For higher and for worse, matcha has grow to be a totally mainstream, commodified product within the U.S. The Japanese inexperienced tea beverage (or iterations thereof) will be discovered on Starbucks menus and large field retailer cabinets. And there have by no means been so many matcha manufacturers to select from.
For Reverend Takafumi Kawakami, a meditation advisor for Cuzen Matcha and head priest at Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto, Japan, ingesting a cup of matcha means a lot greater than getting a fast repair of caffeine. The truth is, Kawakami, who has devoted the final 20 years of his profession to spreading his wealth of information on Zen, a faculty of Buddhism centered on meditation (he even hosted a TED Speak about it!), says matcha is an integral a part of his apply and spirituality.
“Matcha has historic connections to Zen Buddhism, significantly in Japan,” Kawakami explains. “Zen monks included matcha into their meditation rituals to assist them keep alert and centered whereas sustaining a way of calmness. The method of getting ready and consuming matcha grew to become a meditative apply, encouraging mindfulness and non secular consciousness.”
Apart from the apparent proven fact that matcha is well-loved for its caffeine and strong L-theanine content material (a happiness-boosting amino acid linked to boosting longevity), Kawakami says there’s extra to understand. He encourages of us to look past the dietary info to discover a deeper, non secular reference to the beverage. Forward, Kawakami delves into the meditative apply that goes behind getting ready matcha served throughout a Japanese tea ceremony and the way adopting this easy apply can encourage discovering Zen (slowing down and discovering your inside peace) and practising mindfulness in your day by day routine.
The cultural and non secular significance of matcha in Japanese custom
Though the origins of inexperienced tea will be traced way back to the eighth century in China, it wasn’t till the 1100s that matcha (the powdered type of inexperienced tea leaves) started to achieve recognition in Japan. That is because of Myoan Eisai, a Zen Buddhist monk, who reportedly launched matcha to Japan and established its reference to spirituality, meditation, and on a regular basis temple practices early on. “Matcha is deeply ingrained in Japanese tradition and historical past. It has been consumed for hundreds of years and is taken into account an integral a part of Japanese id,” Kawakami says.
Though matcha is closely rooted in its reference to spirituality, Kawakami says the multifaceted inexperienced powder can be celebrated past the confines of the temple nowadays. “From conventional tea ceremonies to trendy culinary creations, matcha continues to be celebrated as an emblem of Japanese heritage and cultural pleasure,” he says.
The connection between matcha and Zen Buddhism
For Kawakami, Zen is the apply of getting a direct expertise of ourselves. “Usually, we’re specializing in our conceptual existence or narrative self. We predict and attempt to analyze and consider ourselves with logic. Nonetheless, in Zen apply, via our meditation, we expertise ourselves as the best way we’re or ‘minimal’ self,” he says. These are the core ideas of practising Zen that concentrate on worrying much less of what we assume about ourselves or who we wish to grow to be, and give attention to accepting and loving ourselves for who we’re at this very second.
Kawakami says that “matcha and tea assist make our senses extra eager to watch what we’re.” The act of getting ready matcha is extraordinarily meditative and ritualistic, which might help instill a sense of calmness whereas participating within the exercise. On the similar time, ingesting matcha or tea crammed with L-theanine may also physiologically improve alertness and cognitive operate. A win-win.
That is all to say, Kawakami finds that ingesting (and getting ready) matcha are excellent alternatives to apply mindfulness—by slowing down and taking within the second, as evident in conventional Japanese tea ceremonies. “Throughout meditation, we expertise what we expertise as the best way they’re, like sensation and ideas—ideas are thought-about sensations in Buddhism. Simply observe sensations and ideas come and go,” Kawakami says.
The normal Japanese tea ceremony
In keeping with Kawakami, a standard matcha tea ceremony will be damaged down into 5 elements: preparation, appreciation of the tea utensils, tea preparation, tea service, silent contemplation, and the closing ceremony.
1. Preparation
Earlier than the tea is introduced, Kawakami says it’s vital to arrange the room for the ceremony. “The host prepares the tea room, often known as a chashitsu, with cautious consideration to cleanliness and aesthetics,” he says. Throughout this time, the ceremonial host will fastidiously organize the tea utensils “in a exact method.” This consists of the tea bowl, tea whisk, tea scoop, and tea container.
2. Appreciation of the tea and utensils
As soon as the utensils have been fastidiously organized, it is time for some gratitude. “Earlier than the tea is ready, the host could take a second to showcase the tea utensils to the friends, highlighting their craftsmanship, historical past, and significance,” Kawakami says.
3. Tea preparation
To organize the tea, the host will begin by transfering the powdered tea into the tea bowl utilizing the inside track. “They then pour sizzling water into the bowl and whisk the combination with the tea whisk till a frothy consistency is achieved,” Kawakami says.
4. Tea service
Throughout this a part of the tea ceremony, friends are introduced with the tea because the host performs a set of rituals to honor the beverage. “The host presents the bowl of matcha to every visitor individually, utilizing exact actions and gestures. Visitors obtain the bowl with each fingers, specific gratitude—normally by complimenting the tea or utensils—after which take a sip of the matcha,” Kawakami says. As every visitor takes a sip, the bowl is rotated and cleaned as an indication of politeness to keep away from ingesting from the identical space because the earlier particular person.
5. Silent contemplation
The fifth step is called “silent contemplation,” a possibility for self-reflection and appreciation. “After everybody has had a flip to drink the matcha, there could also be a interval of silent contemplation or dialog the place friends replicate on the expertise and admire the second,” Kawakami says.
6. Closing
The ultimate step is called the “closing,” which indicators the top of the ceremony. Throughout this time, the host will clear and thoroughly organize the tea utensils again of their place. Kawakami says that that is additionally a time for friends to specific their gratitude to the host earlier than departing.
3 suggestions for making the proper cup of matcha at house
For Eijiro Tsukada, co-founder of Cuzen Matcha and matcha professional, making the proper cup of matcha at house boils all the way down to 4 key steps.
1. Select your elements correctly
For the best-tasting matcha beverage, it’s vital to decide on the suitable sort of matcha powder. For instance, when you’re planning on making a matcha latte, Tsukada recommends a stronger, bolder matcha powder, like Cuzen Matcha’s brilliant and strong Latte Mix Natural Matcha Leaf Packets ($17).“It’s vital to make use of a matcha mix with a bolder bitterness and a brighter colour than that of a mix meant for a straight drink,” Tsukada says. For a extra conventional, ceremonial-grade mix, he has beforehand really helpful Jade Leaf Natural Ceremonial Matcha ($20).
Moreover, Tsukada says sourcing the highest-quality matcha every time doable is vital. “Choose leaves from an natural farmer who prioritizes wholesome, clear soil for a wholesome, pure tea,” he recommends. And for even increased L-theanine content material, Tsukada says a high-quality, spring harvest matcha is your greatest wager.
Bonus factors when you can supply freshly-ground leaves, which is Tsukada’s gold normal. “The second matcha leaves are floor, the floor space will increase, inflicting the oxidation course of to speed up. The extra oxygen the grounds are uncovered to, the weaker the flavour, colour, aroma, and well being advantages grow to be,” Tsukada says. As such, he says grinding the leaves simply earlier than getting ready the matcha is most very best. Cuzen’s Matcha Maker is a straightforward strategy to get the job performed. The glossy machine is able to storing, grinding, and whisking a contemporary cup of matcha with the press of a button.
2. Make certain the water is good
“Even the water issues,” Tsukada says. Very like when making espresso, the kind of water you employ for matcha can have a major impact on how the ultimate brew tastes. As such, Tsukada recommends utilizing tender water as an alternative of onerous water every time doable. “Heavy mineral deposits in onerous water affect the style, mouthfeel, and colour of the tea,” he says. Filtered or bottled water are nice choices if you do not have entry to tender water straight from the faucet. (You may check the hardness of your water with an at-home check package, like this one accessible on Amazon for $10.) Moreover, he advises of us to make use of water that’s no hotter than 175ºF. “That is the standard temperature used for matcha,” Tsukada says.
3. Let the matcha’s flavors do the speaking
Probably the greatest methods to understand and rejoice the scrumptious flavors of matcha is to let the ingredient shine brilliant. “Discover steadiness when making extra elaborate recipes. In terms of lattes, I personally favor a recipe with minimal elements which is able to praise a high-quality matcha, quite than distract from it,” Tsukada says.
The right matcha latte recipe in accordance with the professional: two fluid ounces of matcha to 6 fluid ounces of milk. Seems like a matcha made in heaven.
An RD delves into the important thing variations between inexperienced tea and matcha:
