Meaning
抹茶 (まっちゃ, Matcha) is Matcha, a Japanese food (ingredients, tea).
What is Matcha?
Matcha is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves. Unlike other varieties of tea, the plants for matcha are shade-grown for three to four weeks before harvest, and the stems and veins are removed during processing. During shaded growth, the tea plant produces more theanine and caffeine. The powdered form of matcha is consumed differently from tea leaves or tea bags, and is suspended in a liquid, typically water or milk. The traditional Japanese tea ceremony centers on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha as hot tea and embodies a meditative spiritual style. In modern times, matcha has also come to be used to flavor and dye foods such as mochi and soba , green tea ice cream, matcha lattes, and a variety of Japanese wagashi confectionery. Matcha used in ceremonies is referred to as ceremonial-grade matcha. Lower quality matcha is referred to as culinary-grade, but there is no standard industry definition or requirements for either.