“This is the first tea from my June Sipsby Tea Box. It’s been a long time since I had an unflavoured matcha and this one is so very very green. I think I got 2 servings, which isn’t bad. Made as a...” Read full tasting note
Tasting Notes: Vegetal, Umami, Cream
Region: Uji, Japan
Year: 2017
Serving: 1 oz makes 14 servings
Matcha became popular in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) before it became the National Tea of Japan. Matcha is a form of powdered green tea, though not just any green tea powder can be called matcha. It must follow a special growing process. In order to make quality matcha, the tea plants need shade an entire month before harvest. Tea farmers cover the bushes with black canvas to block direct sunlight, shading them more than 90%. The shading process prevents the sunlight breaking down amino acids, and results in a sweeter taste with little to no bitterness. Some people call this special taste, ‘umami’. Because of the shading, more chlorophyll is formed in the leaves to absorb the sunlight, giving matcha a more vibrant green color than other green teas.
Easthill Tea Co. is a Chicago-based company specializing in small batch, premium loose leaf tea. Founder, Keqi Meng, travels directly to farms in China, Taiwan and Japan to curate his list of teas and believes each is best enjoyed in its natural state, straight-up.