Is Matcha An Herbal Tea? Exploring The Truth Behind This Green Delight

Is Matcha An Herbal Tea? Exploring The Truth Behind This Green Delight
A collective gasp echoed around the room. The tension was palpable. It was as if I had just suggested that chocolate and cheese don’t pair well together (which, by the way, they do – try it). So, what had me trembling in my boots as the horde of tea enthusiasts glared at me? I simply posed this question: “Is matcha an herbal tea?”
Yes, dear reader, today we are going to delve into the unfathomable depths of tea taxonomy and try to unearth the truth behind this verdant drink. Strap on your diving glasses, it’s going to be a brew-tiful adventure!
What is Matcha?
Matcha, essentially, is a sort of green tea. But halt your horses before you categorize this emerald dream just yet. It’s a bit more complex than that, and as tea enthusiasts, we live for such delightful complexities, don’t we?
Origin and History of Matcha
The roots of matcha tea burrow deep into the serene landscapes of East Asia. Like any classic hero’s journey, matcha embarked on its own odyssey from its humble birthplace in China during the Tang Dynasty. Primarily utilized as a medicinal plant during that time, the powdered green tea soon began to unfurl its beautiful theme of aesthetics and culture, arriving in Japan around the Heian period.
The monks loved it, and so did the Samurai. Everyone admired the intricate process of making matcha and the culture of mindfulness it propagated. The ritualistic preparation of matcha became synonymous with Zen Buddhism long before it started making a vibrant appearance in your neighborhood café.
Matcha’s tale is not just a narrative about a tea; it’s a journey through time and cultural evolution. It’s a story narrated by silent monks, robust samurais, and even quivering cherry blossoms, whispering the secrets of this vibrant green elixir.
Matcha tea’s journey from China to Japan is not just a tale of a tea, but a cultural evolution intertwined with mindfulness, admired by monks and samurais alike.
How Matcha is Produced
Producing matcha involves a process as elegant and sophisticated as its taste. It starts with Camellia sinensis, the evergreen shrub native to East Asia. Specialty tea leaves, called tencha, are harvested and then steamed to halt fermentation.
Once the leaves have dried, they transform into what we lovingly call matcha. But the adventure doesn’t finish there. The dried tencha leaves are then carefully grounded into a fine powder using stone mills, and voila, our superhero tea is ready for action.
Understanding the Differences: Green Tea vs. Herbal Tea
Before we dive into the great matcha-herbal debate, let’s sift the tea leaves of confusion surrounding green tea and herbal tea. For, to unravel the mystery of matcha, we must first dissect its more renowned sibling, the green tea, from its distant cousin, herbal tea.
Ingredients and Composition
So, what’s in your cup? Green tea, straight from the heart of the Camellia sinensis plant, owes its distinct personality to its rich chemical makeup. The main characters in its ensemble include polyphenols, caffeine, and theanine.
In stark contrast, the potpourri of ingredients in an herbal brew varies wildly depending on your whims and fancies. From chamomile flowers to peppermint leaves, any plant substance that isn’t derived from the classic tea plant can proudly compose an herbal tea.
The Making Process
What differentiates green tea and herbal tea is not just their ingredients but also their making process. Green tea undergoes minimal oxidation, enabling it to preserve the green color and the characteristic taste.
Herbal tea? As diverse as their ingredients. For instance, fruity mixtures often require cold-brewing to keep their flavors intact. On the other hand, resilient characters like rosemary would prefer you boil the living daylight out of them.
Caffeine Content
I have some news for you, my fellow caffeine aficionado – not all teas are blessed with caffeine. While Starbucks would have you believe that your Hibiscus tea is canceling out the all-nighter you pulled in, the truth is, herbal teas are typically caffeine-free.

Traditional green tea does contain caffeine, albeit in lesser quantities than your cup of Joe. Matcha, however, takes the cup for being the Usain Bolt of the tea world when it comes to caffeine. But, fret not! The slower release of caffeine in matcha provides a smoother, ‘zen-like’ energy buzz that won’t leave you jittery.
Is Matcha an Herbal Tea?
The moment of tea-leaf reading truth is upon us: Is matcha an herbal tea? Buckle up, as we attempt to navigate through this sea of confusion. In case we capsize, remember; there’s a nice, warm, green-flavored lifeboat waiting to pick us up!
The Classification of Matcha
When we dive into the world of tea, both its science and beauty, we encounter different categories, types, and labels. But where does our encha organic matcha fit into all this? Matcha is classified under the umbrella of green tea, a sibling to the famous Sencha, Gyokuro, and Bancha, amongst others.
Believe it or not, all of our beloved tea variations stem from the same mother plant – Camellia sinensis. Yet, what sets them apart, you might ask? The differentiation lies in the cultivation, harvesting time, and processing techniques. So, although matcha is not an herbal tea, its distinct production process gives it a unique character and profile. Imagine every tea as an actor; they’ve all got the drama in their tea leaves, but it’s the direction and the script that brings out the Olivier or the Brando in them!
