What is the difference between green tea and matcha? Learn it all in one article

Green tea and matcha look not very different from the outside, and a small number of unscrupulous merchants pass off green tea powder as matcha, so what are the differences between green tea and matcha?

1. Raw material: green tea is generally made by picking the new leaves or buds of the tea plant around Qingming and going through fixation, rolling and drying; matcha, on the other hand, is picked in May, and its raw material is a small tea flake that has not been rolled, made by steaming and drying. Because matcha is grown under shade covers and is not exposed to direct sunlight, its color is a brighter green than that of green tea.

2. Processing: green tea and matcha can both be ground into powder. Green tea powder is processed with a metal grinder, while matcha powder is made by hand with stone mills, and matcha particles are finer than green tea powder.

3. Quality characteristics: green tea is emerald green in color, has the fresh fragrance of tea leaves, is slightly bitter, with a clear sweet aftertaste; matcha is bright green in color, with a fresh aroma like seaweed; high-quality matcha is not astringent and only slightly bitter, while inferior matcha has a heavy bitter and astringent taste.

4. Nutritional components: green tea contains higher theophylline and caffeine, and can refresh the mind and help reduce fat and aid digestion. Matcha is rich in amino acids, protein and chlorophyll, while its theophylline and caffeine content is lower; it can break down fat and block sugar, and is generally added to cold drinks, cakes, biscuits and other foods.

Although green tea and matcha differ slightly, each has its own strengths and both are widely used in daily life. I hope everyone can pay attention to identifying them when buying related products in the future.