Matcha guide

What is matcha tea?

Matcha is finely ground green tea made from specially grown and processed tea leaves. Unlike brewed tea, the leaf itself is whisked into water or milk.

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A fine powder

The basics

A fine powder

Matcha starts as shaded green tea leaves. After harvesting and processing, stems and veins are removed to create tencha, which is then finely ground into powder.

Because matcha is whisked into the drink rather than steeped and discarded, you consume the whole leaf.

Does quality matter?

Quality

Does quality matter?

Yes. Quality affects flavour, aroma, texture and colour. Lower-quality matcha can taste more bitter or astringent, while higher-quality matcha is usually smoother and more balanced.

A vivid green colour can be a useful quality signal, but colour alone does not tell the whole story.

PoppaTea’s range includes ceremonial matcha from Japan and China, selected for different flavour profiles, uses and budgets.

From leaf to powder

How is matcha made?

The exact process varies by producer, but these are the key stages behind high-quality matcha.

farmer putting cover over matcha green tea leaves to shade them for two weeks 1

Shaded for 25–30 days

Before harvest, the tea plants are shaded from direct sunlight. This is an important part of developing the flavour and character associated with matcha.

farming green tea leaves for matcha 2

Leaves picked

Young tea leaves are picked and graded for quality.

tencha green tea leaves steamed & dried. best leaves are being picked to make ceremonial grade matcha tea. 3

Steamed & dried

The leaves are steamed soon after harvest to limit oxidation, then dried.

stems removed from green tea leaves so they can be grinded into matcha tea powder 4

Stems removed

Stems and veins are removed, leaving the tea material known as tencha.

image showing large back of green tea tencha leaves being stored 5

Stored & rested

Tencha may be rested and stored before grinding to help develop the final flavour profile.

vibrant matcha tea powder made from first harvest encha leaves 6

Ground to a fine powder

The tencha is slowly ground into a very fine powder. Traditional stone grinding helps produce matcha’s distinctive texture.

final product of PoppaTea matcha packed at source 7

Packed at source

Our matcha is packed at source to help protect freshness before it leaves the producer.

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Compare origin, strength, taste and best use across our matcha range.

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