The finest quality matcha is Ceremonial grade, made from the highest leaves on the tea plant called the first flush--the leaves are fresh, young, light, and sweet. Our CoffeeeHouse Ceremonial Blend is made from the first flush. Hand-picked and freshly ground into a vibrant emerald green, try a 1/2 teaspoon, 8oz of water, and a smattering of ice cubes; try a 1/2 teaspoon and 8oz of hot water (176°F) –– either way, you’ll find a forest floor of dappled sunlight and lush vegetation, green grass and gentle moss moseying across the pallet to dance like dust mites in the evening rays. You may even find a hint of honey.
Culinary grade is made from the second flush. The leaves are slightly older, found lower on the plant, and larger; they produce a bold flavor that’s slightly astringent. In the end, they create a more robust, versatile, and confident presence. It thrives when mixed into a macadamia nut cookie, a blueberry scone, even something as simple as a latte. Culinary matcha traverses the same distance as the Ceremonial, both bring clarity of mind and are grown in the same conditions. Each crafted with a purpose in mind. So what it comes down to is whether you want to mix your matcha or drink it straight. If you’re not sure, why not try our sampler kit, it’s the best way to get to know your preferences within the world of Matcha.]]>However, many people elect for a bit more speed and choose an electric wand frother. (We recommend our favorite Aerolatte frother). It’s quick, easy, and sometimes, if you are not precise, can be a bit messy. Large bubbles appear first, later replaced by a thick froth that will sit on top of the beverage throughout consumption. If a thick froth is what you are going for, an electric wand frother is a great option Note: If you use one, you might find a long neck vessel more appropriate for preparation (versus a traditional matcha chawan), to avoid splashing. And at the end of the frothing cycle, if there are still clumps of matcha powder around the glass, simply add a splash more of hot water and froth again.
In regards to time, the 30 seconds of a Chasen is going to be about the same as a shot of espresso. Of course you can’t do other prep while you whisk, so if time is of the essence, perhaps the frother suits you best. If you are trying to add latte art at the end, either of these methods work great. If your aim is a simple and beautifully balanced texture (but no art), perhaps a to-go latte, then you might try adding matcha directly to milk before steaming it on your espresso machine. This produces the fastest, most consistent flavor profile. But honesty? Just play around with the options, it’s tough to go wrong. ]]>We could chat for hours about all sorts of aspects but we’re going to simply focus on antioxidants. Matcha has around 1,300 per gram. Compared to 105/g in pomegranate or 253/g in Goji Berries. These antioxidants are made of catechins. They prevent cell damage and increase the productivity of our immune system. A particularly important one is Epigallocatechin Gallate or more simply, EGCG. It’s the most commonly referred to catechin present in green tea. Here’s why.
Not only does it increase T-Cell production, (which are in charge of finding foreign bodies and killing them), but EGCG directly acts on hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The proteins HA and NA are visible protrusions on influenza virus particles. They are suppressed by EGCG and therefore their spread is limited. But matcha also has Strictinin, which inhibits the fusion of a virus and disables its ability to replicate. The health benefits don’t stop there, as mentioned before, we could chat for hours. And we will. So stay tuned for the individual articles that will break down each wonderful reason for drinking Matcha. For now, thanks for reading lots of fancy words and science for: drink Matcha, it’ll help.
]]>Thanks to the simple ingredients, our Matcha+Honey is low in calories (15 per serving vs. others with up to 75), packed with health benefits, and allows the subtle flavors of matcha and honey to pop simultaneously. Once again, because our Matcha-honey ratio is 2:1, our recommended serving size is less than half of other sweetened matcha mixes. Our taste is just a friendly reminder that when you leave out the junk, less is truly more. If you are looking for a clean, healthy, sweet-matcha option, try our Matcha+Honey blends. You won’t regret it.
]]>In Japan, a very similar process is done for all of our matcha. A matcha sommelier uses their expertise — lending back generations, to select the perfect group of leaves to create an intentional taste, an intentional experience. Creating a distinguishable matcha is a very labor-intensive, hand selected process. Our matcha comes from the Nishio, Uji, and Aichi prefectures, located in the middle of Japan, where mild climate, humid air, and fertile soil characterize the lands. These ideal growing conditions for high-quality Tencha have made them home to the finest quality matcha on the planet. The process is slow, but well worth it. Some teas stay as single origins, others are blended by a dedicated sommelier. The weather, fertilizers, and particular leaves of the plant (i.e. the tips of new leaves at the top of the plant or the slightly older leaves found lower on the plant), are taken into account and profiled. The lower leaves are typically a darker hue of green and have a stronger, more astringent flavor, while the newer leaves have a brighter color and are slightly sweeter.
It is a carefully selected blend of the finest new leaves that creates our Premium Ceremonial matcha. The more balanced, less subtle flavor profile of our Coffeehouse Ceremonial makes it a great matcha to be prepared with milk (such as in a latte). Our Kitchen Culinary matcha is blended using leaves slightly lower on the plant offering a stronger more robust flavor that maintains its matcha essence even once the heat is applied, such as in recipes for baked goods. Because quality is one of our greatest values, every matcha we offer meets our high standards, is delicious to the palate, and is designed for a specific use, based on its particular flavor profile. Buying matcha is a lot like buying wine, you have your table wines and the aged cabernets that you’ve kept in the cellar for years. Either way you look at it, there’s years of experience and a wealth of knowledge poured into every cup. We won’t steer you wrong.