Matcha is a unique type of green tea with a distinct production process that sets it apart from other tea variations.
Why Matcha is Often Misunderstood as an Herbal Tea
Let’s wake up and smell the tea leaves! Why is our lovely green enchantress, matcha, often mistaken for an herbal tea? First, let’s clarify one thing – herbal teas are not technically “teas”. Surprised, aren’t you? They are a blend of herbs, flowers, spices, or any other plant material, excluding the Camellia sinensis.
Now, where does the confusion arise? Well, unlike your everyday green tea where you steep tea leaves and discard them after, with matcha, you are actually consuming the whole leaf! That’s why we need a matcha spoon – to measure and whisk those finely ground tea particles into the hot water. Matcha assumes a more ‘herb-like’ persona, especially when compared to the other ‘sip-and-discard’ teas.
Yet another reason casting matcha into the herbal category is its arresting vibrant green color and umami-rich, creamy taste. It’s a far cry from many other teas that have a light color and more subtle flavors. In our world, where we judge books by their covers, sometimes matcha gets judged by its bold green garb and ends up in the herbal section. Talk about being at the wrong place, at the wrong time!
Health Benefits of Matcha
Oh ladies and gents, fasten your seat belts; we’re embarking on an enchanting journey to discover what treasures lie hidden in our cup of encha organic matcha. Compiling a list of matcha’s health benefits could easily give War and Peace a run for its money. From stepping up your brain function, warding off cancer, to sprucing up your heart health, this green wonder does it all. Here we go…
High in Antioxidants
Let’s start with matcha’s primary claim to fame – antioxidants. Now, what are these scientific-sounding species? Envision antioxidants as your body’s secret agents, fighting off harmful free radicals that threaten to destabilize your body’s harmony.

- Not just any antioxidants, mind you, but epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), known for its cancer-fighting properties. Matcha is practically swimming in it!
- Encha organic matcha has a concentration of these wonder-heroes 137 times greater than regular green tea.
- You’d have to drink 10+ cups of brewed green tea to get the antioxidants present in just one spoonful of matcha. (raises matcha spoon) Now that’s what I call packing a punch!
May Help Protect the Liver
The liver plays the unsung hero in our body, filtering the bad guys and regulating most chemical levels in our blood. Beyond its role in detoxification, the liver also aids digestion. You’d agree that it’s something we want to be taking care of and protecting dearly.
Multiple studies suggest that regular consumption of matcha could help protect your liver from damage and even lower the risk of liver disease. And again, we have those plentiful antioxidants to thank for it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could raise our cups of encha organic matcha, say cheers to good health and, in the process, keep our livers happy too?
Boosts Brain Function
Ever exercised at the “brain gym”? Here’s some matcha inspiration for you. Did you know that encha organic matcha could serve as a catalyst for enhancing your brain function? The combination of caffeine and L-theanine found in matcha has been linked with improvements in brain function.
- The beautiful dance between L-theanine and caffeine results in enhanced brain function, giving you a combination of calm alertness and improved cognitive performance. Who wouldn’t like a sparkly neuron party in the brain, huh?
- Did I mention improved mood and reduced stress levels? That’s L-theanine at work, increasing the production of dopamine and serotonin. In short, a matcha a day keeps the stress at bay!
What’s more, you ask? Matcha could potentially slow down cognitive decline and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Mind-blown yet?
May Help Prevent Cancer
Your daily routine of whisking a matcha spoon worth of matcha may dance its way towards cancer prevention. Matcha is teeming with a specific type of catechin called EGCG, renowned for its potent cancer-fighting properties.
Several test-tube and animal studies have delineated that EGCG is effective in killing cancer cells and suppressing tumor growth. While this is promising, there’s a need for more research to explore the extent of these effects in humans. Nonetheless, the sheer potential behind these studies is hard to ignore.
May Promote Heart Health
Forget those cheesy romantic pop songs; it’s time to serenade your heart with some encha organic matcha! Heart disease is the world’s leading cause of death. And here, matcha steps in as your own heart’s knight in shining armor.
- A regular matcha affair could help lower bad LDL cholesterol, curtail the oxidation of LDL (that stuff that makes cholesterol stick to your arteries), and may even improve your heart’s overall functionality.
- Heart health isn’t just about what you eat; it’s also about what you do. Matcha can provide that gentle caffeine kick without the jittery effects typically associated with coffee. This means you get a smooth energy boost, perfect for a faster-paced walk or a fun dance workout that keeps your heart merry and sprightly.
