Both green tea and matcha tea share many similarities. After all, they come from the same Camellia sinensis plant. 

 

However, matcha tea powder has qualities that distinguish it from your typical green tea. This article explains the differences between green tea and matcha tea and covers what makes matcha unique. 

 

What Is Green Tea? 

Like black, white, and oolong tea, green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant.  

Its leaves are harvested and quickly heated to prevent oxidation. They are processed by sun drying, firing, or steaming.  

Once the leaves are processed, they are rolled and dried. From there, they can be packaged, sold, and steeped in hot water to create tea. 

Green tea can be served hot or cold and has an earthy, vegetable-like taste. It can range from yellowish-green to light brown in color. One serving of green tea typically contains 10 to 25 mg of caffeine. 

 

What Is Matcha Green Tea? 

Matcha tea also stems from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, it undergoes different harvesting and processing steps than green tea. 

First, matcha tea leaves are grown in the shade during harvest. This shading process allows them to grow protected from sunlight which helps them develop unique properties. 

When harvested, the leaves are dried rather than heated. In addition, the stems and veins are removed so that the leaves can be ground into a fine powder. The powder can then be mixed into beverages or used in recipes.  

Matcha powder has a similar earthy, vegetable-like taste to green tea but can also have bitter or sweet undertones. It has a distinct bright green hue. One serving contains anywhere from 20 to 45 mg of caffeine. 

 

Green Tea Vs. Matcha Green Tea 

The differences between green tea and matcha green tea largely stem from how they are each processed and prepared.   

Green tea is heated then dried after harvest, whereas matcha green tea is just dried. On the other hand, matcha green tea leaves have their stems and veins removed before being grounded into a powder during processing. Green tea leaves do not undergo this process. 

Green tea and matcha green tea are also prepared and served differently. Green tea comes in a tea bag and is steeped to make tea. Matcha tea, on the other hand, comes in powder form and is whisked with hot water to form a foamy texture.  

Matcha has a bolder taste than green tea, making it great for beverages and recipes alike. Its versatility, higher caffeine content, and unique preparation process generally makes matcha tea more expensive than green tea. 

 

However, whether you opt for green tea or matcha tea is totally up to preference. Both are soothing yet energizing beverages that can be great additions to your daily routine.