Matcha Guide
* Editor’s Note
I was never a coffee gal- always preferring a good cup of tea and a slice of cake.
I could spin a cute story here, but actually I was watching Youtube on the sofa when I discovered matcha (courtesy of Niomi Smart).
Matcha is a green tea powder that has been around for centuries; renowned for creating a calm sense of focus. Monks would drink matcha before meditating as it helped them truly rest with their thoughts. Similarly, samurais would drink it before battle to energise and refocus them. These two parallels that become ‘calm focus’ is exactly what most people are looking for when they choose caffeine.
The ritual of drinking matcha puts an emphasis on mindfulness and the art of preparation elevates matcha beyond a beverage to a meditative practice. This history continues to inspire moments of self-care and inner balance today.
So, I still love a Yorkshire Gold (and an M&S chocolate round, iykyk), but truly, matcha is my drink. It makes me feel like I’m in my wellness era, whilst being comforting and helping me (like a little matcha PA) get all my work complete.
What to look for:
Vibrant Green Colour: Due to its high chlorophyll content, matcha should have a vibrant, green colour.
Smooth and Creamy Texture: Matcha powder dissolves in water or milk*, creating a smooth and sometimes frothy drink.
Umami Flavour: It has a naturally sweet, umami flavour with a slightly vegetal or grassy taste, though higher grades are less bitter.
*Dairy milks can inhibit the absorption of all the amazing nutrients matcha offers. Luckily, it tastes great with alternative milk drinks (our favourite is coconut rice- shout out to Pret for that one).
How It’s Made:
- Shading: The tea plants are shaded for a few weeks before harvest, increasing the chlorophyll and amino acid content, particularly L-theanine*.
- Grinding: After harvesting and steaming, the leaves are dried and then stone-ground into a fine powder.
*L-theanine is said to help ease anxiety, stress, and reduce insomnia.
Types of Matcha:
- Ceremonial Grade: The highest quality, used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, best for drinking.
- Culinary Grade*: Lower in quality but still vibrant, often used in recipes like lattes, smoothies, and baked goods.
*If matcha is heated too much, nutrients can be lost.
Health Benefits:
- Rich in Antioxidants: Particularly catechins, which are linked to various health benefits.
- L-Theanine and Caffeine: Provides a calm energy boost, promoting both alertness and relaxation without the jitters often associated with coffee.
- Boosts Metabolism: May aid in fat burning and improve metabolism
pREPARING MATCHA AT HOME
Do you want to start your mornings as ‘that’ girl, calm, focussed and ready to take on anything? We’ve got you. We’ve researched the best matcha brands to elevate your morning and your kitchen (packaging- chefs kiss).
cEREMONIAL GRADE
KYOTO, JAPAN
Cloudcha is a Matcha and lifestyle brand founded by Rochelle Humes and Bryony Deery. After years of struggling to find their favourite matcha and comparing different brands they decided to create their own.
The ceremonial grade matcha powder is sourced by award winning Matcha green tea specialist from the Matcha capital of the world, Uji, Kyoto. The powder undergoes a traditional artisanal roasting technique designed to activate the leaves in a unique way, delivering the best results, drawing out the perfect sweet-savoury flavour.
We’re just waiting for the Cloudcha caddy to come back in stock..
cEREMONIAL GRADE
kAGOSHIMA, JAPAN
The founder, Olivia Nottin, is a nutritional therapist passionate about food. It was while she was helping her clients on their journey towards healthier eating habits, that she noticed their overconsumption of coffee and sugar-loaded lattes were particularly detrimental to their overall goal.
Olivia is matcha obsessed and having searched high and low across London, she realised there was a gap in the market.
Between 2017 and 2018 she travelled to the US and Japan to gather some inspiration in order to source the perfect matcha and open a matcha café in London for 2 years which unfortunately closed permanently during the pandemic.
She is still importing matcha from Japan and is now concentrating on the retail and wholesale opportunities to continue her mission to bring good matcha into people’s lives and that’s the MATCHA AND BEYOND story.
cEREMONIAL GRADE
UJI, JAPAN
Claudia and Otto Boyer founded JENKI in 2020 with a mission to challenge the big guy, COFFEE. Caffeine culture is full of wired coffee enthusiasts and sugary energy drinks- a jacked up energy that doesn’t really benefit our minds or bodies. They sought to offer an alternative — a cleaner, greener caffeine that mellowed people out whilst keeping their brains sharp.
JENKI comes from the Japanese word “GENKI” 気き, referring to the life force within us all.
Claudia and Otto aim to spread this positive energy and to get matcha into the hands of as many people as possible. Because, quite frankly, it should be. (we agree)
cEREMONIAL GRADE
SHIZUOKA, JAPAN
Emma Chamberlain started ‘Chamberlain Coffee’ purely based on her love of coffee. She has since branched out into matcha:
“I tested a lot of different matcha powders before we found this one. It is beautifully smooth, nutty, and earthy. It’s perfectly balanced. The bright green colour is pleasing to the eye as well as a sign of high quality matcha”
With a little social media stirring around it, we’re excited for the launch of Highline matcha.
the finest matcha houses in london
For on-the-go matcha’s around London on your daily pound…
Japan House – the cultural home of Japan in London
Treat yourselves to a visit
Katsute 100 – Japanese tea room with hints of English tradition
Incredible matcha with a tatami tea room
TSUJIRI – committed to bringing match to the world
Delicious matcha soft serve
WA café – a small, independent Japanese patisserie
A huge selection of teas and desserts
JENKI – Read above for their story
Go-to place in Selfridges for takeaway matcha
tease – for a good mood on the go
Incredible smoothies and high quality matcha
HOW MATCHA – All day matcha bar
Right next to Chiltern firehouse- go and discover their creative drinks
Omotesando Koffee – the founder is dedicated to bringing matcha to coffee drinkers
Originating in Tokyo; Omotesando Koffee serves high quality matcha and coffee (but choose the matcha, duh)
