Matcha tea, we are hearing more and more about it and for good reason! Matcha is green tea powder and unlike green tea, you don't steep tea leaves, you dissolve the matcha in hot water. Do you ever wonder why matcha is becoming increasingly popular and whether a glass of green tea just doesn't have the same benefits? We tell you more about it in this blog!

How are green tea and matcha produced?

A traditional favorite, green tea has been part of various cultures for centuries, especially in Asia. Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and undergoes minimal oxidation during the production process, thus retaining its characteristic flavor as well as nutrients.

Matcha tea goes a step further than green tea because it is made from shade-grown tea leaves that are ground into a fine powder. This specific production method provides an even higher concentration of nutrients. You can read more benefits about matcha here.

Green tea vs. Matcha tea

Both teas contain antioxidants, which have many health benefits. You can read more about them here.

In particular, both green tea and matcha contain catechins, natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits. The big difference, however, is in the method of preparation. With green tea, you discard the tea leaves after infusion. With matcha tea, the tea leaves are processed into a fine powder, which you dissolve in hot water or a vegetable milk, for example. So you get the antioxidants in completely! 

Another difference is the taste. Where green tea has a slightly fresh taste, matcha tea is more earthy in taste, slightly bitter and with a slightly sweet aftertaste. In addition, matcha powder also mixes well with (vegetable) milks, providing a smooth and velvety taste.

Thus, the main differences between green tea and matcha tea are:

• The way it is grown and produced.
• The way the tea is made.
• The amount of nutrients you take in.
• The taste of the tea.