Matcha (Green Tea Powder)

[EverythingsHazy]

This thread is for the discussion of all things matcha related.

For those who don't know what matcha is, it's a fine green powder made from green tea leaves that have been destemmed and deveined before being ground up. Unlike other teas that are strained out via a tea strainer or the use of a tea bag, matcha powder is left in the drink and consumed. This provides the consumer with a much higher amount of the chemicals present in the leaves.

Traditionally, matcha is whisked into hot water, and consumed without any additives, although some people prefer to add milk/sugar. It has a very natural, earthy, almost seaweed flavor, and is a bit thicker than regular tea, since there is powder in it.

You can also have matcha in latte form, which can be iced for a delicious summer beverage.

Matcha powder contains caffeine, but less than coffee per serving, and it seems to give a much more comfortable energy/focus boost, with less of a crash (in my experience). It is the only caffeine I can have that doesn't make me jittery). It also contains L-Theanine which provides relaxation and stress relief without drowsiness.

Matcha has a history of being used as a meditation aid, due to the calm focus it provides.

 

[Green Kiwi]

i drink heaps of this shit daily and, even though it did take me a while to get used to the taste, i know really really like it.i like it so much i take it with me whenever wherever i'm going.
my main goal was the improved focus, but with it came a fancy for the matcha taste!

 

[EverythingsHazy]

i drink heaps of this shit daily and, even though it did take me a while to get used to the taste, i know really really like it.i like it so much i take it with me whenever wherever I'm going.
my main goal was the improved focus, but with it came a fancy for the matcha taste!

I used to drink a cup of matcha tea or an iced matcha latte (in the summer) daily, but stopped for a while for no real reason. I just started again, and I like it. It has tons of beneficial properties. Like you, I want the extra focus, and also a "clean"/jitter-free energy boost to counter the mellowness that Cannabis provides.

It's definitely an acquired taste lol. It looks and kind of tastes like swamp water, but you do get used to it, and eventually appreciate it.

 

[Green Kiwi]

yeah it need's some "getting used to" but then it's quite possible you are addicted by then ,,lol.
It's seriously my favourite drink now.(this is unbelievable, but i love it even more then a crisp lager.....)
and THAT sais something..........
.

 

[biohacker]

@Green Kiwi received your PM, but for some reason don't have an option to reply back to you? I'm still around the forum, just been busy with life!

I used to be into green tea's as much as cannabis, including matcha. Had to stop due to what I thought was the caffeine content negatively affecting my sleep, but i'm not 100% positive so may try experimenting with it again, same with coffee.

One thing to make sure is to get a very good reputable quality source as many of these tea leaves have a tonne of fluoride and other nasty's. Just suspect of much of the teas coming out of china.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Does anyone have any experience with different brands/grades? I've been drinking culinary grade, which is supposed to be a bit less palatable than ceremonial grade, when used for pure matcha tea. I am going to order some ceremonial grade for hot tea, and use my current kind for lattes.

yeah it need's some "getting used to" but then it's quite possible you are addicted by then ,,lol.
It's seriously my favourite drink now.(this is unbelievable, but i love it even more then a crisp lager.....)
and THAT sais something..........
.

I enjoy it, too. Having it in iced latte form is my favorite, especially when vaping (it soothes the throat with its coldness), but a cup of hot matcha with no additives is nice before some morning meditation (something I'm just now getting into, for various reasons).

@Green Kiwi received your PM, but for some reason don't have an option to reply back to you? I'm still around the forum, just been busy with life!

I used to be into green tea's as much as cannabis, including matcha. Had to stop due to what I thought was the caffeine content negatively affecting my sleep, but i'm not 100% positive so may try experimenting with it again, same with coffee.

One thing to make sure is to get a very good reputable quality source as many of these tea leaves have a tonne of fluoride and other nasty's. Just suspect of much of the teas coming out of china.

I avoid drinking it in the evening, since I am very sensitive to caffeine. I have a hard enough time sleeping as it is, so I drink my matcha in the first few hours of the day.

 

[biohacker]

I avoid drinking it in the evening, since I am very sensitive to caffeine. I have a hard enough time sleeping as it is, so I drink my matcha in the first few hours of the day.

That's the only time I would consume caffeine, so I figured I was a slow metabolizer of it. But very recently, i've been experimenting with coffee, and didn't have much issues until about a month into it. Now i'm caffeine free for over a week! lol I guess I just gotta keep testing.... but damn that green tea with theanine effects with vaping was so damn nice. Matcha is the bomb! Does it have more/less/same caffeine as other green teas?

 

[Green Kiwi]

my guess is no not less but different type of caffeine, like when we talk about thc cbd cbn, etc.

 

[biohacker]

Just back from Costco...they sell an organic matcha power from Japan. I'm staying caffeine free for the next few weeks but i'm going to try it after that.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

I just received a 30g tin of ceremonial grade matcha powder, so I’m going to try it tomorrow morning. I want to see if it tastes any different than my much cheaper culinary grade powder.

 

[Mr.Sifter]

I like the tins that matcha comes in.
great for AVB

 

[biohacker]

How do you "mix" the powder into hot water? It's been a while, and I think i'll pick up that can from Costco next time i'm in. Do you just stir with a spoon? Doesn't the powder float and not mix properly?

 

[Mr.Sifter]

@biohacker
I was gifted a "chasen" from a loving person.
Its designed to stir matcha in water.

