How to cook and prepare a match: recipes for cooking at home

Author: Alena Dorozhkina , unique tea specialist,
professional tea-tester

Japan has long been known for its healthy lifestyle and amazing centenarians.

Many believe that the cause of such an & laquo; anomaly & raquo; it became a secret knowledge of how to properly brew and drink matcha tea at home or at work, do it at a party or at official receptions.

Previously, the drink was consumed only as a medicine, but gradually it became more and more popular.

Today, tonic jade infusion is widespread around the world and can be purchased anywhere on our vast planet.

Matcha - what kind of tea, description, types

The name of this Japanese drink consists of two words & ndash; & laquo; mat & raquo; and & laquo; cha & raquo;, which can literally be translated as & laquo; crushed tea & raquo;.

There is also a Chinese version that sounds closer, like & laquo; matcha & raquo;.

The name speaks for itself and indicates the fine structure of the raw materials intended for steaming.

But before you figure out how to properly make Matcha tea at home, you should get acquainted with its history and existing types.

Historical excursion

The path of unusual green tea began in the Middle Kingdom during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. Ancient tomes dating from 600-700 AD contain information that workers collected leaves, pressed them into large briquettes using special devices with steam. This made them much easier to store and transport over long distances.

It was very important for the ancient Chinese to prepare the Matches correctly, for which the raw materials were fried and then ground to a powdery state, poured with boiling water and mint was added. Two hundred years later, when the Song dynasty came to power, the recipe changed slightly. Then they began to beat the drink with a whisk until a persistent foam appeared on it. This process is still one of the rituals of the most important of the schools of East Asian Zen Buddhism.

At the beginning of the twelfth century, the monk Kamakura, a follower of Rinzai, first brought the legendary drink to Japan and introduced his like-minded people to the culture of drinking it. The Chinese gradually forgot about him, and in the Land of the Rising Sun he only became more popular. Only the famous oolong Teguanyin (Fujian) can compete with him.

In the period from the XIV to the XVI century, the drink gradually ceased to be the property of hermits and residents of monasteries, it spread to all strata of society. Around the same time, in the southern suburbs of Kyoto, a place called Uji, the technique of producing green tea was significantly improved. Today, the most popular producer can be called Aichi Prefecture, where the most tea grows in Japan.

Matti's visions: choosing wisely

Before making delicious Matcha tea at home, you first need to choose the right raw material. There are several separate varieties or varieties, of which the most popular can be distinguished:

• Morning. The most popular on the market, it is acceptable to consume it separately or with additional components.
• Gotcha. Suitable for layout with other drinks.
• Dakota. The lightest subspecies with a somewhat astringent taste.
• Kama. Dark variant. Recommended for consumption with sugar or honey.

There is a price classification that is important to consider when choosing a drink for home preparation:

• Culinary. The cheapest option has a tart refreshing taste. More suitable for cocktails, pastries or ice cream.
• Premium. Mid-price segment, contains mid-season sheets.
• Ceremonial. The most expensive drink of young and delicate leaves, it is served in Buddhist temples and at traditional elite tea parties.

The finished mixture can not only be steamed, it is suitable for use in cooking. It is added to pastries, cakes, cakes, cocktails, ice cream, desserts and sauces are prepared with it, and not necessarily sweet.

What you need for matcha tea at home: the right ways and recipes to cook at home

Spring water is used for brewing (best option), but if it is not possible to get it, bottled or purified is suitable.

It is impossible to collect from the tap, since it has a high content of chlorine and other impurities, which will inevitably spoil the taste.

Exactly such liquid requirements apply to almost any elite tea, for example, & nbsp; Japanese Bancha without taking this factor into account completely loses its subtle almond aroma.

Traditional Recipe

In the Land of the Rising Sun, there are two main, most common ways to make a tasty and healthy drink.

The main difference is the amount of powder used, which makes tea light and refreshing, as the Japanese say & ndash; thin, or strong and concentrated.

Koicha

The process requires a clay or porcelain cup and a fine strainer for screening and airiness of the raw materials.

