Matcha Powder Different Grades | Ceremonial to Culinary
Matcha powder has taken the world by storm, captivating tea enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals alike. This vibrant green tea powder, steeped in Japanese tradition, has gained popularity for its unique flavour and potential health benefits. As you delve into the world of matcha, you’ll discover that not all varieties are created equal. Different grades of matcha powder exist, each with its own distinct characteristics and uses.
From ceremonial grade matcha, prized for its smooth taste and used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, to culinary grade matcha perfect for baking and cooking, there’s a wide spectrum to explore. In this article, you’ll learn about the various matcha grades, their unique qualities, and how to choose the right one for your needs. Whether you’re a matcha connoisseur or a curious newcomer, understanding these differences will help you appreciate the nuances of this remarkable green tea powder.
Table of Contents
Ceremonial Grade Matcha: The Highest Quality
Ceremonial grade matcha is the pinnacle of green tea powder, prized for its exceptional quality and used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. This premium variety offers a unique experience in terms of appearance, taste, and preparation.
Characteristics
When you encounter ceremonial grade matcha, you’ll notice its vibrant jade green colour. This striking hue stems from the preservation of chlorophyll, a result of the shade-growing process. The texture of the powder is remarkably fine, almost like baby powder, setting it apart from lower-quality varieties.
The flavour profile of ceremonial matcha is distinct. You’ll find it has a mellow taste with a sweet, umami note. This unique flavour is attributed to the high levels of amino acids, particularly L-theanine, present in the tea leaves.
Production Process
The journey to create ceremonial grade matcha is meticulous and labour-intensive. It begins with carefully selecting the youngest tea leaves, typically harvested in spring around late April. For the last 20-30 days before harvest, farmers shade the plants using TANA tarps, reducing light exposure to 60-75%. This process encourages the production of chlorophyll and L-theanine.
After harvesting, the leaves undergo a brief steaming process lasting about 20 seconds. This step prevents oxidation, preserving the vibrant green colour and nutritional components. The leaves are then de-veined and de-stemmed to ensure only the finest parts are used.
The final and crucial step is the grinding process. Ceremonial matcha is traditionally stone-ground, a slow method that preserves the tea’s quality and flavour. This process gives matcha its name, which literally means ‘ground tea’.
Uses
Ceremonial grade matcha is primarily intended to be mixed with water and consumed as a beverage. It’s the star of the Japanese tea ceremony, where it’s prepared as koicha (thick tea) or usucha (thin tea). The preparation process is an art in itself:
- Sift 2 grammes of matcha powder into a tea bowl.
- Add 50ml of hot water (100°C).
- Whisk briskly in a “W” or “M” motion using a bamboo whisk.
- Create a frothy layer on the surface.
- Gently break any large air bubbles.
This high-quality matcha is best enjoyed on its own, allowing you to fully appreciate its complex flavour profile and smooth texture.
Premium Grade Matcha: The Middle Ground
Characteristics
Premium grade matcha strikes a balance between ceremonial and culinary grades. You’ll find it has a stronger taste and slightly more bitterness than ceremonial grade, but it’s not as intense as culinary grade. This matcha offers a unique flavour profile with intense grassy notes and bittersweet undertones, striking the right balance between strength, bitterness, and taste.
The colour of premium grade matcha is a deep green, though not as vibrant as ceremonial grade. It has a smaller particle size compared to culinary grade, which allows for a more homogenous mixture when whisked.
Production Process
The production of premium grade matcha shares similarities with ceremonial grade. Tea bushes are covered with cloths for an extended period to produce leaves of a deep green colour. This process is particularly challenging for organic matcha, as it requires careful management to combat bugs and diseases without compromising the natural ecosystem.
Premium grade matcha is typically harvested during the second harvest, which contributes to its stronger taste. Like ceremonial grade, it’s ground in stone mortars for many hours, creating a unique light smoothness that’s perfect for drinking.
Uses
Premium grade matcha is versatile, making it ideal for both drinking and home baking. You can use it to add a unique flavour and incredible colour to various food and drink recipes. Here are some popular uses:
- Drinking: You can enjoy premium grade matcha on its own or mixed with a little apple, lemon, or elderflower juice to sweeten it.
- Matcha Lattes: Its smaller particle size and ability to mix well make it excellent for creating silky, less powdery matcha lattes.
- Baking: While it’s not recommended for oven use as it may lose colour and flavour, you can use it as a vibrant dust finish for matcha pastries.
- Smoothies: Add it to your smoothies for a nutritious boost and unique flavour.
Premium grade matcha offers a balance of quality and versatility, making it a popular choice for those who want to explore matcha beyond traditional tea ceremonies.
Culinary Grade Matcha: Versatile and Robust
Characteristics
Culinary grade matcha is a versatile and robust variety of green tea powder. You’ll notice it has a bolder, less nuanced flavour compared to ceremonial grade matcha. This stronger taste allows it to stand up well to other ingredients. The colour of culinary grade matcha is a more subdued shade of green, yet still beautiful. This is due to the tea leaves being older and having more exposure to sunlight during growth.
Production Process
The production of culinary grade matcha differs from its higher-grade counterparts. The tea leaves used are harvested during the Second Harvest (Nibancha) or Third Harvest (Sanbancha), which take place from June to the end of July. These older leaves have been exposed to more sunlight, resulting in higher concentrations of antioxidants called catechins. This exposure contributes to the rich, bold flavour and slightly more bitter notes in culinary grade matcha.
Uses
Culinary grade matcha is incredibly versatile, making it perfect for a wide range of applications. You can use it in:
- Baking: Its strong flavour helps offset sweetness in baked goods.
- Lattes: The bold taste stands up well to milk and other ingredients.
- Smoothies: Add it to your favourite smoothie recipe for a nutritious boost.
- Cooking: Use it in savoury dishes like matcha green curry or sushi rolls.
- Ice cream: Its flavour pairs well with dairy products.
There are even subtypes of culinary grade matcha, each suited for specific uses. For example, ingredient grade matcha works well with dairy products, while café grade matcha is ideal for baking due to its strong flavour and unique green colour.
Culinary grade matcha offers you endless possibilities in the kitchen. Whether you’re making a matcha latte, baking matcha cookies, or experimenting with matcha in savoury dishes, this versatile powder has you covered.
Conclusion
Matcha powder’s journey from leaf to cup is a fascinating process, with each grade offering its own unique characteristics and uses. From the meticulously crafted ceremonial grade to the versatile culinary grade, matcha has found its way into various aspects of our culinary world. The different grades not only reflect the quality of the tea leaves but also the care and precision involved in their production, resulting in a range of flavours and applications that cater to diverse preferences and needs.
Whether you’re a tea enthusiast seeking the purest matcha experience or a culinary adventurer looking to add a touch of green to your creations, there’s a matcha grade for everyone. This green tea powder’s popularity continues to grow, thanks to its versatility, potential health benefits, and the rich cultural heritage it represents. As you explore the world of matcha, you’ll find that each grade has something special to offer, enhancing your tea-drinking experience and culinary endeavours alike.