note - nothing on this page is official medicinal advice.

before you ask - no, it's not supposed to be overwhelmingly bitter. yes, it is supposed to taste like grass, and matcha that doesn't taste like grass is fake and should be killed.

matcha is an incredibly unique green tea. although it originated in china (what tea didn't?) it's mostly associated with japan these days, since they invented the modern way of growing it and made a whole ceremony about it. unlike other teas that either come in leaves or a bag, matcha comes in a powder. and it doesn't dissolve in water.

so, you might be asking if you've never heard of matcha before, how do i prepare it? it sounds complicated, but it's quite simple. you get your matcha powder - ceremonial is the best, but culinary works in a pinch - and put a small spoonful into a bowl. then, you get either a whisk or a milk frother, and pour in water while whisking or frothing it. do this for about a minute or until it's frothed to your liking. then, enjoy, or don't.

remember, matcha is a green tea, so don't use overwhelmingly hot water. wait until it starts to sizzle in your kettle and slightly bubble, but don't use water at a rolling boil or you'll burn the tea and get a bitter flavour. this is the main mistake beginners make with matcha.

matcha is also considered one of the healthiest teas for good reason. it's incredibly high in antioxidants and l-theanine, more so than other green teas because of its unique production. even though it's caffeinated, it doesn't give you the jitters because of the low caffeine content and l-theanine helping to calm you down, which is an amazingly unique feeling i have not gotten from any other form of caffeine - you feel energized, but not like your body is working faster than your brain can keep up, which is a feeling i frequently experience when caffeinated and the reason why i stopped drinking black teas daily.