Matcha 101 – What It Is and How to Use It

I love starting my day with a steaming cup of matcha green tea. Read on to learn how to make this energizing, antioxidant-packed drink at home!

Matcha green tea

A few years ago, matcha started popping up everywhere – in lattes, ice cream, smoothies, icing, and more. While I’ll never say no to a matcha doughnut, today I want to focus on the simplest way to enjoy it: by whisking it into hot water to create a frothy, nourishing tea. I’ve loved drinking matcha this way since Jack and I took our first trip to Japan years ago, and I still make myself a cup almost every morning. To me, it’s the perfect way to start the day. It’s energizing and calming both at once, and above all else, it’s delicious.

What is Matcha?

If you’re not familiar with matcha, it’s a Japanese green tea powder made from finely powdered dried tea leaves. It has a slightly bitter, vegetal taste and a vibrant green color that results from the leaves’ high chlorophyll levels. It’s been the cornerstone of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries, but it recently became popular in the US because of its health benefits.

Regular green tea is already touted as an antioxidant powerhouse, but matcha has even more benefits. Here’s why: when you make other forms of green tea, you steep the leaves in hot water and then discard them. When you make matcha, you whisk the powder into hot water or milk. As a result, you actually consume the entire tea leaf when you drink it! The antioxidants it contains may lower blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart disease, and even boost your metabolism.

So what about caffeine? Well, matcha does contain more caffeine than regular green tea, but it doesn’t give you a buzzy rush like coffee. It leaves me feeling energized and focused, but still calm.

Matcha powder in a sifter

What Is the Best Matcha Powder?

Buying matcha for the first time can be confusing – there are so many brands, and they vary widely in quality. The most significant distinction is between ceremonial and culinary grade matcha. The ceremonial kind will be pricier – it’s made from the youngest tea leaves and has a mellow flavor.

I recently tested out all of the top matcha powders. I tried them as tea with water, in lattes, and in baking recipes. I found that my favorite for drinking matcha is Ippodo Tea Ummon. I’ve used it for years, and I love its rich, earthy flavor with only a bit of bitterness. It mixes well too!

Get the Ippodo Tea Ummon on Amazon for $30.99, or check out some of the other matcha powders I tested to find the best one for you!

Helpful Tips

  • It doesn’t last forever. Matcha doesn’t have a particularly long shelf life. Once you open it, use it within 2 months for the best color and flavor. I recommend buying it in small quantities and storing it in the fridge to preserve freshness.
  • You might want a matcha whisk. If you make matcha often, I recommend investing in a bamboo whisk called a chasen (pictured here). Its special design breaks up clumps and creates a frothy layer of foam on top of the tea. If you don’t have one, use a regular whisk or an electric milk frother instead. Whisking or stirring with a fork or spoon will not work here.
  • Sweeten to taste. Matcha’s grassy, umami flavor can be an acquired taste. If you’re new to making it, don’t hesitate to add a few drops of maple syrup or honey. You also might want to sweeten your tea if your matcha powder is particularly bitter.

Pouring hot water over matcha green tea

How to Make Matcha Green Tea

You’ll find my full matcha green tea recipe and measurements below, but because there are a few tricks to making matcha, I wanted to break it down step by step. Here’s what you need to do:

First, sift it into a small bowl or mug. Matcha clumps very easily, so I always recommend sifting it before you add any water. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get the tea to disperse evenly in the liquid, and your drink will be lumpy.

Whisking matcha tea

Then, pour in a small amount of hot water, and whisk. But wait! This isn’t the circular whisking required for making baking recipes or scrambled eggs. Instead, whisk vigorously from side to side – either directly back and forth or in a zigzag pattern – to evenly disperse the powder in the water and create a foamy layer on top. If you whisk in a circular motion, your tea won’t foam.

How to make matcha tea

Finally, top it off with more hot water or steamed milk. Traditional matcha green tea is made with just green tea powder and water, but you can also easily make a latte by finishing your drink with steamed milk. I love to make mine with almond milk, coconut milk, or homemade oat milk. Whisk again until foamy, sweeten to taste, and enjoy!

Matcha green tea

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How to Make Matcha

rate this recipe:
5 from 79 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves 1
Learn how to make matcha green tea at home! I typically enjoy my matcha tea without sweetener, but matcha brands vary in bitterness. If you're new to making matcha, or if your tea tastes bitter, add a few drops of maple syrup or honey to sweeten it to your liking.

