premium matcha Super Power Green Tea

What is matcha

Matcha is a super hero amongst teas. 100% green tea leaves from Japan - essentially a super power green tea containing natural green tea flavonoids (catechins). Drinking matcha can be like drinking 10 cups of regular green tea for its nutrient value - that's why we call it super power green POW!

Matcha production

You can buy lots of green tea powders for cooking and drinking but genuine matcha comes from Japan and is produced in a very special way. Matcha green tea bushes are grown under lots of shade which boosts their chlorophyll content (that’s the bright green stuff that contains all the nutrients).

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The leaves are then handpicked and all the stems and veins are removed leaving only the juiciest, nutrient-rich leaves. The leaves are ground by granite stones to a super fine powder.

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When you drink regular green tea, you throw away the leaves afterwards, which is a bit like boiling spinach, throwing away the spinach and just drinking the water – you will get some of the nutrients, but you’re throwing away the best bit. With Matcha, you mix the vibrant- green, nutrient-rich powder into liquid and ingest the whole tea leaf. So, you’re consuming every little bit of that lovely green good stuff.

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types of matcha

Matcha powders, matcha grades, green tea powders, teabags with matcha in them - things can get a little confusing when you’re in the market for some matcha. Here’s our guide on how to make sure you’re getting genuine,  quality matcha that’ll give you the best nutritional value.

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Matcha falls broadly in to 3 categories:

  1. genuine, drinking quality matcha: sometimes called premium or ceremonial or high grade, call it what you will, you’ll know you’ve got a good quality matcha if it’s its bright, bright green and tastes lovely – like ours!
  2. lower quality or ingredient grade matcha: it’s murky greeny yellow (so less chlorophyll) and won’t taste as lovely (but a good shout if you’re going to make 100 cupcakes and don’t want to break the bank).
  3. matcha that comes in a teabag: this isn’t really matcha, it’s usually green or white tea with a teeny tiny quantity of matcha (usually just 2%). Unless you actually eat the contents of the bag (?!), you won’t even access that 2%.

Drinking matcha

There are lots of ways to get your matcha fix. You just need ½ teaspoon of matcha to get all its super powers. Matcha is traditionally drunk as a hot tea, whisked into hot water but because it’s a powder, you can whisk it into juices or smoothies, you can drink it as a latte (almond milk is our favourite) and even add it to fruit juices or smoothies.

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Find more matcha recipes here or buy your matcha now!

frequently asked questions

We’ve tried to answer a few of your most frequently asked matcha questions.

How much caffeine is in matcha?

There is approximately 30mg per 1g serving of matcha. A regular cup of coffee typically contains 70-75mg of caffeine.

Can you reassure me about the safety of your matcha?

We are aware that some of you may be concerned about the sourcing of our matcha since the tragic earthquake disaster in March 2011. The Nishio region is over 600km South of Fukashima and, as well as strict testing by the Japanese Authorities before it leaves the country, our matcha is tested twice more for radiation levels before it reaches our shelves.

Can I drink matcha whilst pregnant?

Matcha does contain caffeine which is usually limited during pregnancy. One serving of matcha contains 30mg of caffeine and by comparison a regular cup of coffee contains 70-75 mg. If you have any concerns please consult your doctor.

Can I drink matcha more than once a day?

We recommend you only drink matcha once a day as one serving provides you with a sustained energy boost and lots of antioxidants. You can drink it more than once if you like but if you have any concerns about how much tea you can drink, please ask your doctor.

Can I add matcha to other teas?

We wouldn’t recommend you adding matcha to any other teas – only because it would not taste very nice at all! You can add matcha to hot water, hot milk, cereal, porridge, yoghurt and smoothies… just not tea or coffee.

Can I add matcha to coffee?

We wouldn’t recommend you adding matcha to coffee – it wouldn’t taste very nice. If you want to make a matcha latte just add ½ a teaspoon of matcha to an inch of hot water, whisk until smooth and top up with hot frothy milk. Add honey or sugar to sweeten if required! It’s a good alternative to having a coffee latte because matcha gives you a slow release of energy for 4-6 hours rather than the rush of energy (followed by a crash) that you tend to get with coffee. We love how green it looks too.

How long will a tin of matcha last?

One tin has 30 servings, so it’ll conveniently last you one whole month if you take it once a day - which is what we recommend.

How long does matcha last in the fridge once it's been opened?

Matcha doesn't go 'off', similar to a vegetable it will lose it's nutritional value over time. Be sure to keep it in the fridge after opening!

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