How to Make Matcha, Japanese Green Tea, Step by Step
Matcha: The Japanese green tea that packs a considerable amount of caffeine and offers a calming sense of ritual. You don't steep this tea—it's gyokuro green tea that's been ground into a fine powder and whisked with hot water to create a full-bodied, verdant elixir. The linchpin of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, it's celebrated for its nutritional value as well as its deep vegetal flavor (even when used in cooking).
"I once met a neurosurgeon in Geneva who drinks matcha every time he performs surgery," said Ken Kano, president of Ippodo Tea's U.S. division. He and tea consultant Riichiro Kato came to our test kitchen to demonstrate, step-by-step, how to make the perfect cup of matcha—as well as the different ways to make the deep green tea. Click through and meet your possible new morning ritual.
Danielle Walsh1/11Meet your matcha accessories: a handmade bamboo whisk (called a chasen), a tea bowl (matcha-chawan), a measuring ladle (chashaku), a tea strainer, and—of course—your matcha powder.
Danielle Walsh2/11To brew a cup, scoop 1½ ladlefuls (about 2 grams, or 1½ teaspoons) matcha powder into your strainer.
Danielle Walsh3/11Sift your matcha powder into your tea bowl, swirling the powder around the strainer with your ladle. This will ensure there are no clumps so your tea will be smooth.
Danielle Walsh4/11After you've sifted your powder, it should look like this. Pretty, right?
Danielle Walsh5/11Pour boiling water (about 2 ounces) into a teacup, then let it sit until it cools down to about 180–190 degrees (about a minute). Carefully pour the hot water into the bowl with the matcha powder.
Danielle Walsh6/11Using your chasen, whisk to combine your tea. Relax your wrist, then whisk in a gentle circular motion for thin, smooth tea, and in a brisk "M" or "W"-shaped motion for foamy tea. (Fun fact: Smooth and foamy tea both have slightly different scents and flavors.) Whisk for about 10–15 seconds until the tea is bright green.
Danielle Walsh7/11Carefully pour your matcha into a teacup.
Danielle Walsh8/11Here's the finished foamy matcha tea. Make sure to drink it right after you've prepared it—the powder will settle at the bottom after a while.
Danielle Walsh9/11To make extra-thick matcha, scoop 3 ladlefuls of high-grade matcha powder into your strainer and sift. Pour boiling water into a teacup (about 2 ounces), then add half of the water to your powder. Circle back and forth with your whisk, carefully combining the powder with the water. Don't add all the water at one time—it will clump.
Danielle Walsh10/11Then pour the rest of the water into your tea bowl, and whisk in small gentle circles and rainbow-shaped motions. Whisk until your thick tea is completely smooth, then serve in small teacups.
11/11Here's what your thick matcha will look like. Drink up!