Is Matcha Green Tea? Matcha vs Green Tea Explained

Yes, matcha is green tea. Both come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. But matcha is grown, processed and drunk so differently that it tastes and looks like a different drink.

Matcha vs green tea at a glance

• Growing: matcha plants are shaded for several weeks before harvest; most green tea isn't.
• Processing: matcha leaves are steamed, dried, de-stemmed and stone-ground into powder. Green tea leaves are rolled and dried whole.
• Drinking: with matcha you whisk in the powder and drink the whole leaf; with green tea you steep the leaves and remove them.
• Taste: matcha is richer, creamier and more savoury; brewed green tea is lighter and more delicate.
• Colour: matcha is opaque and vivid green; green tea is clear and pale.
• Caffeine: because you drink the whole leaf, a generous serving of pure matcha can contain more than a cup of brewed green tea. The NHS puts a cup of tea, black or green, at about 75mg. See does matcha have caffeine?

Can you use green tea instead of matcha?

Not in recipes that call for matcha: steeped leaves don't give the colour, body or flavour. Matcha's powder is what makes lattes creamy and green.

Learn more

For the full story of how matcha is made and the difference between grades, read what is matcha? and ceremonial grade matcha.

Make it with Mind Full Matcha: ceremonial matcha, lion's mane and coconut cream in one creamy latte powder. 30 servings a pouch, from £19.99 a bag on subscription at our launch price. Shop Mind Full Matcha.

FAQs

Is matcha stronger than green tea?

In flavour and usually caffeine, yes, because you drink the whole ground leaf.

Is matcha just powdered green tea?

Not quite. It's made from shaded leaves processed into tencha, then stone-ground, so it differs from simply grinding ordinary green tea.

Further reading

• What is matcha?
• Ceremonial grade matcha
• How to make matcha