“Everything You Wanted to Know About Matcha But Were Afraid to Ask”

Me, lost in a bowl of matcha

Dear Mom,

First, and most importantly, happy Mothers’ Day! I love you! I certainly hope that we get to spend some time together soon. I have recently joined the team at Matcha Source here in Los Angeles, and while I knew very little about the tea before meeting Alissa and embarking on a few tasting adventures, I find that I have fallen in love with it. For some reason, this refreshing yet calming beverage has gotten under my skin and I find myself daydreaming of ways I can integrate it into every aspect of my day.

Now, I’m sure you may find this strange coming from me, as I, like you, have a sworn affinity to Central American coffee. I’m still starting my days with our beloved Guatemalan beans, but my afternoons are suddenly becoming the domain of the tea ceremony. It all started last week, when I had once again over-committed myself and underestimated the amount of traffic in Los Angeles on a Friday evening. I’d spent Friday afternoon learning, practicing, and toying with the art of the tea ceremony, a simple process for brewing the optimal cup of matcha. Alissa and I tossed some frozen blueberries and a dash of pineapple juice into the blender with a few small scoops of Gotcha Matcha, and the results were surprisingly delightful! Each improvised recipe that day was more delicious than the last, and when all was said and done, I had consumed quite a bit of matcha over the course of my work day.

As work came to a close, I hit the road and embarked on my traffic-riddled commute home, and after about 20 minutes, I noticed a subtle calm overtake me. While an afternoon coffee would have caused me an anxious belly and a panicked mind, the matcha was making me feel… prepared. My brain felt clear and free from worry as I watched the lights change along Beverly Boulevard. My body felt awake and ready for action, yet free from the “butterflies” coffee can sometimes cause. I was energized while peaceful, and Alissa later explained to me that the amino acid L-theanine contained in matcha has a calming effect that, coupled with the tea’s caffeine, induces the sensation I had experienced. To me, it was magical!

The gear

Speaking of magical, the ancient tradition of the matcha tea ceremony is perhaps as calming as the beverage itself, and I can’t help but think of you as I familiarize myself with the genius bamboo utensils used by Matcha Source. The process is simple: you measure out an almond-sized scoop of matcha with your bamboo chashaku (scoop). You then sift the powered matcha into a ceramic tea bowl called a chawan. Be sure to sift it before adding liquid, for clumpy matcha doesn’t dissolve as well. Once it’s all sifted into the bowl, add hot water (not boiling! 195 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal). This brings us to my favorite part of the ceremony, when we get to use the chasen, a 100-prong bamboo whisk that brings the tea to a nice, even froth. Whisk the tea in the chawan until ‘sea foam’ covers the surface, and voila! You have created yourself a perfect drink!

My favorite tool is the chasen, or bamboo whisk

I have been toying with creative ways to integrate matcha into my diet; just today I added a scoop of the ceremony grade Kama Matcha into a bottle of coconut water and have been sipping on it all afternoon. It’s indisputably refreshing, and has certainly taken my mind off the 95 degree weather outside!

Another wonderful aspect of the tea is its high anti-oxidant content and cancer-preventing properties. It reminds me of all the wonderful meals you made for us while we were growing up: brain food, anti-cancer food, food for the soul. Right now, I am one of the few people I know who have experienced this wonderful tea, and for Mothers’ Day 2013, I’d like to bring it into your life as well! My heart is aglow with the thought of us being able to enjoy this peaceful, loving ceremony together and perhaps start swapping beverage recipes! Plus, I already know you are going to fall in love with the delicate chasen and its Robin’s Egg blue holder.

Climax of the Tea Ceremony!

I love you, Momma, and I am so glad to be able to share this with you. Happy Mothers’ Day from the bottom of my heart!

MATCHA CHA CHA!

Forget what you know about the elegant, quiet process of the tea ceremony and join Les Romanesques as they take us from Los Angeles to Tokyo for a taste of Disco Matcha! The colorful Paris-based Japanese performance artists have translated their appreciation of the mood-enhancing tea into a catchy, sparkly musical mantra: “Don’t think! Feel! MATCHA!”