Helps with Weight Loss
Okay, don’t raise your eyebrows just yet. Yes, I am suggesting that our darling, creamy tasting matcha can also help with weight loss. No longer do you have to endure those ghastly diet shakes or empty your wallets on weight-loss supplements with dubious results.
- Encha organic matcha can boost your metabolism and increase fat burning, without causing any undue side effects.
- Some studies even suggest that the catechins found in matcha could help prevent the growth of new fat cells. Now that’s what I call efficient!
- And it’s not just about weight loss. Matcha, being low in calories and high in nutritional value, supports a healthy, balanced diet. Now you can enjoy every swirl of your matcha spoon, knowing that not only is matcha an elixir for your health, but also a friend to your waistline!
Preparing and Consuming Matcha
Taking a matcha tea break is much more than just sipping a hot beverage, it’s like participating in a centuries-old ceremony. If you think making a cup of your usual tea is a no-brainer, let’s dive into the world of matcha and see how much effort and art are hidden behind every sip!
Traditional Preparation of Matcha
The Japanese tea ceremony,Chado, is an interesting tea-riffic (pun intended) part of the matcha world, steeped in history, and tradition. In its core is the meticulous art of preparing and presenting matcha tea. Before you start, make sure you have the right tools: a matcha bowl (or chawan), a bamboo whisk (or chasen), a bamboo spoon (or chashaku), and of course, your matcha tea powder.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making matcha the traditional way – don’t worry, no one’s going to judge if your first whisking doesn’t froth! First, warm the tea bowl with boiling water, then discard the water and dry the bowl. Place two scoops of matcha powder using your chashaku into the chawan. Next, add about 70ml of water heated to 80℃.
Now, you’re facing the most significant part of the ceremony – whisking. Yeah, that’s right, no teabag-dunking in sight here! Traditional whisking is not just about mixing water and tea, it’s about incorporating air into the mixture to create a frothy layer on top. So, hold your chasen firmly and whisk in a ‘W’ or ‘M’ motion until froth forms.
The art of the Japanese tea ceremony involves preparing and presenting matcha tea with the right tools, warm the tea bowl, add matcha powder and water, and whisk in a ‘W’ or ‘M’ motion until froth forms.
Modern Ways to Enjoy Matcha
Don’t have a chawan handy, or does the complexity of the traditional ceremony make you quiver like a heated kettle? Fret not! There are modern and straightforward ways to enjoy matcha without the traditional paraphernalia.
For a basic matcha drink, add half a teaspoon of matcha powder to a cup, add a bit of hot water and stir until no lumps are left. Fill the rest of the cup with more hot water or steamed milk for a matcha-latte twist, and voilà, your modern matcha is ready!
And dear tea enthusiasts, don’t restrict yourself to only matcha beverages; matcha has ventured into the culinary world as well. It’s now a cherished ingredient in smoothies, pancakes, and even pasta! You see, matcha has crossed boundaries, from the traditional tea room to the modern, bustling kitchens of today, showing us it’s not just a tea, it’s an adventure!

FAQs
What are the main differences between matcha and herbal tea?
Elaborating on the differences between matcha and herbal tea, the key distinction lies in their composition. Matcha is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is the same plant that green, black, and Oolong tea come from. Herbal teas, however, are usually made from a variety of dried herbs, fruits, flowers, spices, and even roots.
Can matcha be considered an herbal tea?
In regards to whether matcha can be considered an herbal tea, the answer is no. Despite the frequent misidentification, matcha is a variety of green tea, not an herbal tea. The reasons are quite tea-technical, revolving around the plant origin, the presence of caffeine, and processing techniques.
What are the health benefits of drinking matcha?
The health benefits of drinking matcha are remarkable and supported by research. Consuming matcha can provide you with a healthy dose of antioxidants, particularly EGCG, which is recognized for its potential to fight various diseases. It may protect the liver, promote heart health, boost brain function, aid weight loss, and it’s also linked with cancer prevention.
How do you properly prepare matcha?
The proper way to prepare matcha starts with sifting the matcha powder to avoid clumps and then combining it with hot water (not boiling), followed by whisking until a rich froth appears on the surface. While traditional preparation involves a matcha bowl and bamboo whisk, a small whisk or fork can suffice in a modern setting.
Conclusion
From the traditional tea ceremonies of Japan to your modern kitchen, matcha has journeyed far and wide, breaking stereotypes along the way. This bright green delight is indeed a testament to the saying, “There’s more than what meets the eye.” I hope this exploration not only cleared up the misconception about matcha being an herbal tea but also urged you to embrace this unique tea and its inherent benefits, which include a high antioxidant content, thanks to compounds like EGCG and Habtemariam S. rutin.
I hope you’re ready to give it a shot, or rather a whisk! Remember, preparing matcha is an art and drinking it is a pleasure. So, seat back, relax, and appreciate every sip, because with matcha, it’s about cherishing the moment.
Signing off until next time, Zoe