What Does Matcha Taste Like? Tea Vs Latte
By Lisa Bot | Published 22 April 2024
Discovering Matcha
The Rising Popularity of Matcha Worldwide
Matcha has moved from a traditional Japanese tea to a worldwide trend.
You've probably seen its bright green colour on your Instagram feed or on the menu at your local cafe. Matcha is not just pretty — it's packed with nutrients and has a distinct flavour that has caught the interest of health buffs and food lovers.
Whether it's in an energising smoothie or a simple cup of tea, matcha is gaining fans globally and its popularity isn't slowing down.
A Brief History of Matcha
The history of matcha goes back over a thousand years, rooted in Chinese and Japanese culture. It started in China during the Tang Dynasty as a practical way to transport and consume tea: steam the leaves, press them into bricks, grind them into powder, and mix with water.
But it was when Eisai, a Zen Buddhist monk from Japan, introduced matcha to his country that it really took off. In Japan, matcha became a key part of the culture, especially among Zen communities. It became linked with the peaceful Japanese tea ceremony.
Today, matcha is enjoyed by everyone, not just tea experts or Zen followers, as a way to find a moment of calm.
Exploring Matcha’s Distinctive Flavour
Green Tastes: The Heart Of Matcha
When you drink matcha, you'll notice a strong, vegetal flavour similar to freshly picked greens. This distinctive taste is like enjoying the freshness of a lush garden.
It's similar to spinach with its earthy, leafy qualities that stand out in a fresh salad. These green flavours provide a clean and refreshing taste, making matcha an excellent drink for any time of day.
The Range Of Matcha Flavours: Umami To Sweet
Matcha offers a unique flavour journey. It starts with a rich umami taste, reminiscent of a hearty broth from your favourite soup, which provides a satisfying earthiness. This depth comes from the shaded growing conditions that enhance the tea’s amino acids.
Then, matcha surprises with a natural sweetness, similar to the subtle sugariness of ripe fruit, which stays with you after each sip. This balance of sweet and umami flavours makes drinking matcha a memorable experience of contrasting, yet harmonious tastes.
Grades Of Matcha And Their Impact On Taste
Ceremonial vs. Culinary: Choosing The Right Matcha
Choosing the right matcha is straightforward once you know what you expect from your matcha experience.
For a top-notch flavour that’s subtle and smooth with little bitterness, go for ceremonial grade. This is the highest quality matcha used traditionally in tea ceremonies, perfect when you want to enjoy the pure taste of matcha.
Culinary grade matcha, on the other hand, is great for cooking and making drinks. It’s strong enough to mix well with other ingredients in everything from lattes to cakes. Within this category, premium grade is best for those vibrant drinks where you still want to taste the matcha, but it shouldn’t overwhelm the other flavours.
The type of matcha you choose will greatly affect the taste of your dish or drink, so think about what you want to achieve.
Organic And Traditional: Choosing Your Matcha
When picking your matcha, you may have to decide between organic and traditional.
Organic matcha is certified to be grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, ideal if you care about environmental sustainability and health.
Traditional matcha uses long-standing farming techniques passed down through generations, often from areas known for their matcha.
Whether you go for organic or traditional, both offer a great taste experience.
Organic tends to be cleaner and sharper, while traditional might have a richer, fuller flavour due to its growing conditions. Your preference for sustainability, taste, or interest in traditional cultivation can help guide your choice.
Factors Influencing Matcha's Taste
Terroir And Growing Conditions
The flavour of matcha is greatly influenced by its terroir — the specific environmental conditions where it's grown.
Like fine wines, the soil, climate, and altitude where matcha grows create unique flavours. Places like Uji, Nishio, and Kyoto are famous for their matcha.
Uji is known for matcha with deep flavour and sweetness due to its misty environment and rich soil. Nishio’s matcha has a vibrant colour and strong taste, helped by lots of sunlight and fertile soil.
Understanding these regional differences can enhance your appreciation of matcha, letting you enjoy the unique flavours each area brings.
Processing Techniques
The way matcha is processed is crucial to its unique flavour.
The leaves are carefully steamed right after harvesting to stop fermentation, which keeps the green colour and fresh flavour. They are then dried and aged to bring out deeper flavours. Next, the leaves are deveined and destemmed before being ground into the fine powder we use.
