You’ve probably seen this mysterious and vibrant green drink all over your for you page on social media. But what once was a niche superfood in the western world and a common traditional ingredient in Japan has now become social media’s latest hyperfixation.
But what even is this green stuff?
Matcha is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, the same as regular green tea. But what differentiates matcha from basic green tea is that the plants are shaded for several weeks before harvest. This increases chlorophyll and amino acid levels and darkens the leaves. After harvesting, the leaves are steamed, dried, and then ground into a fine powder using stone mills. Matcha is typically whisked into hot water or steamed milk to create a frothy beverage. Because the whole leaf is consumed, matcha provides a concentrated dose of nutrients and antioxidants compared to traditional green tea infusions. Matcha has a distinctive vibrant green color and a unique flavor profile that can be described as earthy, grassy, and slightly sweet with an umami finish.
Now matcha has been around since the Tang Dynasty (7th-10th century AD). Which was around 1200 years ago, safe to say it’s been around for a while. In China it was initially consumed as a powdered tea mixed with salt and formed into bricks. Then it was introduced to Japan in the 12th century by a Japanese Buddhist monk named Eisai, who brought back tea seeds from China. Eisai popularized matcha within Japanese Zen Buddhist monasteries, and it became integral to the Japanese tea ceremony.
But it came into the hands of social media in the 2000s, hitting its peak Instagram era around 2017. Since then it has become even more popular, integrating into mainstream coffee shops like Starbucks.
But it’s popularity didn’t come from nowhere. Matcha contains a range of health and wellness benefits including improved focus and cognitive function (through containing L- theanine, that provides a sustained energy boost), lowering cholesterol, skin health, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and other potential benefits. Alongside those health benefits also comes with matcha’s unique flavour profile, its versatile use, and its vibrant green colour.
You will see matcha in cafes, supermarkets, food (like ice cream and desserts), and even in skincare products.
While matcha does provide a range of health benefits, consuming it in excess can have downsides, mainly because of its caffeine and catechin levels. Overdoing it may lead to digestive problems such as nausea, stomach upset, or diarrhea, and can disrupt sleep by causing insomnia. In some people, high amounts might also worsen anxiety, trigger headaches, or interfere with certain medications and even impact liver function.
Matcha has been trendy for over a decade and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down, especially in the Western world. With its vibrant color, unique taste, and long list of health perks, it’s more than just a fleeting social media fad. Whether it will truly rival coffee remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: matcha has carved out its own loyal following, blending centuries-old tradition with modern lifestyles – it’s a little green cup with a whole lot of story behind it.
Published on 26th July 2025
Written by Bianca Hu
Photo courtesy of Ujido
