matchaism

03 — Health

Wellness,
said well.

Matcha is the whole tea leaf, ground. Here is what is in the bowl, how to talk about it accurately, and what to leave unsaid.

Form
Whole leaf, stone-milled
Serving
2 g in 70 ml
Caffeine
40–90 mg a bowl
Origin
Yame, Fukuoka

A — In the bowl

The whole leaf, not an infusion

Five things worth knowing, each with a sentence you can say on camera.

  1. 01

    Whole leaf

    The difference

    With steeped tea, the leaves are thrown away. With matcha you drink all of the leaf, including what water alone cannot extract.

    Say it like this“With matcha, you drink the whole leaf.”

  2. 02

    L-theanine

    Amino acid

    An amino acid found almost only in tea. Shade-growing helps the leaf keep more of it. It is studied for its calming effect, especially alongside caffeine.

    Say it like this“Matcha naturally contains L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea.”

  3. 03

    Caffeine

    About 40–90 mg per 2 g

    Matcha contains roughly 19–44 mg of caffeine per gram, depending on the tea. Many people describe the lift as steadier than coffee.

    Say it like this“Matcha has caffeine. For me it feels like a calmer lift than coffee.”

  4. 04

    Catechins

    Polyphenols

    Green tea polyphenols, chiefly EGCG. They give tea its gentle astringency.

    Say it like this“Matcha contains catechins, the polyphenols of green tea.”

  5. 05

    Chlorophyll

    The colour

    Shading makes the leaf produce more chlorophyll. That is where the vivid green comes from.

    Say it like this“That green comes from shade-growing the leaf.”

B — The daily bowl

Four numbers, then fifteen seconds

Matcha
2g
About one teaspoon
Water
70ml
Soft water if you can
Temperature
80°C
176 °F, never boiling
Whisk
15s
Quick M-shaped strokes
  1. Sift the matcha into a warm bowl so it has no lumps.
  2. Pour in the water.
  3. Whisk briskly from the wrist until a fine foam covers the surface.
  4. For a latte, whisk with 30 ml of water, then add 150 ml of warm milk.

C — Good to know

Caffeine and common sense

Matcha contains caffeine. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or sensitive to caffeine, ask your doctor how much is right for you. This page is general information, not medical advice.