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Sift the matcha into a mug or small bowl to get rid of any lumps.
  • Pour in the 2 ounces of the hot water. Using a matcha whisk or small regular whisk, whisk briskly from side to side until the matcha is fully dispersed and there is a foamy layer on top.
  • Add the remaining 6 ounces hot water or steamed milk and whisk again until foamy. Sweeten to taste, if desired.

59 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Alicia
    01.08.2024

    5 stars
    Bought some tea..cant wait to make my smoothie in the morning

  2. Heather
    12.11.2023

    Question. Should there be powder left in the bottom of the cup? Should a swallow that with my drink? Matcha newbie.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.13.2023

      Hi Heather, it’s fine if some settles – you could try whisking it more if you want it more combined.

  3. Krystel
    11.11.2023

    5 stars
    My doctor wants me to stop drinking coffee and to switch over to matcha. You’re guides and links made it easy for me to make sure I will have everything I need! Thank you!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.16.2023

      I’m so happy to hear!

  4. Robis
    05.30.2023

    Love the recipe! Matcha is one of those things that looks complicated to make at home but it actually just needs a bit of practice. Also, it has lots of benefits for our health, so 10/10!

  5. Angelika Johnson
    04.14.2023

    5 stars
    I love your step by step guide, it gives you all the info you need to make the perfect matcha. Thank you so much!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      04.14.2023

      I’m so glad you found it helpful!

  6. Kelvin Gunn
    02.16.2023

    I’ve recently tried Matcha tea in Japan loved it .thank you for recipes

  7. Ann Jones
    01.22.2023

    Just ordered my first packet of Matcha, mainly because l am unable to get green tea cake in my area. However after looking at the uses for this product l can see l am going to be very busy in the kitchen.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.26.2023

      I hope you enjoy it!

  8. Debbie
    01.17.2023

    I just recently started drinking Matcha and this is my go to recipe. I use an electric whisk, because that’s what I have. Works fine. I use 6oz. water and 2oz. oat milk. If I use too much “milk” it’s a little too rich for me. Than I add just a touch of honey. Love it! Thanks for sharing!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.20.2023

      Hi Debbie, I’m so glad you found the post helpful!

  9. Saturn
    12.18.2022

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing the process in detail. Have a healthy, happy New Year!

  10. Jill
    11.27.2022

    5 stars
    Thank you! The sifting recommendation seems like a great idea! I’ll do it that way when I make my next cup.
    I had tried matcha at the coffee shop I worked at before COVID….but was using dairy milk and thought the matcha was giving me stomach pain…but it was the milk! I had become lactose intolerant in my 50s. I recently rediscovered matcha and I’m hooked. I particularly like it with coconut milk. Love your recipes.
    Take care!!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.28.2022

      Hi Jill, I’m so glad you enjoyed the matcha!

  11. Kathleen
    11.05.2022

    I am new to drinking matcha. I like mine with just hot water but I am a little confused about the amount of matcha to use. You suggest 1/4 teaspoon for 8 ounces of water. I have seen other recommendations that suggest 1 teaspoon up to 1 Tablespoon. Is it just a matter of personal taste?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.11.2022

      Hi Kathleen, Yes, this is just personal taste. I like 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon, but feel free to use more if you like your matcha stronger.

  12. bluberrie
    10.05.2022

    SUPER GOOD. I tried it. It tastes better with honey if you have a sweet tooth.

    • maya
      12.02.2023

      It also tastes great with a pump of vanilla sweetener.

  13. Jill
    07.09.2022

    5 stars
    First timer here. Thank you for the recipe. I picked up a bag of Everyday Matcha from Costco. Sharing my learning lesson-8 oz of almond and matcha were whisking up nicely in my Nespresso Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother until it started streaming down the side when the frothed volume exceeded its capacity. No big deal; I now get to put a battery-operated frother on my shopping list.

    Matcha tastes good to me and will prob be even better with just a touch of honey as you suggested.

  14. Jeannette
    05.06.2022

    5 stars
    Thank you for the recipe. It’s my first time making this with honey and it’s delicious!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.07.2022

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  15. Patricia Kirk
    04.11.2022

    5 stars
    I’m trying it for the first time I hope that this is Something I will do every day I want to change my lifestyle and the things that I put in my body I want to start a healthier lifestyle this is a start

  16. Bee
    02.10.2022

    5 stars
    Thank you for the great information and simple and yummy recipe!
    I’m down with a stomach bug and this (minus the sweetner) feels wonderful <3

  17. July
    12.23.2021

    5 stars
    This is a very good recipe. Thank you

  18. Shelby
    10.23.2021

    5 stars
    This is a very good recipe. I’ve been looking for green foods to add to my diet. It tastes very nice.

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.