For the most part, this site is all about sharing the miracle that is Matcha green tea powder with all of you who stop by here for a spell.
For some reason, there isn’t that much high quality information about Matcha on the web, and I sought to change that by setting up The Matcha Powdered Green Tea Guide.
So if you’re looking for Matcha recipes, green tea health information or simply where to buy green tea online, you’ve come to the right place.
However, there’s a whole lot more to Matcha than its scientific properties and commercial availability.
Matcha elicits incredibly passionate devotion from those who drink it regularly.
[easyazon-image-link asin="B001O08SQI" alt="Stash Japanese Matcha Powdered Green Tea, 1.06-Ounce Tin" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ymm0hreqL._SL160_.jpg" align="center" width="125" height="160"]
Why?
I’m No Expert
I don’t run a Matcha farm, nor do I participate in the careful stone grinding of tea leaves into powdered fresh bright green Matcha.
However, at one point about six years ago, I was living in Brooklyn, New York.
And in Brooklyn, I had a friend who dropped a hint that changed my life.
“I found this incredible place that has really good Matcha. You should try it!”
Matcha had been on my radar for a while, but I hadn’t sought it out other than to drink it whenever I found myself at a fancy tea house that offered traditional Matcha on the menu.
I hadn’t even considered seeking it out to make in my own home.
However, the out-of-the-blue recommendation by my friend Mary felt like a message from heaven–go get some Matcha.
So I went.
Bountiful Powder
At the time, I was actually about to move out of New York and back to Nashville.
And, as you might guess, Nashville isn’t exactly a hot bed of traditional Japanese culture.
My prospects for locating a local Matcha supplier in Music City weren’t that great.
So when I walked into the Park Slope Coffee and Tea store on 5th Avenue and found the incredibly affordable Matcha they sold, I decided to get an extra-large portion to take home with me.
$30 dollars and a shockingly large amount of Matcha later, I was on my way.
Abundance of Supply Begets Wild Experimentation
Not being saddled by the constraints of tradition, I was never trying to live up to some ideal of Matcha consumption.
I started off by drinking my Matcha as close to the traditional preparation as I could manage without a chazen (whisk), chawan (tea bowl) or chashaku (bamboo scoop).
I made my Matcha and stirred it into a froth and drank it with gratitude–it was good.
Another chance conversation with a friend led to new experiments with my not-inconsiderable supply of Matcha.
A friend mentioned that he liked to have his Matcha on ice in the summer, and I decided to try it even though I’d never been much for drinking the traditional sweetened iced tea common in the American South.
Well, turns out iced green tea is incredible. A total revelation!
You really. must. try. it.
[easyazon-image-link asin="B004YBSMG0" alt="Authentic & Traditional Japanese Maeda-en's Sweet Matcha Green Tea Powder 4.2oz (120g)" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413Bq%2BBv%2BoL.jpg" align="center" width="243" height="292"]
Once I’d tried preparing Matcha by putting it on ice, other potential preparations for powdered green tea started glinting out at wherever I went.
I often put spirulina in my morning smoothie–what if I also added a little Matcha? Delicious.
Hmm…I’ve heard about this green tea ice cream phenomenon…perhaps I should seek some out. Delicious!
And on it went.
[easyazon-image-link asin="B000OMEB90" alt="Instant Vanilla Cream Matcha Green Tea Frappe & Latte Mix 1 Lb." src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31ytTneNEyL.jpg" align="center" width="279" height="238"]
This is Where You Come In
I say all of this only to let you know that I share your passion and love for Matcha.
The fact that it’s incredibly good for us, that it also has a relatively gentle amount of caffeine and that it has been shown to assist in stress reduction, anti-aging and concentration…all of those things are just the big huge cherry on top of our green tea ice cream sundae.
[easyazon-image-link asin="B000OLIXO0" alt="Instant Matcha Green Tea Frappe & Latte Mix 1 Lb. Healthier than Starbucks" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41gIbl4RxqL._SL160_.jpg" align="center" width="160" height="120"]
How did you meet Matcha? What role does drinking Matcha play in your day to day life? Do you sense its health benefits? Or do you, perhaps, think all that stuff is just marketing hype?
This is the place to air your opinions if you have them. Share away in the comment section below–whatever you’d like to share regarding the miracle of Matcha.
