
Water Temperature for Matcha
Whisk the matcha green tea powder into water heated to around 170 degrees F. Higher temperatures can contribute to bitterness.

Be aware of grades of matcha
Matcha designated as 1st harvest or “ceremonial” is best for drinking, while “culinary” grades are best for smoothies or other recipes.

Unique quality of matcha green tea
Unlike other types of tea where the tea leaves are discarded after brewing, the tea leaves themselves are consumed when drinking matcha green tea.

Finding Genuine Matcha
The tea leaves grown for true premium matcha powder are referred to as “tencha”. They are shade grown, hand-picked leaves, and are the same leaves that are used to produce gyokuro tea.
Before you head off to purchase your first container of matcha though, a few words about quality. It is important to pay attention to labels as there are varying grades of matcha- only a few of which will make a really great cup of tea. For drinking tea, look for “ceremonial” grade matcha as opposed to culinary grade which is more suited for recipes.
There are so many more things to learn about the history and manufacture of a good matcha, but there is no better way to learn about matcha than to simply experience it for yourself. (If you want to start with a couple of my favorites, read the matcha green tea reviews on this page).
Regardless of where you find your favorite, I hope you begin a long love affair with matcha green tea, starting now 🙂