Benefits, production, success: this is why matcha tea is so popular

The queues lie down in front of Matcha cafes in Los Angeles or Tokyo, but Japanese producers are struggling to follow the pace.

What you need to know about this new star product of “well-being”.

What is matcha tea?

The “matcha” powder. Furthermore, which means “ground tea” in Japanese, is made from Tercha leaves, a cultivated tea in the shade in its last weeks to concentrate aromas and nutrients.

Once harvested, the leaves are dried, then crushed between two stone wheels to produce an ultra-fine powder.

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Japan discovered tea at benefits, production, success: this why the beginning of the ninth century, from China. Consequently, He was at the time used for his medical properties. However, It was not until the 16th century that Matcha was developed in Kyoto. Similarly, inseparable from the tea ceremony developed by Master Sen No Rikyu. “Classic” green tea, called “sencha”, will not be used until two centuries later.

There are several qualities of Matcha. ranging from the grade “ceremony”, used during traditional tea rituals in Japan, to more accessible versions, called “culinary”, intended for pastries and daily uses.

How is it made?

It takes about five years for a tea tree to mature.

Three to four weeks before harvesting. the plantations are covered with a net to filter the light, which increases their content of chlorophyll and l-the-the-thelend, a molecule known for its relaxing effects.

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The leaves are then picked by hand, hoarse, steamed, then slowly ground on stone, a process that can take up to an hour to produce 40 gr of matcha.

“To get a good matcha. the leaves must be picked by hand, and the shade of the tea trees, called Tanakake, requires the construction of a complex structure with posts and a roof to filter the light,” explains Masahiro Okutomi, tea producer in Sayama, north of Tokyo.

This demanding process means that matcha costs on average twice as much as the sencha to produce.

What are its benefits?

In addition to its plant taste, matcha seduces with its nutritional properties. Rich in antioxidants, especially in catechins (EGCG), it is renowned benefits, production, success: this why for promoting concentration, without causing nervousness.

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According to the official data of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, a cup of Matcha contains an average of 48mg of caffeine, a little less than a filter coffee, but almost twice as a classic green tea.

“Matcha is often perceived as good for health. but there is also an attraction for Japanese culture that surrounds tea: ritual, time, aesthetics,” explains Shigehito Nishikida, head of the JudgeSudo tea store in the Tsukiji tourist area in Tokyo.

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Why is it so popular?

In 2023, Japan produced 4,176 tonnes of matcha, compared to 1,430 tonnes in 2012. More than half of this production is now exported. according to the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, notably to the United States, Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

The International Matcha boom owes a lot to its visibility on social networks. On Tiktok. Instagram or Youtube, millions of videos show how to whisk Matcha, choose your “chasen” (bamboo whip) or even make photogenic drinks.

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AFP benefits, production, success: this why

“I have the impression that generation Z has really carried this craze for Matcha, and it relied a lot on social networks to do so,” explains Stevie Youssef, 31, a client of a bar in Matcha in Los Angeles and employed in marketing.

The success of Matcha is also explained by its versatility in cooking and pastry, which appeals beyond tea lovers.

“Some customers simply like to drink it, others appreciate preparing it themselves. And of course. many buy it to offer, a Japanese matcha is always happy, “adds Nishikida of the JudgeSudo store, saying” exceeded “by the extent of the phenomenon.