Often hear the term “matcha”? In fact, matcha is a Japanese green tea that offers various health benefits as well as represents the elegant Japanese culture of drinking tea. Unlike regular tea, Japanese green tea doesn't need to be brewed, so you'll be consuming whole tea leaves instead of tea extract. Do you prefer thick green tea (koicha) or light green tea (usucha)? Whatever your preference, make sure the tea is brewed properly for maximum flavor and aroma!
Ingredients
Usucha
- 1½ tsp. (2 grams) green tea powder
- 60 ml hot water
Koicha
- 3 tsp. (4 grams) green tea powder
- 60 ml hot water
Matcha Latte
- 1½ tsp. (2 grams) green tea powder
- 1 tbsp. (15 ml) hot water
- 240 ml milk (cow's milk, almond, coconut milk, etc.)
- 1 tsp. agave syrup, honey, maple syrup, or sugar (optional)
Ice Matcha Latte
- 1½ tsp. (2 grams) green tea powder
- 1 tbsp. (15 ml) hot water
- 240 ml milk (cow's milk, almond, coconut milk, etc.)
- 1 tsp. agave syrup, honey, maple syrup, or sugar (optional)
- 5 to 7 ice cubes
Step
Method 1 of 4: Setting up Usucha
Step 1. Sift 1½ teaspoon of green tea powder into a small tea bowl, set aside
Place a small slotted sieve on the rim of the bowl, then pour in the tea powder while gently tapping the side of the strainer so that the tea has a smoother texture and doesn't clump when brewed. If you don't have a chashaku (a special bamboo spoon for measuring green tea), you can use a regular teaspoon of the same amount.
Usucha is a type of green tea that is lighter or watery in texture
Step 2. Pour 60 ml of hot water into a separate cup
The water temperature should be hot but not boiling (about 75 to 80°C). At this point, you should not pour water into the bowl of tea powder.
Step 3. Slowly, pour the hot water into the bowl of tea
In addition to preventing the tea powder from clumping, this step also needs to be done to warm the teacup and make the tea more delicious when drunk. After that, dry the cup or tea bowl with a paper towel.
Step 4. Stir the tea in a quick zigzag motion for 10 to 15 minutes using a chasen
Chasen is a bamboo shaker specifically intended for making Japanese-style green tea. If possible, don't use a metal fork or whisk to keep the aroma and taste of the tea from changing.
This method can make the tea foamy. For a softer drink, stir the tea in a circular motion
Step 5. Pour the tea back into the cup and enjoy immediately
This type of tea is not brewed like regular tea so the tea powder will inevitably settle to the bottom of the cup if left too long.
Method 2 of 4: Setting Up Koicha
Step 1. Sift 3 teaspoons of tea powder into a small tea bowl, set aside
Place a small slotted sieve on the rim of the bowl, then pour in the tea powder while gently tapping the side of the strainer to make the tea smoother and less lumpy when brewing. If you don't have chashaku, use a regular teaspoon of the same amount.
Koicha is a type of green tea that is thicker in texture
Step 2. Pour 60 ml of hot water into another cup
The water temperature should be hot but not boiling (about 75 to 80°C). Do not mix water with green tea at this stage.
Make sure you only use water that comes from the earth's crust (spring water) or water that has gone through a filtering process. Tap water contains too many minerals that risk changing the taste of the tea making it unsuitable for use
Step 3. Pour some water into a bowl of tea
Do not pour the entire portion of water so that the tea does not clot.
Step 4. Beat the tea in quick, circular motions using a chasen
Chasen is a special bamboo shaker usually used to make green tea in Japanese tea ceremonies. If possible, avoid using a metal fork or whisk to keep the taste and aroma of the tea from changing. Keep stirring until the tea powder dissolves and the texture resembles a thick paste.
Step 5. Pour the remaining water into the bowl, stir again
Again, stir the tea using the chasen in a semi-circular motion. Keep whisking until the pasta has a smooth texture, but is still thicker and darker than Usucha.
