Everyone in the world knows the special attitude of Japanese, Chinese and other eastern peoples to tea consumption. In the East, this tonic drink is not drunk for nothing. Drinking tea turned into a whole ceremony with them. In China and Japan, traditionally cultivates different varieties of this invigorating healing drink. Each of them has its own recipe and tea drinking ritual. One of the varieties of tea that is revered in these countries is Matcha tea, which in Japanese sounds like matcha. Today there is a lot of different information about the incredible usefulness of this tea and its export has spread to many countries of the world. More and more people on the planet want to improve their body, while receiving a pleasant taste sensation. The Japanese began the industrial production of various varieties of tea in ecological vacuum packaging, so people on the other side of the world can enjoy this outlandish green drink with pleasure. Just to reveal all its useful properties, you need to know how to brew Matcha tea.
What is matcha tea?
The word "matcha" refers to the leaves of green tea tench grown in the shade. Sencha and gunpowder teas are made from them, but for this they are grown in the sun. Matcha is tea from the leaves of the tanch, ground into the finest powder. Their grinding is performed on special millstones just before the tea party. The term tencha means a special technology for drying leaves. If they are dried straight, then it is tentha, if twisted - hekuro. Matcha tea has a very rich and deep aroma and has a sweet taste. If the tea has a bitter taste, this is an indicator of its poor quality.
Useful properties of the "Match"
This variety of tea is considered one of the most useful types, because it contains a lot of nutrients with vitamins and minerals. He is one of the strongest antioxidants. “Matcha” slows down the aging process and is an excellent prophylactic for the cardiovascular system. This tea invigorates no worse than coffee, but it does not add nervous excitability. Among its useful properties include:
- accelerates metabolism;
- improves the quality of metabolic processes in the body;
- interferes with radiation;
- saturated with a huge amount of antioxidants;
- acts restorative on vascular walls;
- removes bad cholesterol;
- clean from toxins and toxins;
- is an incentive for mental activity;
- provides clean skin elasticity;
- calms the excitement of nerves;
- improves immunity.
If you need to provide the body with more strength and energy and lift your spirits, then you simply cannot find a better remedy than matcha tea. But it’s not enough just to get powder or leaves. It is important to know how to brew Matcha tea correctly and how to drink it. In this article we will talk about tea brewing technology. We will also give some of the most popular recipes for this miracle drink.
The harm of tea
The harmful properties of tea include a high content of lead in the leaves and if you drink it together with tea leaves, the amount of this metal in the body will increase sharply. As a rule, this is more true for tea grown in China. Because the environment there is more polluted than in Japan. In addition, hypertensive patients should drink it with caution and try not to use it closer to the night.
How to choose tea?
Before you learn how to brew Matcha tea, we’ll first learn how to make it. When buying tea, you should pay attention to some characteristic features of the drink. The following aspects should be maintained:
- The color of the powder should be bright green. If the powder has a dark green tint, then this is sencha tea, which is sometimes substituted for match when sold.
- It is best to take organic tea without chemical attack.
- Be careful if the price of the “Match” is very low - it may be powder from sencha leaves. Approximately 30 grams of powder match in the market costs from 20 to 50 dollars.
- Look for Japanese “Matcha” tea instead of Chinese, because it is not of very good quality due to cultivation in adverse conditions.
Given all these nuances, it is not so difficult to choose a good drink. But to make it as useful as possible, you need to know all the secrets of how to brew Matcha tea correctly. Below we consider the technological features of this process.
What is needed for brewing?
In order to reveal all the beneficial properties of the drink and direct them to improve your body, you need to master the technique of its preparation. To brew a drink you will need special dishes:
- measuring cup to correctly measure the required amount of water;
- tyavan - a special ceramic or porcelain brewing cup;
- chiasaku - measuring spoon from bamboo ha 1 g of tea powder; you can use a regular teaspoon, but you need to know that two portions are measured in it, measured by a bamboo measuring device;
- a strainer for sifting match powder to remove lumps and make its texture lighter and airier; rubbing adhering tea lumps is done using a chasak or a teaspoon;
- Chasen - a special whisk made of bamboo, without which quality Matcha tea will not work.
How right?
And finally, you can move on to how to brew Japanese tea "Matcha". Here the most important role is played by the temperature of the water - it should not boil. Matcha green powdered Japanese tea is poured with water having a temperature of 70-80 degrees, not more. When using boiling water, tea will turn out spoiled - neither taste, nor benefit. Naturally, tea water should be purified. To navigate the water temperature, you can use a special kettle with the function of controlling the heating of the water. And you can do it easier - after boiling leave water for 5-7 minutes to cool.
We make weak tea
So, how to brew Matcha tea in a classic way? There are two methods of brewing - strong (koytya) and weak (whipping). In order to prepare a portion of the weak, you need to take half a teaspoon of powder in 70 ml of 80-degree water. The bowl needs to be heated with hot water. Then it should be wiped dry, you can heat in the microwave. Pour the powder into a dry bowl and pour a little water. Pre-moisten the whisk with hot water. This is necessary so that he softens slightly, which will help him to whip the foam better and protect him from accidental damage during the preparation of Matcha tea. Gently and slowly mix the powder with a bamboo whisk so as not to leave lumps and powder residues on the walls of the bowl.
