Matcha - tea for connoisseurs of taste and style

Matcha is tea, whose homeland is China. He appeared in the time of the imperial Tang Dynasty, with her country unusually blossomed. The most devoted fans of this product were Zen Buddhists, who made the preparation of the drink a separate ritual. Later, the green tea of the match along with Zen Buddhism migrated to Japan. Specialists note that it is more correct to call it not in English, but in Japanese transcription - "mattea", which means "grated tea" in translation. Now it is called Japanese and is drunk during a traditional tea ceremony.

Aromatic green powder

A bright feature, which has a match (tea), is that it has an unusual powdery consistency. So, its preparation is also different from the classical way, to which we are accustomed. How to make tea match? Strictly speaking, it is not brewed, but mixed with water or whipped.

The secret of the "jade drink"

First, the powder is sieved through a strainer, rubbing the formed lumps with a wooden spoon or a smooth pebble. Then it is poured into a cup and poured with water heated to 80 ° C. And here begins the most unusual part of the preparation of tea: the mixture is thoroughly mixed or whipped until a uniform green mass is obtained. When whipped, a characteristic foam forms. Experts recommend to use not ordinary, but a special aureole, which is made of bamboo and is called chasen. Ready-made drink pleases the eye with a bright green shade, that's why it is called "jade".

What is the match

Tea can be cooked in two versions: strong (koitja) and easy (usutya). For a strong take 4 grams of powder (a teaspoon) and mix with 50 ml of water (this is a quarter of a glass). Beat the mixture is not recommended, it should be slowly stirred. Drink turns tart and fragrant. The taste is bitterish-sweet. If the powder is taken twice less - 2 grams, and the water by a third is more (75 ml), and then the mass is vigorously shaken, it will be an easy (weak) match. Tea in this case will be lighter, and taste - hotter.

Tea ceremonial

It is strictly according to the rules. First - cooking with special accessories, and then - the ritual of tea drinking. If you intend to drink a cup of the match in Japanese, tea, the aroma of which is incomparable, you must first not swallow, but "breathe", then, enjoying its fragrance, drink from the cup, which should be kept in both hands. In the moments of tea drinking, you must abandon the fuss and protect yourself from noise. Drink should not be sweetened, and to emphasize its specific bitter taste, before tea-drinking, you should try sweets. During the Japanese tea ceremony, only a kite is served, which is prepared from more expensive matte varieties.

Secrets of tea leaves

Match is obtained from leaves, whose growth is deliberately inhibited. To do this, a few weeks before harvest, the bushes are closed from the sun. In the leaves, then organic compounds are formed, giving the drink a tart, sweetish taste. The collected raw materials are dried without twisting, and then ground to a state of flour. What kind of tea will be , depends on several factors: the timing of the collection, the method of drying, grinding, the age of the tea bush and the place that the leaf was on it. Elite varieties are made from the upper soft leaves collected from older plants. When they are processed, all the necessary rules are meticulously observed.

The Unparalleled Healer

The drink has all the advantages that green tea has in general: the presence of antioxidants that keep the cells of the body healthy and young, and also strengthen immunity; Bactericidal properties; Vasodilator and antidiabetic action. However, the special value of this kind of tea is due to the fact that it, according to American scientists, contains a hundred times more catechin - a compound that can fight with cancer diseases, HIV infection. The advantage of the match is also that it is made from the best raw materials and enters the body together with "brewing", entirely.

Tea that not only drinks

From a beautiful green powder in Japan, prepare desserts. It is added to ice cream, biscuits, cakes, mousses, fruit and milkshakes. It is also mixed with other types of tea, with coffee and alcohol. In the US, the match is actively involved in the creation of healthy food products.

You can experiment in your own kitchen. Here, for example, the recipe for smoothies, which is prepared in the London restaurant Fifteen. In the blender fold: half an apple, a quarter of the stalk of celery, 2 sprigs of mint, half a pear and a banana, add 2 grams of the match. All mixed well and served with ice.

Tea powder is readily used not only in the food industry, but also in cosmetology, the substances with which it is rich, noticeably smooth and lighten the skin. Match can be found in toothpaste, in anti-acne, in masks for the face, as well as in soap and creams.

Japanese tea match, of course, is not cheap, and finding a quality sample is not so simple, but it is able to give a gourmet a whole range of unforgettable sensations.