Matcha- How Does It Compare to Regular Brewed Green or Black Teas?

At Junbi, we recognize that not every customer who steps into one of our stores is familiar with the emerald-colored, immunity-boosting beverage known as matcha. The good news is that you don’t have to be a matcha aficionado to savor, appreciate, and benefit from this special tea as much as we do.

Want even more good news?

You can always count on your friends at Junbi to help you get to know matcha a little bit better! In this blog post, we want to share some information about matcha’s rightful place in the tea industry and in your life.   

         Let’s begin here: matcha is derived from the same exact leaves that are used to make green, black, yellow, and white tea. Now, in order to make a traditional cup of tea, you must steep loose leaves in hot water in order to release all their nuances and transform the water into a soothing and antioxidant-rich beverage. What makes matcha different—and extraordinary!—is that it doesn’t get processed and steeped in the same way as these other teas. Instead, shade-grown green tea leaves are handpicked, steamed, dried, and then finely ground in order to make a delicious pure matcha powder that has just as much character and health benefits as it has color.

         If you’ve never tried matcha and plan to visit a Junbi location in the near future (or if you plan to order matcha from our online store so you can make your own at home), we recommend going into the tasting experience knowing that matcha is not going to taste like black, green, or any other tea you’ve had before. It’s in a class all its own because you’re consuming the whole tea leaves, which means you can expect a wide variety of tasting notes—earthy and vegetal, smooth and sweet, frothy and rich and don’t forget umami.

         If you’re new to matcha, we hope you’ll discover that this vibrant and unique form of green tea lifts your mood, boosts your energy, and improves your focus. If you prefer a gentle start to matcha, try any of our options layered with real fruits, it adds a sweetness and familiarity that many of our new customers love!