Matcha is a powdered Japanese green tea made from tencha. The tea plants are shaded before harvest. The leaves are steamed, then dried without being rolled, before being refined and finely ground. Matcha is whisked into water with a bamboo whisk: you consume the powdered leaf, rather than removing the leaves after infusion. Its profile can combine umami, sweetness and bitterness.
Matcha is naturally rich in antioxidants, caffeine and L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea. Caffeine helps you stay awake and maintain concentration, while L-theanine promotes relaxation without causing drowsiness. Together, these two substances may contribute to a feeling of calm alertness and improved attention. Because matcha is consumed as finely ground leaves, it also allows you to take in the compounds present in the whole leaf.