The algorithm of actions is simple, even a perfect beginner can cope with it:

• Place a strainer over the cup and run 4 heaped spoonfuls of green powder through it. This amount is approximately four grams.
• Boil the water, and then cool to a temperature of 75-85 & deg; C, fill the mixture.
• Slowly, in order not to beat the foam, stir the composition with a whisk in a circular motion.

You need to drink immediately while it is still hot. If you hesitate, everything will settle to the bottom of the cup and the wall of the vessel, and the taste will deteriorate.

Barbel (Mustache)

The second option is lighter, refreshing, and thinner.

• Sift the powder into a cup in the amount of two teaspoons of tyasaku, which roughly corresponds to two grams.
• Fill the tea with hot water at the same temperature as when making Koita.
• Slowly make several circular movements with the whisk, then, if desired, you can beat until a stable foam appears.

Drinking comes with some nice bitterness, it is less viscous and not so sweet.

Brewing utensils

The Japanese tea drinking process is not as simple as many people think. To comply with all the rules and regulations, you will have to work hard and spend money. Purchase required:

• Ceremonial clay bowl (porcelain, faience) called chavan.
• A special whisk made of bamboo (hour) to stir the drink.
• Wooden scoop of tyasaku (cup).

The most important item is the bowl, which is sometimes a real masterpiece of Japanese pottery.

Vessels made in a certain style are very popular, for example, cigaraki, seto, cancer, oribe and others.

They should be light, fit in the palms and fit comfortably in them.

Those where traces of the wizard's work (fingerprints, stripes, recesses) are especially appreciated.

Corollas are made of bamboo, traditionally they are made manually from a single piece of wood, splitting it into 100 teeth.

Only with such a tool can you recreate the velvety and smooth texture of the original drink. The spoon should be made of the same material, about 15-18 centimeters long and differ in its unusual appearance.

However, even without special devices, it is quite possible to make Matcha tea correctly at home: many prefer to brew it in wooden bowls. The taste is somewhat peculiar, but not bad.

Master rule & ndash; do not use metal objects and accessories, except for the kettle in which water boils.

How to make a match without a whisk

Without tyasen, you can also cook a good drink, because not everyone can afford a special set for brewing. Although you should be prepared for the fact that the taste and texture will be far from the original.

In the store, you can see small portable devices, trying to choose made of wood, ceramics or plastic. Some even manage to use cappuccinators, shakers, blenders, and mixers.

Latte match recipe

Combining green powder with milk and sugar will allow you to wake up instantly in the morning.

It also gives you a boost of energy and a burst of energy.

Ingredients:

• Mattea powder & ndash; 4 tyasaku (1 teaspoon).
• Hot milk & ndash; 250 milliliters.
• Water (75-85 & deg; C) & ndash; 2-3 tablespoons.
• Caxap & ndash; to taste.

Preparation:

1. Pour granulated sugar and tea powder into the container.
2. Fill everything with water and mix thoroughly with tassel until smooth and smooth.
3. Heat the milk without boiling, pour into the resulting mixture.
4. Whisk until stable light green foam.

How to brew matcha tablets

Sometimes the powder is sold in the form of molds, which are designed to be brewed in special machines. However, they can also be used at home. The briquette, which normally weighs 4-5 grams, is thrown into a tightly closed container and shaken vigorously several times.

Then pour hot water, immediately drain it and repeat all standard actions & ndash; add 50-70 milliliters of boiling water and then beat with a whisk. This option is also suitable for preparing the latte described above.

How to make a match at home: Coconut milk tea recipe

For lovers of proper nutrition or vegetarians, a drink with an alternative component is suitable. In our country, it is still considered exotic, but in the West of Europe or in the United States it has been widely used for many years.

Ingredients:

• Mattea powder & ndash; 4 tyasaku (1 teaspoon).
• Water (80-85 & deg; C) & ndash; 50-60 milliliters.
• Coconut milk & ndash; 50-60 ml.
• Honey and\or sugar & ndash; to taste.

