#HEALTH: Matcha taking over the world

New Straits Times

07-07-2025

MATCHA is the new drink of choice at hip cafes worldwide, but Japanese producers are struggling to keep up with soaring demand
The word matcha means "ground tea" in Japanese and comes in the form of a vivid green powder that is whisked with hot water and can be added to milk to make a matcha latte.
Green tea was introduced to Japan from China in the early ninth century, and was first used for medicinal purposes.
Matcha came much later, in 16th century Kyoto -- part of the tea ceremony tradition developed by tea master Sen no Rikyu.
Today, there are different grades of matcha quality, from "ceremonial" to "culinary" types used in baking.
Matcha is made from leaves called "tencha", which are grown in the shade in the final weeks before their harvest to concentrate the flavour, colour and nutrients.
This "requires the construction of a complex structure with poles and a roof to filter the light", explained Masahiro Okutomi, a tea producer in Sayama, northwest of Tokyo.
Tencha leaves, rich in chlorophyll and L-theanine, a compound known for its relaxing effects, are hand-picked and deveined, then steamed, dried and ground between two stone mills to produce an ultra-fine powder.
It can take up to an hour to produce just 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of matcha — making the powder on average twice as expensive to produce as standard green tea leaves.
Many drink matcha for its rich grass-like taste, but others are drawn to the drink's nutritional properties.
It is rich in antioxidants, and can aid concentration because of its caffeine content: one cup contains on average 48 milligrams, slightly less than a drip coffee but nearly twice as much as a standardly brewed green tea.
"Matcha is often seen as being good for your health," said Shigehito Nishikida, manager of Tokyo tea shop Jugetsudo.
"But people are also attracted to the Japanese culture around tea: the ritual, the time taken, the aesthetics," he said.
Matcha can also be used in cooking, extending its appeal to others aside from tea lovers.
"Some customers simply enjoy drinking it, others like preparing it themselves. And of course, many buy it as a gift — Japanese matcha is always appreciated," said Jugetsudo's Nishikida.