Step 6. Pour the green tea into a cup and drink it immediately
If you leave it for too long, the green tea powder will settle to the bottom of the cup.
Method 3 of 4: Making Matcha Latte
Step 1. Sift 1½ teaspoon of green tea powder into a cup or glass
Place a small strainer on the rim of a glass or cup, and pour in the tea powder while gently tapping the sides of the strainer. This method can make the texture of the tea powder smoother and less lumpy when brewed.
Step 2. Pour 1 tablespoon of hot water into a cup
The water should be hot but not boiling (about 75 to 80°C). Then, stir the tea in a zigzag motion to get a frothy texture using a chasen or a small regular beater. Keep stirring until the tea powder is completely dissolved.
Step 3. Heat the milk and sweetener
Milk can be heated using a milk frother, espresso maker, saucepan, or even a microwave! Do not heat the milk until it boils. Stop when the temperature has reached the range of 75 to 80°C.
Step 4. Beat milk until foamy for 10 seconds, if desired
You can do this with the help of a milk frother or espresso maker. If you don't have both, pour the milk into a separate cup, then use a hand frother to make it frothy.
Step 5. Pour hot milk into a cup of tea
Hold the milk foam from pouring into the cup with a spoon, and pour as much milk as you want into the cup.
Step 6. Pour the milk foam over the tea
Take the milk foam with a spoon, then gently place it evenly on the surface of the tea. If you want, you can add one to two tablespoons of milk foam to the top of the matcha latte.
Step 7. Sprinkle the surface of the tea with green tea powder, if desired
Drink the tea immediately before the dregs settle to the bottom of the cup.
Method 4 of 4: Making an Ice Matcha Latte
Step 1. Sift 1½ teaspoon (2 grams) of green tea powder into a glass or cup
Place the filter on the rim of the cup or glass, then add the tea powder while gently tapping the side of the filter so that the texture of the tea powder is smoother and not lumpy.
Step 2. Add sweetener, if desired
Since hot water will be added at a later stage, it's best to add sweetener at this stage. Instead of cold milk, sweeteners can be more soluble in hot water. Use whatever sweetener you prefer, such as agave syrup, honey, maple syrup, sugar, etc.
Step 3. Mix the tea powder with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of hot water
Remember, the water has to be really hot (about 75 to 80°C)! Then, stir the tea in a zigzag motion using a chasen or a regular whisk until the tea is dissolved and there are no lumps. The texture of the tea should turn into a thick, green paste.
Step 4. Pour cold milk into a glass
While you can use any kind of milk you like, many people find green tea flavored better with almond milk. Keep stirring until the milk and green tea paste are well combined. Make sure that no lumps of pasta remain, and that the drink turns light green in color.
Step 5. Add ice cubes to taste, if desired
So that the taste of the tea does not decrease after the ice cubes melt, try using ice cubes made from milk. If you don't want to eat an iced matcha latte that is too cold, skip this step.
Step 6. Decorate the surface of the tea with green tea powder, then drink it immediately
If you leave it for too long, the green tea powder will settle to the bottom of the cup.
Tips
- Make sure the tea is only brewed with spring water or water that has been filtered, as excess mineral content in tap water can affect the taste of the tea.
- Store green tea powder in an airtight container, and refrigerate it. The tea can last for 2-4 weeks after opening.
- If you store powdered tea in the refrigerator, you'll need to let it cool to room temperature before brewing it.
- Unlike ordinary tea which has to be brewed with hot water for a while, finely ground green tea leaves can be mixed directly with hot water and drunk immediately before the dregs settle.
- Chasen is a special bamboo shaker that is often used to process green tea at various Japanese tea ceremonies. If you can't find it, you can also use a small regular beater.
- Chasen can be purchased at supermarkets that sell imported products from Japan, online stores, or specialty stores that sell a variety of tea sets.
