it sweet and creamy? More umami and bold? More floral and smooth? You want to choose matcha powder that suits your taste.

Then, you’ll want to see which harvest it is. First harvest matchas are more robust, with an extra flavor compared to later harvests. (More on that here.) Second harvests are also great quality, but milder in flavor, but still perfect for lattes or baked goods.

Tip: Watch out for brands that don’t disclose the harvest and only say “ceremonial grade”, which doesn’t mean anything quality-wise.

Once you’ve found a powder and brand you like, go ahead and give it a try! There’s only one way to find out what it actually tastes like, and that’s by trying it in person. (Perhaps ask your friends if you can try their matcha powders…)

Best Matcha Tea Powders

Everyone starts somewhere! Here are some of my personal recommendations, depending on what you like.

Beginners + Sweet and Creamy Matcha

For beginners who are new to matcha or just figuring out what type of matcha you like, I recommend starting with a smooth and sweet blend. Something that isn’t too umami or savory forward (which can lean on the seaweed side), like:

• Ippodo’s Sayaka or Ikuyo (I haven’t tried these personally but literally everyone I know says that they are perfect for sweet and creamy lovers)
• Junbi Matcha Ceremonial
• Ito En Matcha Love
• Common Clover Matcha (on a hiatus but truly so good)

The above blends are also perfect for matcha lovers who like a more sweet and creamy matcha.

Bold, Umami Matcha

If you like a more punchy, umami-forward matcha (that’s me!), then I recommend:

• Ippodo’s Ummon
• Rocky’s Matcha Ceremonial Blend
• The Tokyo Matcha Blends
• Marukyu Koyamaen Unkaku

Sweet, Not Too Umami: Just Right Matcha

If you want something that’s in the middle, not too creamy or umami, these blends are perfect for you:

• Matchakari Ceremonial or First Harvest (this one is more umami than the ceremonial)
• Marukyu Koyamaen Wako

Where to Buy Matcha

You can buy matcha online or in person, but you’ll have more options online either on the brand’s website or through a tea wholesale retailer (Ujicha, Sazen Tea, Emery’s Corner, etc.)

If you have a local tea store near you, I recommend stopping in and browsing! Better yet, if there are stores that offer matcha tea tastings!

The best, though, is buying it in Japan where it’s much cheaper (time to take that trip!)

Note: The brands I listed are larger, reputable brands with a strong following, and currently experiencing a matcha shortage, so it may be hard to get your hands on their matcha. However, I recommend looking for smaller brands and farms to try matcha from (something I am trying to do)! They are usually the same quality and more often in stock, plus you’ll support family-run businesses. You can find them either on Instagram or by searching on Google.

How to Store Matcha Powder

As mentioned, matcha has a short shelf life, like coffee!

What is oxidation? With matcha green tea leaves, or basically any dried plant, the moment it’s cut off from the plant it starts oxidizing. Meaning, that prolonged exposure to air, sunlight, moisture, and heat causes the organic material to decompose. That’s why some tins come with a silica packet inside!

Most matcha powders expire after 2 years from when they are ground, but the best flavors are within 6-7 months of creation. But once you open the matcha, you should consume it within a month since once you break the airtight seal, you rapidly expose it to air every time you use it.

Matcha oxidation: When matcha oxidizes, it loses its flavor and vibrancy. You’ll start with a vibrant green powder that eventually turns stale and brown. Your matcha can turn more bitter, and lose all the subtle yumminess fresh matcha has. Heat, especially, speeds up the oxidation process.

To preserve and store your matcha green tea at home, you want to keep it in an opaque bag or tin (usually, the original packaging is good enough) in a dark, cool, dry area. For most people, this means areas inside cupboards, drawers, or in the fridge.

How to Make Matcha Taste Good?

Now, if you’ve tried matcha and don’t like the taste of it too much, but you really want to like it, then here are some tips to try and make matcha taste good:

• First, what do you not like about matcha? What specific flavor do you want less or more of? You can always try a different matcha blend with different tasting notes.
• Are you preparing it correctly? Troubleshoot your matcha whisking or preparation techniques so that you get the smoothest matcha for your drinks.
• Matcha doesn’t taste like anything? Check if your matcha is expired. All matcha tins will have a best-by date on the bottom. Matcha has a relatively short shelf life, so your matcha is tasteless it might be because it’s too old (oxidation deteriorates matcha flavor).

Enjoy Your Matcha!

Now that you know everything there is to know about matcha preparation, it’s time to start making some delicious matcha drinks that will raise your matcha expectations for cafes. Maybe you’ll even make matcha drinks so good at home that you won’t want to buy them out!

Need inspiration for your next matcha drink? Try these out:

• Blueberry Cold Foam Matcha
• Matcha Bubble Tea
• Strawberry Milk Matcha Latte
• Earl Grey Matcha (Must Try!)
• Iced Honey Matcha Latte
• Salted Pistachio Matcha
• Creamy Jasmine Matcha Latte