Where to Buy green tea powder?
Today, matcha is enjoyed in both a popular form (as a sort of uplifting "tea espresso") as well as artistic form (through the continued practice of chanoyu). "Ceremonial" grades (for drinking) are distinct from "Culinary" grades (for matcha lattes, confections, desserts, etc).
History & Tradition
Although tea first arrived in Japan in the 9th century, it was not until the early Kamakura period in the 12th century that tea culture flourished in Japan, when the Zen Buddhist monk named Eisai traveled to China and brought back the Song dynasty custom of drinking powdered, bamboo-whisked tea. Matcha first became popular amongst the political elite, Zen practitioners, and the samurai warrior class until the 15th century, when a series of influential tea masters refined the tradition of chanoyu into the more humble, reverential ceremony enjoyed by people of all classes. Among the tea masters, Sen no Rikyu was especially influential in formally codifying the rituals, wares, and practice of chanoyu.
Tencha
Tencha is harvested just once per year between May and June, and is grown almost exclusively to make matcha. Tencha tea bushes are shaded for 3–5 weeks prior to harvest using a traditional frame-and-thatch technique known as tana, which blocks 70-85% of the sun's energy from reaching the tea bushes. Shading inhibits photosynthesis in the tea plant, boosting chlorophyll levels and creating a deep green leaf color. The tea bush draws up nutrients stored in its roots and grows wide, thin, tender tea leaves in a struggle to gather more light. These plant adaptations all result in boosted levels of natural plant sugars, amino acids and caffeine, along with decreased levels of catechins, giving high quality matcha its distinctively sweet, umami-rich flavor with a creamy texture and low bitterness. While common, mass-market grades of tencha are harvested by machine, the best grades of tencha with the most tender, sweet flavor are harvested by scissor or hand plucking.
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