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matcha teas
Matcha tea is made by stone-grinding shade-grown Japanese tea leaves into a fine powder — dissolving entirely in hot water to produce a vivid, concentrated green cup unlike any other tea. Our collection spans a classic premium Izu Green Matcha, a naturally sweet Vanilla Matcha and an inventive Earl Grey Matcha with bright bergamot notes — all a world apart from anything a supermarket shelf can offer.
Matcha Teas
Matcha Teas
Vivid green teas for a vibrant, flavourful cuppa or funky matcha lattes! Try our premium and naturally flavoured versions of this Japanese classic.
Whilst the Japanese have known the benefits and beauty of vivid green matcha powder for well over a thousand years, we in the West have only recently come to appreciate the incredible properties of this startlingly different tea.
Unlike traditional black and green teas, which require steeping of the leaves in water, matcha is made from tea leaves ground into a powder which dissolves entirely, resulting in the most stunning bright green cup with a myriad of health benefits.
If you’ve tried tasteless, mass-produced supermarket versions of matcha before and haven’t been convinced then let us persuade you! For the best matcha experience you need to sample our specially selected small-batch, high-grade varieties which offer a truly authentic taste of Japan.
The traditional Japanese tea ceremony centres on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha as hot tea, and embodies a meditative spirituality. A traditional bamboo whisk, sieves, bowls and spoons are all associated with the preparation of matcha. But if you haven’t got the time for an entire tea ceremony then matcha is about the easiest tea to prepare: simply add hot water and you’re good to go!
Premium grade matchas are often described as having a pleasantly grassy flavour with a sweet nuttiness and smooth, slightly astringent notes. Delicious both with hot water or whisked into a creamy matcha latte.
Because matcha is a concentrated form of green tea it has been long reputed by enthusiasts that matcha possesses stronger health benefits associated with green tea. Caffeine is more concentrated in matcha, which Japanese Zen monks have historically used to stimulate awakeness. Health benefits associated with matcha tea include: weight loss, stress reduction and an increase in antioxidants which are thought to help prevent various diseases and ailments.
For those new to matcha tea we can highly recommend our Vanilla Matcha with real bourbon vanilla which enhances the natural sweetness of the tea. Our bestselling matcha and a classic premium grade example is our Izu Green Matcha with a jammy-like smoothness, a satisfying full cup and a light astringent finish. For Earl Grey lovers, why not try our Earl Grey Matcha with bright bergamot layered over smooth notes of malt.
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A Thousand Years of Shade
Matcha's story in Japan begins in the 12th century, when the Zen monk Eisai returned from China bringing powdered tea and the Buddhist practice of using it to support long hours of meditation and study. What transformed it from Chinese import to uniquely Japanese art form was the innovation of shade growing, developed during the Muromachi period: by covering the tea plants for several weeks before harvest, Japanese farmers discovered that the leaves produced more theanine — the amino acid responsible for matcha's characteristic smooth, sweet, umami quality — and less of the tannins that create bitterness. After harvesting, the shaded leaves are steamed, dried flat to create tencha, stripped of their veins and stems, and finally stone-ground into the brilliantly green powder that dissolves completely in hot water. The result is a tea you consume entirely rather than simply infuse — which is why the concentration of flavour, antioxidants and energy is so much higher than in any steeped tea.
Flavour and Character
Three matchas show the range within this collection. Izu Green Matcha is the classic starting point and the bestseller: a premium matcha with a jammy, smooth quality, a satisfying full body and a clean, lightly astringent finish — exactly what a fine matcha should deliver and a genuine revelation for anyone who has only tried mass-produced versions. Vanilla Matcha is the natural first step for those new to the category: real Bourbon vanilla enhances the natural sweetness of the matcha and softens any unfamiliar grassy notes, producing a cup that is creamy, rounded and immediately appealing. Earl Grey Matcha offers the most inventive expression in the collection — bright bergamot layered over smooth, malt-tinged matcha, creating something that sits between two beloved tea styles and does justice to both.
Preparing Matcha
Matcha requires no steeping. Sift the powder first to prevent lumps, add a small amount of hot water — around 70 to 80°C rather than boiling — and whisk in a zigzag motion with a bamboo chasen until fully dissolved and lightly frothy. One to two teaspoons per cup is the standard measure. For a matcha latte, whisk the matcha into a small amount of water first, then add warmed milk; oat milk works especially well with both the Izu Green and the Vanilla Matcha. All three matchas suit either preparation equally well — as a traditional bowl or as the base for a latte, the quality comes through in either form.