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Matcha and green tea are both made from Camellia sinensis leaves, but they differ in how they are processed, presented, and enjoyed.
Here are the main differences between matcha and green tea:
1. How it is made:
- Green tea: Green tea is made by drying the tea leaves after picking, usually by stir-frying or steaming to stop the oxidation process. The leaves are then chopped or rolled into dry tea leaves. When brewing, hot water is poured directly onto the tea leaves and the tea is strained before drinking.
- Matcha tea: Matcha tea is a fine powder made from special green tea leaves, called tencha. These tea leaves are grown in the shade before harvesting to increase the chlorophyll and amino acid content, which helps create a characteristic sweetness. The tea leaves are then ground into a fine powder using a stone mortar. When drinking matcha, you do not strain the tea leaves but drink the entire powder mixed with hot water.
2. Form:
- Green tea: Is in the form of dried tea leaves or tea bags. When making tea, you usually let the tea leaves soak in water and then filter out the leaves before drinking.
- Matcha tea: Is in the form of fine powder, when making tea, you do not need to filter it, you will drink all the tea powder dissolved in water.
3. How to prepare:
- Green tea: Green tea is made by steeping tea leaves in hot water (around 70-80°C) for a few minutes to extract the flavour. Once brewed, strain the tea leaves and drink the tea.
- Matcha tea: Matcha is made by whisking the tea powder with hot water (around 70-80°C) in a bowl or using a bamboo whisk (chasen) to create a fine foam. You drink the dissolved tea powder directly without filtering it.
4. Nutritional content:
- Green tea: Because you only drink the water extracted from the tea leaves, green tea provides small amounts of antioxidants and caffeine. Green tea is low in calories and offers many health benefits thanks to compounds like catechins.
- Matcha tea: Because you drink the whole tea powder, matcha is much higher in nutrients than regular green tea. Matcha provides catechins, chlorophyll, and amino acids (especially L-theanine) in greater amounts. The L-theanine in matcha helps promote relaxation and focus, while also reducing the stimulating effects of caffeine.
5. Flavor:
- Green tea: Green tea has a light, refreshing flavor and can taste slightly astringent or bitter depending on the type of tea and how it is brewed.
- Matcha tea: Matcha tea has a richer, umami (naturally sweet) flavor and can sometimes have a slight bitter taste due to its high chlorophyll content. Matcha is often described as being fresher and more intense than regular green tea.
6. Health benefits:
- Green tea: Green tea is rich in antioxidants, especially catechins (EGCG), which help protect cells from free radical damage, reduce the risk of heart disease, and aid in weight loss. Green tea also boosts the immune system and benefits brain health.
- Matcha tea: Because you drink the whole tea leaf, matcha offers many times more health benefits than green tea. Matcha provides a long-lasting energy boost thanks to its combination of caffeine and L-theanine, while also providing a large amount of antioxidants that help protect the body from aging and disease.
7. Caffeine:
- Green Tea: Green tea is low in caffeine, which helps increase alertness without causing anxiety or nervousness.
- Matcha Tea: Because you drink the whole tea powder, matcha has a higher amount of caffeine than green tea. A cup of matcha can contain about 70-100 mg of caffeine, while a cup of green tea only contains about 30-50 mg of caffeine.
Matcha and green tea both come from the same plant, but matcha has distinct characteristics such as its fine powder form, special brewing method, and more nutrients. Matcha has higher levels of caffeine, antioxidants, and L-theanine, which helps provide a lasting boost of energy and focus, while green tea offers a milder taste and less caffeine.