Tea Blog

In the past few years, a hot (or iced!) new tea has hit the scene: matcha. If you're not familiar, matcha is a type of green tea that's made by taking young tea leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant and grinding them into a bright green powder. This powder is whisked with hot water, which is different than traditional green tea, where the leaves are infused in water and then removed. With matcha, you're actually drinking the (ground) whole tea leaves, which means you're getting all of the nutrients they contain. 

What's special about matcha? The leaves, grown in the shade, are plucked by hand, the stems and veins are removed, and what remains is ground into a very fine powder. Traditionally, matcha is used in Japan for tea ceremonies, but this ceremonial tea has taken the west by storm in the last several years.  

Why would you want to drink it? Ah, the benefits are plentiful, young grasshopper. It's packed with antioxidants called catechins. Specifically, EGCG, which is believed to have cancer-fighting benefits, helps prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and beyond.  

While those long-term health benefits are incredible, the short-term perk you get from drinking matcha may make you a matcha-convert. Matcha is known for giving you an energy boost without the crash from caffeine, thanks to its high content of L-Theanine. Think of it as calm energy, rather than that buzzy feeling from too much coffee. You get a focused mind without the jittery hands. A mid-afternoon energy pick-me-up without the downside? Sign me up.  

How Much Matcha Tea Per Cup?

When you're preparing a mug of matcha, you'll scoop 1-teaspoon of matcha per 8-ounces of water. If you're brewing up tea to share, you'll want to add more matcha powder into the brew so you get to taste its full flavor, maximum energy boost, and all those great health benefits. 

Brewing matcha is slightly different from your traditional teas, as you won't want to use an infuser. Instead, you'll plop the matcha powder directly into your mug, cover it with 8-ounces of 175° F water, and stir vigorously until the tea is frothy. That's it! Cheers to trying something new! 

How to Make Iced Matcha Tea

Matcha is delightful as a hot tea and divine iced. You've likely seen this bright green beverage served over ice around your local coffee shop. It's truly a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds. So, here's how to whip up iced matcha from the comfort of your own home. 

Step One: Measure Your Tea

Since you'll be diluting the tea with ice, always double the amount of matcha you add. For a single-serving glass of iced matcha tea, you'll scoop in 2 teaspoons of matcha powder.  

Step Two: Pour in Hot Water

Grab your glass of choice and pour in your 8-ounces of 175° F water. You may want to get an electronic tea kettle that tells you the precise temperature of your water since hot water can scald this lovely powder. If you don't have one, you can boil some water and wait approximately 5-7 minutes for it to cool. This will get you roughly to the target temperature.  

Step Three: Mix, Mix, Mix!

Remember, with matcha, there is no steeping. Step three is to whisk that bad boy until it's nice and frothy. Think whisking whipping cream. 

Step Four: Pour Over Ice and Enjoy!

Carefully grab your matcha mug and fill it with ice. Pour the matcha over the ice, doctor it up to your liking –– maybe that means making it into a latte, softening it with some honey, or drinking it plain–– it's your matcha, we won't tell you how to drink it. What we will say is cheers to Living Loose!

How to Make Matcha Taste Better?  

At Tiesta Tea, we've worked hard to make all tea accessible, so whether you've been a tea drinker for years or you're just starting to dip your toe into drinking matcha, we've got you covered. 

Matcha has an umami taste to it, meaning it's earthy. It could be considered an acquired taste since it's a flavor profile many aren't accustomed to consuming regularly or on its own. But don't be intimidated! Just like with coffee, some people prefer to drink it plain, some soften or sweeten the flavor a bit –– or a lot –– so do what works for you! Take a sip of it plain and make the decision that suits your tastebuds. 

If you do decide to flavor your matcha, some ideas include: 

• Sugar (or your favorite sugar substitute) 
• Milk 
• Honey
• A squeeze of lemon 
• Half and half
• Creamer 
• Vanilla  

The options to make your matcha more of your cup of tea are endless, so feel free to experiment to get that perfect hot tea or iced tea that you're after. 

How to Make Matcha Tea Without a Whisk

No whisk? No problem. While technically, matcha should be made with a bamboo whisk (also known as a chasen), it's fine to improvise. You're not partaking in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, so alternatives are welcome. 

To be clear, matcha will not dissolve in hot water by itself. Whether you use a whisk or a whisk-substitute, you'll need to work to suspend the powder in water. While you may think that mixing it rapidly with a fork would be fine, please, don't. There are better ways, ways that don't get you clumpy, chalky matcha. 

Use a Blender

No doubt, using a blender will get your matcha very, very well incorporated into your water. It's a quick way to get matcha ready to go. No whisk required. The amount of time it will take varies by blender, but in no time, you'll notice a nice foam at the top of the water. Be sure you check that there aren't stray chunks floating. Then simply pour into your favorite mug or glass and bottoms up! 

Use a Milk Frother

Maybe you have a hand-held frother, or your coffee pot has one attached, but it will certainly do the trick to whip up (no pun intended) some matcha for you. 

Use a Jar with a Lid, and Lots of Muscles 

If you have a mason jar or any other vessel with a tight sealing lid, you can mix your matcha up in there. When we say you'll have to shake it vigorously, we mean it. So, whether you're getting out all of your aggression by shaking this matcha jar or dancing around your living room to get it nice and frothy – do you. We won't judge.  

How to Make Matcha Milk Tea

Matcha milk tea, also known as an (iced) matcha latte, is probably the most popular way to enjoy this beautiful, tasty beverage. Learn how to make this at home, and you'll not only feel fancy, but you're likely to enjoy a higher quality matcha latte (and save some big bucks), too. 

Step One: Make Your Matcha

You'll basically follow steps 1-3 above, but you'll cut the water amount drastically. Instead of 8-ounces of hot water, opt for 2-ounces. By following steps one through three above, you'll have a nice mug of matcha ready to go for your latte. Let it sit in the original mug for a minute or so, then pour into your preferred glass. 

Step Two: Sweeten it Up

While the matcha is still hot and frothy, pour in approximately 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 2 tablespoons of honey, to taste. Stir it in until honey dissolves. 

Step Three: Make it a Latte

Add ¾ cup of the milk of your choice. If you're after a hot latte, heat the milk first. If you're going to pour it over ice, keep the milk cold, add to the matcha mixture, and drop in some ice cubes. Enjoy! 

Ready to Try Some Matcha Tea? 

At Tiesta Tea, we travel around the globe to source the best quality ingredients to produce the best cup of tea. We believe in making loose leaf tea that's accessible and affordable without sacrificing quality. Ready to brew up some matcha? Check out our matcha selection here. Cheers to Living Loose!