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Ingredients: Organic Matcha green tea powder (100%).
Product weights: 40g, 100g, 1kg
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a finely milled vibrant green tea powder made from the highest quality Japanese tea leaves. Clearspring Organic Premium Matcha comes from Uji, a region high in the hills around Kyoto, renowned for producing the best Japanese teas. Only accessibly by foot, this remote area is unpolluted and rich in friendly bugs such as spiders, ladybirds, praying mantis and dragonflies to keep the pests under control (best to use organic matcha as non-organic matcha is grown using excessive amounts of agricultural fertilisers and pesticides). Shade grown for the final few months to allow the leaves to fill with chlorophyll, the finest young tea buds are picked, dried and ground in a granite mortar.
History of Matcha
Matcha is finely ground green tea leaf powder and is the most prized amongst Japanese teas. It has been drunk as part of the tea ceremony for 900 years as well as by Buddhist monks during long days of meditation.
Different grades of Matcha
Growing conditions, time of harvest and processing techniques have a direct effect on the grade and final flavour of the Matcha:
Ceremonial grade Matcha uses the finest, smallest shade grown leaves from the very tip of the tea bush - giving it a very vibrant green colour and a slightly sweet, smooth flavour.
Premium grade Matcha is ideal for both drinking and home baking, can add unique flavour and incredible colour to food and drink recipes.
Basic grade Matcha is slightly bitter, less expensive and is generally only used for cooking.
Production
High-grade Organic Uji Matcha products are cultivated under the diligent management of Clearspring's tea master Juro Okuda. The tea bushes are covered with cloths for as long as possible to produce leaves of a deep green colour. It is very difficult to grow organic matcha; one must fight against both bugs and diseases. Harmful insects can appear because of small climate changes threatening the tea crop. For this reason, it is essential to manage the cultivation in a way that places primary importance on the natural ecosystem.
Ceremonial and Premium grades of Matcha are ground in stone mortars for many hours. This creates a unique light smoothness that is perfect for drinking.
Product Codes: CS159 (40g), TEA0402.100A (100g), CS160 (1kg)
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This product is exempt from the need to disclose nutritional data under regulation (EU) 1169/2011.
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How to make a cup of Matcha tea
Traditionally Matcha is drunk whisked in hot water as a smooth green tea. Take ¼ teaspoon (1g) of Matcha powder and add hot water from a kettle which has not quite boiled to maximise the health benefits. Thoroughly whisk using a traditional wooden whisk or a hand held electric milk frother to avoid lumps of powder in the bottom of your cup.
Traditional Tea Ceremony
The traditional Japanese tea ceremony dates back 900 years to feudal times. It can take up to 3 hours and is steeped in history, is full of theatre and is incredibly calming. If you would like to make Matcha emulating the essence and spirit of the traditional tea ceremony you can do so in less than 3 minutes but you will need a bowl, a bamboo tea scoop and a bamboo matcha whisk.
- Preheat the bowl thoroughly with hot water, then empty it and dry carefully with a cloth. Use the bamboo tea scoop to measure 1½ heaped scoops of Matcha powder and place them in the bowl.
- Pour approximately 50-60ml of hot water into the bowl. Make sure the temperature of the water is approximately 70-80°C, not boiling.
- Take the bamboo whisk in one hand and hold the rim of the Matcha bowl with the other. Whisk the Matcha briskly in a ‘W’ motion using your wrist (not your arm).
- When a thick froth with many tiny bubbles has developed on the surface, slowly lift the bamboo whisk from the centre of the bowl.
- Add more water according to your taste and savour the deliciously smooth flavour of Matcha
Mix & Matcha: Serving suggestions
As well as being delicious and good for you, it is also very versatile. Matcha powder can be added to almost anything!
Vanilla Matcha Latte
Mix 1g of Matcha powder with a little bit of cold water in a cup then add to hot organic vanilla soya milk while whisking thoroughly. Alternatively use organic vanilla rice or almond milk.
Matcha Smoothie
One of the most popular ways of preparing matcha is as an iced smoothie. Just combine the following ingredients in a blender and enjoy:
> 200ml of organic soya / rice or almond milk
> 1 tbs. of Clearspring malt syrup
> 1 tsp. of Clearspring Matcha powder
> 1 banana (can substitute with other fresh or frozen fruit)
> Ice cubes
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Third Generation Tea Family from Kyoto, Japan
In the hills around Kyoto a third generation family use special organic methods, known as Nature Farming, to produce a range of exquisite green teas for Clearspring.
The ancient farming approach used by the family builds up soil vitality by maintaining a semi-wild environment where the plants are not overly protected and gain nourishment from repeated applications of compost made from tea clippings and dried leaves which together with regular mulching helps control weed growth and maintain soil moisture.
Whilst most tea farmers spray their plants with pesticides and herbicides 15-20 times a year, our producer's tea bushes have a vigour that enables them to thrive without chemical inputs.
The family's yields may be lower than average but their plants have far less mould and blight. They remain productive for up to 40 years, twice as long as the typical tea bush treated with chemicals.
As well as growing tea, the producers undertake the skilful blanching, drying and roasting processes and then pack their teas right on their estate to ensure maximum freshness and fullness of flavour.
Compare this to the common practice of shipping in bulk, and then blending and packing the tea many months later in Europe, and it is easy to see why Clearspring tea tastes so fresh.
Organic
Kosher
Vegan
Matcha is a finely milled vibrant green tea powder made from the highest quality Japanese tea leaves. Clearspring Organic Premium Matcha comes from Uji, a region high in the hills around Kyoto, renowned for producing the best Japanese teas. Only accessibly by foot, this remote area is unpolluted and rich in friendly bugs such as spiders, ladybirds, praying mantis and dragonflies to keep the pests under control (best to use organic matcha as non-organic matcha is grown using excessive amounts of agricultural fertilisers and pesticides). Shade grown for the final few months to allow the leaves to fill with chlorophyll, the finest young tea buds are picked, dried and ground in a granite mortar.
Vanilla Matcha Latte
Matcha Smoothie
In the hills around Kyoto a third generation family use special organic methods, known as Nature Farming, to produce a range of exquisite green teas for Clearspring.