What is Matcha Made of?

Uncover the truth about: What is matcha made of? Discover how real matcha is produced from shade-grown green tea leaves and why it is not like any other tea powder.

Contents

Introduction

In recent years, matcha has become popular all over the world. You can easily find this powder in everything from traditional tea ceremonies to lattes, desserts, and even skincare products. But exactly, what is matcha made of? Made from carefully shaded tea leaves, the production process of matcha powder is also extremely meticulous to preserve the eye-catching green color and rich natural flavor. Let’s explore interesting information about the unique powder in the article below.

Breaking it down: What is matcha made of?

At its core, matcha is made of 100% ground green tea leaves, which come from the Camellia sinensis plant. It is the same plant used to make all true teas, including green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and white tea. When you drink regular tea, you only consume the infused liquid. But with matcha, you are consuming the entire ground tea leaf, which means you get a higher concentration of nutrients and antioxidants.

Made from the whole leaf, matcha contains a higher amount of caffeine than regular teas. Generally, this powder contains 19-44 mg of caffeine per gram. A typical serving of matcha can contain anywhere between 38-176 mg of caffeine (½-1 teaspoon). Besides, it is rich in L-theanine and catechins, which can boost energy and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases. Vitamins A, B, C, K, and minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc in matcha are essential for the body, improving overall health.

Pure matcha powder contains:

100% shade-grown green tea leaves (tencha)
No sugar
No milk powder
No preservatives
No artificial colors or flavors

If you are buying high-quality matcha, the ingredient list should contain only “green tea” or “matcha”.

What is matcha made of (1) — Matcha is made of 100% shade-grown tea leaves

The matcha production process

What makes matcha different from other teas is the way these tea leaves are cultivated, harvested, and processed. To fully understand the question: What is matcha made of?, let’s explore how it is produced.

Shade growing and harvesting

Three to four weeks before harvest, tea bushes are shaded using bamboo mats or special cloth to block direct sunlight. This shade-growing technique slows photosynthesis and forces the plant to produce more chlorophyll and amino acids. More chlorophyll creates a vibrant green color of matcha, while the rich content of amino acids can enhance sweetness and umami flavor while reducing bitterness.

Experienced farmers pick only the newest, tenderest leaves from the top of the tea plant. These top leaves are superior in flavor and nutrients, ideal for producing high-quality matcha.

Steaming and cooling

Immediately after harvesting, workers clean the leaves carefully to remove dirt and impurities. The tea leaves are then quickly steamed to halt the oxidation and preserve their bright green color. To stop the steaming, a special cooling machine using a blower will cool down and reduce the humidity of the tea leaves.

Drying and making tencha

The leaves are transferred to drying machines to reduce the moisture content. The manufacturer uses low-temperature, convection drying systems that slowly and gently remove moisture from the steamed leaves. Besides, to make matcha, the leaves need to be de-stemmed and deveined. Tea leaves are gently crushed and passed through a separator, which helps to separate the stalks and veins from the tea leaves, keeping only leaf material. This step creates tencha.

Grinding tencha to matcha

Finally, the tencha is ground into powder. Traditionally, matcha is ground using granite stone mills, but modern manufacturers have employed advanced ball milling machines to produce it on a larger scale. The important factor in this grinding process is to minimize heat generation, protecting the delicate flavor compounds and preserving the matcha’s bright green color.

Types of matcha and quality differences

There are many types of matcha available on the market, but they are not always clearly classified. However, matcha is generally divided into two main categories. Each type serves a different purpose and suits different preferences. Here we are talking about: Ceremonial grade and Culinary grade.

Ceremonial grade

Ceremonial matcha is the type chosen for traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. It is of the highest quality, made from the youngest, most tender leaves in the first harvest. Traditionally, this ceremonial grade is ground using granite stone mills for several hours, creating very fine powder with a smooth, silky texture. Therefore, it often comes with a higher price tag.

When tasting, this grade has a smooth, mild, natural sweetness with minimal bitterness. It has a rich umami flavor that sets it apart from all other types of matcha. In addition, ceremonial matcha is bright, vibrant green in color due to its high chlorophyll content.

Culinary grade

While ceremonial matcha can be drunk straight with just water, culinary grade is recommended to mix with other ingredients in lattes or other recipes. Made from slightly older leaves, this grade may have a more robust and astringent taste. It also has a less vibrant, more olive green color.

Culinary-grade matcha is more affordable and versatile. Its flavor is stronger, more bitter than ceremonial. As a result, it can stand out when combined with other flavors in beverages, cakes, etc.

Common misconceptions about what matcha is made of

Although matcha is very popular worldwide, there are still some misconceptions about its ingredients.

Myth 1: Matcha is ground green tea

While matcha is indeed a type of ground green tea, not all ground green tea qualifies as matcha. True matcha comes from tea leaves that are shade-grown and carefully processed as described above. If a product is labeled “green tea powder” but does not follow these steps, it is not considered authentic.

Myth 2: Matcha contains sugar or milk

Pure matcha powder contains no sugar, sweeteners, or milk. Many people try matcha for the first time in a sweetened latte or blended drink. As a result, they assume it naturally contains sugar or milk powder. When buying pure powder, consumers should carefully check the label to avoid accidentally purchasing instant matcha lattes or flavored blends.

What is matcha made of (4) — Matcha latte ingredients

Myth 3: All matcha is the same

Some consumers think all matcha offers the same flavor and nutrition. But in reality, its quality can vary greatly based on: Region of cultivation (Japan vs. China vs. others), cultivation and harvesting techniques, storage and freshness. Therefore, choose the type of matcha that suits your needs for the most perfect flavor experience.

Conclusion

So, what is matcha made of? Matcha is made of pure, finely ground green tea leaves grown under shade, carefully processed to preserve their color, flavor, and nutrients. There are no added ingredients, just the natural essence of tea plants. If you are looking for matcha, make sure to choose the right type for your needs, so you can fully enjoy its unique flavor and benefits.

About Future Generation Co., Ltd

Future Generation Company Limited is one of the largest tea and beverage suppliers in Vietnam, with 28 years of experience in production and export. FGC is equipped with modern technology from Japan to produce matcha powder, ensuring high-capacity production and uniformity between production batches. Thanks to using automatic systems in production along with high-speed grinding machines, we are able to supply large quantities of matcha to the market, meeting consumer needs.

FGC strives to achieve our mission to become Vietnam’s leading healthy beverage company. Our factories also meet international standards such as ISO, HACCP, etc. In addition, we constantly innovate our machinery system, strengthen production capacity, and increase productivity. If you have any questions about matcha powder, feel free to contact us here: