In these busy times, you notice that more and more people are looking for relaxation. That's not surprising, because you can't keep up with the gruelling pace of life for long if you don't allow yourself enough rest to recharge. Are you one of those people? Then matcha is definitely for you.

Matcha is almost synonymous with “slow”. If you prepare this tea too quickly, it will certainly fail. So, the slower, the better. A perfect excuse to take a moment for yourself and focus on one thing: the tea. In this blog, we will walk you through the process of making the perfect cup of matcha step by step. Or rather, through the ritual.

Preparation

Before you start making tea, it is important that you have the right equipment at home. This is what you need to prepare a good matcha tea for two people.

• Ceremonial matcha
• Chawan (a special matcha bowl)
• Chashaku (a special bamboo spoon)
• Chasen (a special bamboo matcha whisk)
• Kusewaoshi (a special holder for the matcha whisk)
• Sieve
• 2 drinking bowls
• Kettle with temperature indicator or a cooking thermometer
• Milk (optional)

And perhaps most importantly: time. Making and drinking matcha is not something you can do quickly in between other tasks. So make sure you set aside some time in your diary. Enjoying it is allowed, or rather, it is a must!

Step 1: Sieving

Take four scoops of matcha powder with the spoon and gently shake it through the sieve into the bowl. This prevents lumps from forming in the tea. Please note! Matcha is a delicate product that is 100% natural. Store your matcha in a tin and close it tightly after each use. Keep it in a cool, dry place to keep the powder fresh.

Step 2: Add water

Add 25 to 30 millilitres of hot water to 4 scoops of matcha powder. Please note: do not use boiling water. This will burn the powder and ruin the taste. It is better to boil the water and then leave it to cool for 10 minutes. Alternatively, use a kettle with a temperature control. The ideal water temperature for matcha is 70-75 °C.

Step 3: Whisking

Now take the whisk to whisk the matcha. Move your wrist back and forth in small, quick movements until you get a nice layer of foam on the surface. It's a bit like making an M or a W.

If you are making a matcha latte, add whipped milk foam afterwards.

Step four: Pouring

Make sure your drinking bowls are preheated with hot water or on a hot plate. Now pour the matcha gently. And by gently, we really mean gently, because that way you keep the foam nice and stable.

Step 5: Drink

You are now ready to sit back and enjoy your homemade matcha. Remember that one cup of matcha contains about as many antioxidants as eating a whole head of broccoli. Please note! Matcha has a distinct, earthy flavour that takes some getting used to. In Japan, the tea is often served with very sweet sweets. This neutralises the slightly bitter taste a little.

Enjoy your Matcha moment!