Chapter 1
The monk who brought matcha
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Chapter 2
The science of shade and stone
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Chapter 3
The ritual of chado
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Chapter 4
The global green wave
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The story of matcha
Ch 2 · The science of shade and stone
diego Matcha Production
Shaded from the light, ground by granite stone, green matcha glows!
diego Only leaves that are steamed, dried, and carefully de-veined can be called tencha, the raw material for matcha.
Fun Fact
Slow-motion grinding: To make just one small tin of high-grade matcha, a traditional granite stone mill must spin slowly for over an hour.
diego Shading prevents the amino acid L-theanine from turning into bitter catechins, creating a sweet, savory flavor.
Glossary
tencha (noun)
A Japanese green tea leaf cultivated away from direct sunlight and processed without rolling, specifically ground into matcha. In Uji, farmers block sunlight from the plants for four weeks before milling the leaves on granite.
A Japanese green tea leaf cultivated away from direct sunlight and processed without rolling, specifically ground into matcha. In Uji, farmers block sunlight from the plants for four weeks before milling the leaves on granite.
Quiz
How many grams of ceremonial matcha does a traditional stone mill produce in one hour?
Quiz
During which month does the primary hand-picked harvest of matcha tea leaves usually begin?
Quiz
What are the steamed, dried, and de-veined tea leaf flakes called before they are ground into matcha?