Japanese tea glossary
Matcha
Short answer: matcha is made by finely grinding tencha. Not every powdered green tea is therefore matcha.
How matcha is produced
To produce tencha, tea plants are shaded before harvesting, then the leaves are steamed and dried without rolling. The tencha is prepared and ground into a fine powder.
Stone milling is a known method, but it should not be presented as the only machine capable of producing matcha. The definition first depends on tencha and its processing.
How it is prepared
Matcha is suspended in water, commonly with a bamboo whisk called a chasen. Unlike loose-leaf tea, the powder is not removed after infusion.
Usucha and koicha are preparations connected with chanoyu. A latte or cooking recipe is another use, not a tea ceremony.
What to check on a product page
- raw material and recommended use;
- origin and producer or manufacturer;
- harvest or packing date when available;
- storage instructions;
- claims based only on the word “ceremonial”.
Sources
Sources checked 13 July 2026.
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Last review
Definition checked 13 July 2026.