This careful preparation ensures the matcha has a sweet, rich flavour with a hint of freshness. Expert handling of these steps makes all the difference, giving you a smoother and more flavourful matcha.
Tips For Making Matcha At Home
Water Temperature And Quality
The water you use to brew matcha makes a big difference. The ideal temperature is around 175 degrees Fahrenheit or 80 degrees Celsius.
At this heat, the water brings out the best flavours of matcha without any bitterness. It's like gently waking up the powder without burning it.
Also, the purity of the water matters a lot. Cleaner water means a clearer taste for the matcha. Soft water is especially good as it makes the matcha taste smoother and mellower.
Paying attention to your water's temperature and quality can turn an average cup of matcha into an exceptional one.
Why You Should Whisk Your Matcha
Whisking matcha is essential for a perfect cup. The tool for this is the chasen, a bamboo whisk made specifically for matcha. Its design helps mix the matcha and water smoothly, ensuring there are no lumps, and every sip is silky.
Whisking adds air, creating a frothy top layer, much like a creamy topping on your drink. The key to good whisking is quick "W" shaped motions to blend everything evenly. This not only adds a luxurious texture but also enhances the taste.
Put some effort into your whisking, and you'll see how it transforms your matcha into a rich and creamy drink.
Different Types Of Matcha Drinks
Traditional Vs Modern Matcha Beverages
Matcha enthusiasts often prefer the traditional way of making it, which involves sifting, measuring, and whisking. This method highlights matcha's pure flavour and connects you to its rich history and cultural significance. Each cup is a taste of centuries-old traditions.
However, in today's fast-paced world, matcha has evolved into various modern drinks. Now you can enjoy matcha lattes, smoothies, and even cocktails. These new versions blend traditional matcha with diverse flavours and textures.
Whether you stick with the classic method or mix it with oat milk and honey, matcha's flexibility makes it a great choice for any drink list.
Exploring Matcha Lattes With Different Milks
The matcha latte is a perfect mix of traditional Japanese matcha and creamy milk, a delightful fusion of cultures! The type of milk you choose affects the flavour significantly.
Whole milk makes the latte rich and creamy, softening the matcha's sharp taste. If you prefer something lighter, skim milk allows the matcha's green, vegetal notes to shine through.
For those who don’t consume dairy, almond milk adds a gentle, nutty sweetness that complements the earthiness of matcha, while oat milk provides a smooth and mildly sweet base. Coconut milk gives a tropical twist with its sweet flavour and rich texture.
Each type of milk interacts with matcha differently, creating unique textures and flavours, so experiment to find your favourite matcha latte style.
FAQs
What Should High-Quality Matcha Taste Like?
High-quality matcha should have a rich, smooth texture with a nice mix of sweet and umami flavours, and just a hint of bitterness from its antioxidants. It should be a vibrant green colour and have a fresh, appealing smell. The taste should be deep and comforting, with each sip smoothly flowing into the next, leaving a pleasant aftertaste that makes you want more.
How Can I Tell If My Matcha Is Fresh?
To check if your matcha is fresh, look at its colour first; it should be a bright, intense green, showing it’s full of chlorophyll. The smell should be fresh and grassy, hinting at its lively quality. A fresh matcha will have a complex flavour where bitterness is just a subtle hint, not overwhelming. If your matcha looks and tastes like this, it's definitely fresh.
Why Does Some Matcha Taste Bitter?
Matcha can sometimes taste bitter, and this isn’t always intended. If your matcha is overly bitter, it could be because it’s of low quality, which lacks the subtle balance of better grades and shows in a pronounced bitterness.
Also, brewing mistakes like using water that’s too hot or not whisking properly can make the matcha taste bitter. Too much matcha can also make your drink too strong and bitter. Remember, well-brewed, good-quality matcha should have just a slight bitterness to it.
Is Matcha Supposed To Be Sweet Or Savoury?
Matcha uniquely blends sweet and savoury flavours. It’s not overtly sweet like sugary desserts, but it does have a natural, mild sweetness from the tea leaves. This sweetness is complemented by a savoury richness, thanks to the umami taste developed during the shading process of the tea. So, matcha is both sweet and savoury, offering a layered taste experience that can satisfy cravings for both.