]]>While browsing our selections, you’ll notice our pricing is 30%-70% lower than our competitors. That’s because here at Santé, we began as a wholesale company dedicated to high-quality Matcha. We noticed the market was full of retail matcha sellers trying to offer their product in bulk as a secondary business. This increases the price, but not the quality. We are proud to offer competitive prices, a very high standard of quality, and exceptional customer service. This is how we keep it Simple. Clean. Healthy.
]]>All of the matcha on our menu is authentic matcha — made from Tencha. The word Tencha refers to a unique growing method, requiring a period of shading, which allows the leaves to maintain L-theanine and chlorophyll (the healthiest active ingredients in green tea). Then begins the process of removing stems, deveining leaves, and drying them, all before they are hand crushed within stone grinders. This produces a very fine, uniquely green powder known as Matcha. In its liquid form, we get a smooth, sweet, and creamy beverage with a gentle finish.
Sencha is simpler to make every step of the way. There is no shading process and no specific manner of refinement. Once the tea plant is grown, the leaves are thrown into a grinder. This still produces a strong, healthy, green tea. But it is not Matcha. Currently, the market does not regulate the specific definition of Matcha as mentioned above. This is reflected in the wide-range of “matcha” that can be found at a cost of 3¢-4¢ per gram. If you’re wondering why your tea has a brown or yellow hue, why it’s coarse, somewhat like table salt, if you’re wondering at all, you may have purchased a Sencha branded as matcha without realizing it. You’ll never run into that trouble with Santé Matcha. Whether you choose a Culinary grade or Ceremonial grade, if it is on our menu you can rest assured it is made from the finest Tencha grown in Japan.
]]>Unexpected nuclear disasters do occur. And, since most of the times they are caused by the devastating forces of nature, they can be held as inevitable and difficult to prevent. Apart from the material damage and the release of radioactive materials that can have a severe impact on the health of the local people, there is yet another subsequent problem that adds to the distress: the lack of confidence in the safety of the products manufactured locally despite official strict supervision and safety reports.
And this is exactly what happened in the case of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster. Though authorities confirmed that the only significant tea areas affected by radiation were Shizuoka and Sayama, tea lovers began to be reluctant to purchase Japanese tea at all.
We would like you to understand and keep present that your safety is also our safety. Like you, we are avid consumers of Matcha Green Tea. We attach the utmost importance to the safety of the products we both sell and consume. The certification from our source clearly states that there are absolutely no traces of radiation in our Matcha products.
So we ask you to have faith in our genuine efforts to provide only high quality and 100% safe Matcha products.
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Unlike other green teas and loose leaf teas, matcha allows you to take full advantage of an incredible supply of antioxidants, minerals, amino-acids, and vitamins. Most people are unaware that, when preparing a regular cup of tea, most nutrients remain trapped – hence unused – in the tea leaves. With matcha –which literally means ‘powdered tea’ – you are ingesting the actual leaves of the green tea plant, thus enjoying all the benefits it has to offer! One cup of matcha green tea offers the health benefits of 10 cups of regular steeped green tea. Matcha is rich in potent nutrients such as polyphenols, minerals (Vitamin A, B-Complex, C, E, and K), fiber, potassium and chlorophyll. Matcha is especially rich in the amino acid L-theanine, responsible for it’s sweet flavor and the sense of relaxation and calmness associated with its consumption. Per serving matcha contains 70mg of caffeine (around double that of regular green tea).
Matcha Green Tea is an impressive antioxidant powerhouse. Generally, antioxidants can be defined as our bodies’ defense agents, responsible for preventing chronic diseases and aging. With each sip, your body will enjoy an incredible dose of antioxidants! Among the numerous health benefits of matcha green tea, our favorites are:
Enhances the fat burning process and boosts metabolism
Research studies have demonstrated that, due to its thermogenic and fat oxidation properties, consuming matcha green tea increasing the metabolic rate, enhancing the fat burning process of your body, making it an ideal addition to a weight loss program or cleanse.
Increases concentration
Used for centuries by Japanese Buddhist monks as part of their meditation practice, matcha green tea acts upon our brain (producing alpha waves), promoting a heightened sense of awareness and concentration thanks to the unique amino acid L-theanine.
Rich source of clean energy
Although it contains caffeine, the caffeine in matcha is absorbed in the body in a prolonged manner, providing a clean stream of energy that last for up to 6 hours without the infamous caffeine crash associated with coffee and other energy drinks.
A powerful detoxifier and cleanser
The color green is often associated with health. Since it is shade-grown, matcha green tea is rich in chlorophyll, a powerful detoxifier which clears the body of heavy metals and toxins. Matcha is ideal for cleansing.
Healthy-Glowing Skin
Due to its ability to combat molecule oxidation and inflammation, matcha green tea promotes healthy glowing skin, making it’s consumption an ideal part of a healthy routine.]]>