Matcha is a special green tea that originally comes from Japan. It is made from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis and differs from other types of green tea in that the leaves are shaded for a few weeks before harvesting. This causes them to produce more chlorophyll and amino acids, which gives the tea a more intense flavor and a bright green color.
After harvesting, the leaves are steamed, dried and ground into a fine powder. The powder is then infused with hot water and traditionally whipped with a bamboo whisk (chasen) to create a creamy foam.

Matcha has a long tradition in the Japanese tea ceremony and is still widely used in Japanese cuisine, for example in sweets or ice cream. In recent years, however, matcha has also gained popularity in other countries, especially as a healthy drink and ingredient in smoothies or baked goods.