What Makes Our Matcha Special?
With so many matcha options on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. At POEMS Tea Atelier, we often get asked what makes our matcha different from other matcha in the market - and the answer lies in how it's grown, processed, and respected.
1. The Harvest: First Flush vs. Later Harvests
Our matcha is made exclusively from the first flush (Ichibancha), the very first harvest of spring when the tea leaves are most tender, nutrient-rich, and flavourful. This is the gold standard for ceremonial matcha, delivering a smoother taste and higher concentration of L-theanine and chlorophyll.
2. Tea Leaf: Tencha vs. General Green Tea
The base for Matcha is Tencha leaves, which means the tea leaves are shade-grown for several weeks before harvest. After harvest, tencha leaves are steamed, air-dried, and stripped of stems and veins. This process preserves the umami, sweetness, and vibrant green colour that matcha is known for.
Yet many matcha powders on the market use regular green tea leaves, which leads to a duller taste, less vibrant colour, and a rougher texture.
3. Grinding: Stone-Milled vs. Machine-Milled
Our Ceremonial Grade Matcha is stone-milled in small batches using traditional granite grinders that rotate slowly to preserve the flavour and aroma. Each stone mill produces only about 30g of matcha per hour, The low-temperature grinding process preserves matcha's natural sweetness and umami flavours.
Mass-market matcha is usually machine-milled, which generates heat and compromises the tea's quality, leading to coarser particles and a noticeable loss of aroma and colour.
4. Flavour Profile: Smooth & Sweet vs. Bitter & Bold
Because of the careful cultivation and processing, our Matcha & Hojicha offers a naturally sweet, mellow, and umami-rich flavour with minimal astringency. It's ideal for sipping straight, whisked with hot water in a calm ritual.
Choosing the Right Matcha for You
Whether you're starting your matcha journey or refining your palate, it helps to identify a good matcha from the bad. If you're after a mindful tea experience with deep flavour and tradition, our Ceremonial matcha collection is for you. If you are after lattes or smoothies, our All Purpose Matcha & Hojicha offers great versatility without compromising quality.
