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How is matcha grown and processed?

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Neatly planted rows of green tea bushes stretch across rolling fields with Mount Fuji, capped with snow, rising in the background in Japan. — tea Rows of tea (*Camellia sinensis*) growing in Japan, with Mount Fuji in the background.

Matcha is a powdered green tea produced through a precise and labor-intensive process that begins with specific cultivation requirements.12

Cultivation

Matcha must be derived from shade-grown tea plants (Camellia sinensis). This shading process increases the levels of chlorophyll in the leaves, resulting in their characteristic bright green color. During harvest, only the buds and the top three layers of the young plant are selected.12

Processing

Once harvested, the leaves undergo a strict production sequence:
* Steaming: The leaves are steamed to halt the oxidation process, which preserves the green color and prevents the development of the darker pigments found in other teas.12
* Refining: The leaves are deveined to ensure a high-quality final product.12
* Grinding: The processed leaves are ground into a fine powder using stone mills.12

Due to these exacting standards, matcha is considered one of the most expensive varieties of tea available on the market.12