Matcha: The Tea of Legends
Few teas have captured the imagination quite like Matcha.
When this vibrant green tea was first created in Japan, it was regarded as a gift from the heavens, believed to possess both restorative and spiritual qualities. So revered was Matcha that the great tea master Sen no Rikyu, widely considered the most influential figure in the development of the Japanese tea ceremony, wrote in the 1500s: "Though many people drink tea, if you do not know the Way of Tea (Chanoyu), tea will drink you up." These days, thankfully, Matcha is a little less demanding.
What was once reserved for ceremony has found its way into everyday life. You will now find Matcha enjoyed hot or cold, whisked into smoothies, stirred through ice creams, and even baked into all manner of treats. And it's easy to see why.
Just two cups of brewed Matcha contain seven times the antioxidants found in orange juice, twenty times those found in apple juice, and nearly 20 grams of calcium. On a gram-for-gram basis, our Matcha also contains approximately ten times the polyphenols of some regular bulk teas.*
Of course, creating such an extraordinary tea is no simple task.
This Matcha begins with luxury tencha and Gyokuro leaves, carefully shaded for three weeks before plucking. This special process encourages the plants to produce elevated levels of chlorophyll, giving the leaves their remarkable emerald-green colour. After harvesting, the leaves are steamed, dried, stripped of stems and veins, and finally stone-ground into the beautifully fine powder that tea lovers know and adore.
As impressive as traditional Matcha is, our suppliers couldn't resist taking things just a little further.
Having discovered a high-altitude Western Kenyan tea containing three times the antioxidant value of regular green tea, they carefully blended it with the traditional Japan Izu Matcha. The result preserves the fresh green character and brilliant emerald appearance of classic Matcha, while significantly boosting its antioxidant content.
The result is a cup that honours centuries of tradition whilst embracing a little innovation of its own.
So pop the kettle on, whisk up a bowl, and raise a vibrant green toast.
To your health.