One can’t help but dance along as Les Romanesques take us through their choreographed matcha preparation in their signature electric pink 18th century French costumes. They joyfully fill the tea bowls of a crowd of smiling faces, and as their grins attest, to feel matcha is to feel ebullient! Enjoy!

Green Tea Tart for Two from Ascension Kitchen in Australia. Conscious and Compassionate Eating.

I wish that was me who took that bite.

This sumptuous photo and recipe landed in the inbox today all the way from Sydney Australia   Every once in a while you come across something incredible well done, and this is one of those times.  I am particularly found of the post featuring lemon water and gratitude, where the author remembers to be grateful for access to clean pure drinking water in a world where many people don’t have it.  I am doubly grateful for the fresh water and a bountiful lemon tree in my yard.

Cherry blossoms in bloom at Matcha Source today.

Just our luck, Mr. Chao rolled in curious and left converted. Justin is the founder of Le Bon Garcon Caramels.  Yes! you want some of those.  We sent him home with some matcha samples so he could whip up a salted matcha caramel. Check out his blog full of adventures, fun, vegetable gardens, sushi dinners and pastry school.  We are making his almond milk recipe seen here.

Great press from Pure Wow this week. They got energized by green tea lattes.

Green tea latte, find our how at our West 3rd St shop.

Waiting in line for coffee is getting on our nerves (we’re talking about you, Intelligensia). Luckily, we’ve discovered a calming alternative: Matcha powdered green tea, which devotees believe suppresses everything from diabetes to cancer and lifts everything else from metabolism to your mood.

But not all matchas are created equal, according to Alissa White, proprietress of Matcha Source, a new West Third Street emporium that sells everything to make your own. Her powder matcha formulas, which can be used in shakes, lattes and teas, are imported from Japan to ensure purity and flavor. (We first ordered tea using her ingredients downtown at The Daily Dose.) The shockingly bright powder gets its restorative powers from the way it’s grown–shade-covered and early harvested–which leaves it full of antioxidants, chlorophyll, fiber and amino acids.

White touts matcha’s versatility–yummy in smoothies or green-tea noodles, baked in cupcakes, sprinkled on yogurt or mixed with salt on eggs and fish. (Nobu Miami makes its Green Tea ice cream with the powder from Matcha Source.) We’ve been having a home Japanese tea ceremony, frothing matcha-almond-milk lattes with an adorable bamboo whisk. We get sustained energy all day, without the spikes, jitters–or lines.

Matcha Source, 8036 W. Third St.; 310-845-9392 or matchasource.com

Read more: http://www.purewow.com/entry_detail/la/5190/Discover-healthful-energizing-matcha-powder.htm#ixzz2OrvO607a

A server brings trays of “wonderland” in the alley.

Matcha Source popped up at The Daily Dose, the passion project of LA local rabble rowzer, tech-entrepreneur, music lover, and sometimes chef, Sarkis Vartanian.  We served tea in a bowl and matcha green tea lattes to the brunch crowd who dined on a menu of farmer’s market fresh oyster mushrooms. Here’s Sarkis’ post from the Sunday Farmer’s Market:

when i went to the Atwater farmers market this morning, for a minute i thought i walked into Alice’s wonderland. At Kane’s Family Farm table i was able to pick my own yellow oyster mushrooms so todays special is called the wonderland: 3 egg omelet, sautéed shallots/welsh and red onions and yellow oyster and shitaki mushrooms in beurre blanc sauce topped with scallions made to order

Pasta boiled in matcha broth, wild mushrooms in jack fruit garlic butter sauce

“My juicer told me to drink it. He said matcha is a hidden gem.”

Here in RI we had a blizzard and lost power last night.  I had an empty Morning Matcha tin that came in very handy. By taking off the bottom with a can opener and punching holes around the side, it fit perfectly on top of the can of sterno (canned heat) and made a neat little sterno stove!

Morning Matcha saves the day!