This is Viewpoints Explained…
If you’ve been to Starbucks or Dunkin’ lately, the infusion of new matcha concoctions is hard to miss. The vibrant green drink seems to be everywhere and isn’t going away anytime soon.
Matcha comes from Japan and is a powdered green tea that’s made by grinding shade-grown leaves and whisking them into hot water. For over 400 years, it’s been a key part of formal Japanese tea ceremonies. Today, when served authentically, it has an earthy, grassy and slightly bitter taste.
In the U.S., this flavor profile looks much different. In a café setting, Matcha is often mixed with sweetened syrups and frothed milk to create indulgent hot or iced drinks. People enjoy experimenting with matcha at home since it doesn’t require much equipment and its bright green color makes it stand out on social media, where preparation videos and reviews are very popular.
To keep up with demand, Japan now exports more than half of the matcha it produces, but supply’s still limited because of how the crop is grown and processed. That gap has opened the door for new producers in places like China, South Korea, Australia and Kenya. for consumers, this can mean lower grade Matcha that’s disguised by other ingredients like sugar and other fillers.
If you’re buying Matcha, look for products that list Japan as the origin country, have a vibrant green color, and come from brands that share specific harvest or region details.
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