Botanical Name: Camellia sinensis
Common Name:
- English: Tea
- Unani: Chaai, Shaahi, Shaayi
- Also, known as: Tee, cha, Te, Thé, Chay, Tè, Da, Chai, Sa, The, Chay, Chah, Thaeyilai
Habitat: Native to Western China
Origin: China
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Leaves
General Information:
Green Tea Macha belongs to the same plant from where most other teas like Oolong standard, Black, White, and of course Green Teas come from. The powdered form of the handpicked, dried leaves called “Matcha Tea.”
The plant of the tea is covered with a jute net for at least a few weeks before it is being harvested. That keeps direct sunlight away from a plant. This slows the growth of the leaves, stimulating chlorophyll production, which in turn darkens the leaves which encourages the production of L-theanine, among other amino.
The best Matcha is produced from the leaves harvested from the very first of the season. That is why it is known as “1st Quality.” Moreover, the first-harvested Matcha leaves contain significantly more chlorophyll and more importantly, the amino acids. The more chlorophyll the Matcha contains, the more vibrant green the powder. And the more L-theanine the Matcha contains, the sweeter the taste.
Subsequently harvested leaves lower the grade of Matcha that can be identified by its color, test, and overall characteristic. The color of Matcha plays a huge role in deciding the quality of its kind.
First time harvested leaves give a bright green color. Those leaves are mostly young and first time harvested. It is known as a more premium quality.
Second time harvested leaves give green with a yellow tint. Those leaves are pretty much matured and mixed. It is known as culinary quality.
Lastly, if a Matcha has brownish color means it has derived from very matured leaves which contain very less amino acid. Test wise it could be more bitter. Many tea producers masked bitterness by using different flavoring agents.
How to use:
Hot Infusion:
The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. Hot water is needed to draw out the antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, flavonoids, and volatile oils from the botanicals. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!
Tips:
- You can sweeten your herbal tea with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.
- You can make ice cubes or pops by freezing tea in ice trays or pop molds.
Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.