I take a little soy or rice milk.
use the chasen to stir in matcha powder into it and then add warm (not boiling) water.
smoooooth and no lumps

 

[EverythingsHazy]

I'm about to go try the new ceremonial grade tea that I just received. I'll let you guys know how it is.

How do you "mix" the powder into hot water? It's been a while, and I think i'll pick up that can from Costco next time i'm in. Do you just stir with a spoon? Doesn't the powder float and not mix properly?

Here's what I usually do:
1. Put a couple ounces of water and the powder in a mug.
2. Microwave for a minute.
3. Mix it up with a fork.
4. Put the rest of the water.
5. Microwave again.
6. Stir again.

I'm not sure if the microwave affects the beneficial components, though, so I am going to start adding it afterwards, from now on.

@biohacker
I was gifted a "chasen" from a loving person.
Its designed to stir matcha in water.

I take a little soy or rice milk.
use the chasen to stir in matcha powder into it and then add warm (not boiling) water.
smoooooth and no lumps

Nice! I have to get myself a good matcha bowl and wooden whisk.

 

[Mr.Sifter]

dont microwave matcha.
its like eating a steak with a spoon

 

[EverythingsHazy]

dont microwave matcha.
its like eating a steak with a spoon

Yea, I'm not going to be doing it that way anymore. You can use the same steps with hot water, though. Mix a little bit of hot water with the matcha powder and mix it up, and then add in the rest of the water afterwards.

 

[Mr.Sifter]

yes, that was the idea that came to me.
for long time i stirred the matcha in the final amount of water.
to much work.
just stirr it in a small amount of water until fully "solved" , then add water.

good choice

I will be having some tomorrow for the first time in years thanks to this thread.
I stored my match in the fridge.
I hope its still okay.

 

[Alexis]

Don't microwave ANYTHING folks, let alone Matcha!

 

[hafalump]

Tea grade matcha is way better than food grade if you make tea. If you just want to make a milkshake, then food grade is the way. Ceremony grade is very expensive, and out of our league. Don't use water that's too hot, 150F or so. pre warm the tea bowl if needed. Good matcha will be bright neon green, and foamy when whisked proper. Great vendors on line.
O-cha is one that comes to mind. https://www.o-cha.com/matcha-powdered-green-tea/
The Kiri no Mori is a great affordable intro. This is unlike what you guys have been drinking!

 

[Mr.Sifter]

3 matchas got me so tired today.
Paradox effect.
What the fcuk is wrong with me?

 

[Alexis]

3 matchas got me so tired today.
Paradox effect.
What the fcuk is wrong with me?

Maybe adrenal related? You could currently be extra sensitive to the caffeine or any other actives/compounds which affect the nervous system? (sorry I am unlearned on matcha as I couldnt tolerate it myself like most things, and I lost all incentive to learn about things I could never use- just a tease to hear how amazing X,Y and Z are for A,B,C, if you get me.)

Maybe one day though. Thanks for reporting for everyone bro, hope you find a way to enjoy it with a better balance towards relaxation and lethargy less.

You could also have picked up a viral infection. Immense fatigue/tiredness and depression are always very intense for the first few days of a fresh virus, IME, and often it takes a day or so to twig why life is suddenly so impossible!

 

[EverythingsHazy]

3 matchas got me so tired today.
Paradox effect.
What the fcuk is wrong with me?

Well, matcha does have calming chemicals in it, such as L-Theanine, so it shouldn't produce the same caffeine rush that you get with coffee, however, it is suposed to produce a comfortable energy and increase focus.I wouldn't expect it to make you tired. I wonder if it was the matcha, or if it was something else that affected you that way. I do know people who can drink coffee with caffeine right before their bedtime, and sleep fine, whereas I would be up all night if I have caffeine a few hours before getting in bed.

 

[biohacker]

Is Matcha similar to green tea? If so, even just 2 cups can make me a little jittery. And people who drink coffee before bed and think they sleep fine, probably think they do - but don't.

I need to get some of this Matcha in my life, and coffee out of it.

Caffeine is artificial energy... and when I crash from it, it's very tiring.... some i'm hoping I don't get that with a cup of matcha.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Is Matcha similar to green tea? If so, even just 2 cups can make me a little jittery. And people who drink coffee before bed and think they sleep fine, probably think they do - but don't.

I need to get some of this Matcha in my life, and coffee out of it.

Caffeine is artificial energy... and when I crash from it, it's very tiring.... some i'm hoping I don't get that with a cup of matcha.

Matcha is green tea. The difference is that instead of steeping and straining the leaves, they are ground into a powder and mixed into the liquid. Because they are consumed with the drink, you get Darby more nutrition from a cup of matcha than you do from a regular cup of green tea. Also, the L-Theanine in green tea/matcha is supposed to provide relaxation and help smooth pith the caffeine energy, so it should be less of a jittery spike and then crash, than you’d get with coffee. Also, one serving of matcha has roughly 1/3 the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

I tried my first cup of my new ceremonial grade matcha tea today, and it was really good. I have to do a side-by-side comparison, soon, but it definitely tasted smoother and less bitter/more palatable than I remember.

Something to remember when buying matcha, is to check for where it is from. Be careful of locations close to the radioactive zones in Japan. I also avoid Chinese matcha, due to their lack of trustworthy regulation there.