When the mass becomes perfectly homogeneous, add the remaining water and beat with a whisk until a thick foam appears. The movements during whipping should be measured and smooth, without sharp splashes. A classic matcha is drunk without the addition of honey or sugar - this will kill the true taste of this magical drink. The natural taste is astringent and sour, with a later sweetish aftertaste. This drink fills the body with energy for the whole day, perfectly invigorates and activates. Usutia - this tea is quite democratic and can be drunk without observing the strict rules of tea drinking and centuries-old ceremonies. Such tea is appropriate for daily family tea drinking or drinking it in the circle of close friends.
Brew strong tea
Now we turn to his strong version of the coyta. How to make matcha tea? In this case, the powder is taken in double quantity - 4 g. These are 4 scoops or one teaspoon. This amount needs 50 ml of water with a temperature of no higher than 80 degrees. Match powder should be sieved through a strainer. The technology is almost the same as with the brewing, without the fact that you do not need to whip the foam with a whisk, but, on the contrary, interfere very slowly and smoothly. The result should be a thick, viscous drink with a bright aroma of herbs and a sweet aftertaste. Japanese sweets are traditionally served with it, but you can replace them with dried fruits.
Features of each tea
We have already figured out how to make Matcha tea at home. The above two drinks are good in their own way. And to give preference to any of them, you need to try both of them. Both one and the second version of the match must be drunk along with the milled powder. That is what is the key to the action of its healing properties. Bringing it lighter and softer, it is drunk pleasantly and naturally. Koitya is thicker and has a sharp and rich bouquet of taste. If it seemed to you that this is a difficult process - do not trust the first impression. Now that you have already learned how to brew Matcha tea at home, you only need to “fill” your hand a little to make it. Over time, this procedure will be given to you easily and effortlessly.
Alternative to special utensils
You can prepare a “Match” at home and without a special tea set. The bowl can be replaced with any ceramic dish - a bowl, a cup, a bowl, a measuring spoon - a tea from a regular table set. But how to make matcha tea without a whisk? If you do not have a special bamboo whisk, you can replace it with an ordinary kitchen or special device with which milk foam is whipped. Try which of them can better bring the mixture to the desired consistency. But it’s better, of course, to use a traditional device made of bamboo, which is specially adapted to mix the ingredients well and, in addition, gives the tea a unique exotic taste.
In order to understand the true taste of a wonderful drink, it was not in vain that a tea ceremony was invented. It is very important here to understand how to brew and drink Matcha tea. Only slowly savoring every sip of this amazing tea, you begin to feel its charm. You need to drink matcha tea in a special way. A small sip of the drink should be held a little in the mouth so that the tongue tastes its taste and delicious aroma.
In development of this topic, I would like to focus on the fact that matcha tea can be brewed in other ways.
A popular tea brewing recipe
Consider how to brew and drink Chinese tea "Matcha". The Chinese method of brewing does not like fuss and is performed according to a strict ritual. You need to take a small teapot for 100-120 ml - gaiwan, as well as bowls from which you will drink ready-made tea. Tea utensils must be rinsed with boiling water and dried. Getting to the ritual:
- pour 7 g of tea leaves in a teapot;
- pour hot water with a temperature of 85-90 degrees and wait about 20 seconds; then drain the water;
- thicken again with water and wait for 40-60 seconds;
- pour the finished tea into bowls and you can start drinking tea;
- thicken the remaining residues again with water and increase the brewing time by 20-30 seconds; this can be repeated until the color of the tea turns pale.
Using this method, you need to make sure that at each stage of brewing in gaiwan there is no water, so that tea can be brewed. With each strait, the taste and aroma of the drink changes, gives new taste sensations and aromas.
Match Latte
You should also focus on how to brew Matcha Latte tea. This is an absolutely incomparable drink, much more pleasant than even a delicate cappuccino. To prepare it, you need a teaspoon of the match, 70 ml of hot water, about 200 g of any milk - cow, almond, soy, coconut, and honey to taste, which can be replaced with sugar or syrup. We start cooking:
- pour tea with water and mix well with a whisk, removing the lumps;
- warm milk, not allowing to boil; remove it from the stove and beat with a blender until foam appears - about a minute;
- pour milk in a thin stream into tea and spread the foam with a spoon; it will mix with tea foam and turn pale green;
- add honey and cinnamon, and you can enjoy the pleasant taste of such an unusual drink.
Matcha frappe
Next, we will tell you how to brew Matcha tea with milk. In this case, the drink will be cold. This tea is called “Matcha frappe”, and for its preparation you will need a teaspoon of dry match, cold cow’s milk - a glass, ice cubes - 3-4 pieces, vanilla ice cream - about 50 g, as well as honey or sugar and whipped to your taste cream. Cooking method:
- add ice, Matcha tea and honey to milk;
- mix everything with a powerful blender until completely homogeneous - about 1-2 minutes;
- put ice cream and whipped cream on top.
Conclusion
There are many delicious drinks based on Matcha tea. Here everyone can show their imagination and creativity. The main thing is to learn how to brew this wonderful healing drink correctly and you can enjoy a new taste and unforgettable aroma every time.