Preparation:

1. Install a strainer on the chavan or a regular cup, sieve the powder so that there are no lumps left in it.
2. Water and milk are heated, poured into a container, and whipped until uniform and foamy, approximately 30-50 seconds.
3. Add any sweetener to taste, drink hot.

Cold tea recipe

Summer heat can lead a person to complete exhaustion, but cool Mattia will give strength and relieve fatigue. A shaker is required for preparation.

Ingredients:

• Matcha Powder & ndash; 8 tyasaku (2 teaspoons).
• Room temperature water & ndash; 100 milliliters, cold & ndash; 300 ml.
• Lime or lemon & ndash; 3-4 wedges.
• Mint leaves & ndash; 3-4 pcs.
• Crushed ice & ndash; to taste.

Preparation:

• Pour green tea powder into a container, pour warm water, close the lid and beat well until the lumps are eliminated.
• Add the remaining components, shake for about 10-15 seconds.
• Pour into high glasses, drink immediately until the ice has melted.

Milkshake recipe

If you want something completely unusual and exotic, but still familiar and close, you should prepare it.

Ingredients:

• Matcha Powder & ndash; 4 tyasaku (1 teaspoon).
• Milk & ndash; 180-200 milliliters.
• Hot water & ndash; 3 tsp
• Mint syrup & ndash; 3-4 drops.
• Cream (20%) & ndash; 45-55 ml.
• Condensed milk & ndash; 2 tsp
• Strawberry jam & ndash; 2 tsp
• Grated chocolate for decoration & ndash; optional.

Preparation:

1. Dilute the powder in hot water, beat it with a whisk or any convenient way.
2. In a suitable container, mix milk, diluted tea, condensed milk and syrup, beat the mass with a blender until homogeneous.
3. Put jam on the bottom of the glass, pour over the cocktail and decorate with grated chocolate.

Matcha crème frappé

Ingredients:

• Mattia & ndash; 8 tyasaku (2 teaspoons).
• Milk (pasteurized) & ndash; 250 milliliters.
• Ice cream (vanilla or chocolate) & ndash; 60 grams.
• Ice & ndash; 3 dice.
• Whipped cream & ndash; for decor.

Preparation:

1. Put ice, tea powder and milk into the bowl of the mixer, beat until smooth.
2. Pour the resulting mixture into a tall glass, place ice cream on top, garnish with whipped cream.

How to choose a quality product, which company is better

The cost of good tea is high, and it is easy to fake it, so the market is replete with all sorts of fakes.

It is difficult for a beginner to figure out which product is worth buying and which is better to bypass. There are not many quality criteria:

• The tea has a bright, rich hue similar to the lime skin color. If it is greyish, yellowish or dull, it is most likely a fake.
• The smell should be a little chocolate or caramel. If the aroma is unpleasant, you should refuse to buy, the taste will be the same.
• The package must always be completely sealed. Most often it is small, and the tea itself is hidden from direct sunlight, under the influence of which the catechins in its composition are destroyed.
• Discounts and promotional offers cannot reduce the cost of tea to 200-300 rubles per hundred-gram bag. A good mixture will cost an order of magnitude more. For example, Japanese Match premium on the RCC website costs more than a thousand rubles.
• The producer of tea, and at the same time its supplier, can be from Japan and only from there. If the bush grew in the Land of the Rising Sun, but the powder or leaves themselves are packaged in China or Taiwan, then the quality will definitely not be high.

There are many proven firms on the market that offer good Matcha tea. An excellent option will be the Internet platform & laquo; of the Russian Tea Company & raquo;, where moderate prices are combined with decent quality.

Homemade ice cream recipe from matches

For dessert lovers, an easy way to make a delicious treat is suitable.

Ingredients:

• Mattea powder & ndash; 1 heaped tablespoon.
• Eggs & ndash; 2 pieces.
• Water & ndash; 0.25 cups.
• Caxap & ndash; 100 grams.
• Cream (from 33%) & ndash; 350 gr.

Preparation:

1. Brew the drink in a quarter cup of hot water, cool slightly, strain through a frequent sieve or several layers of gauze.
2. Beat the proteins to persistent peaks. Grind the yolks with sugar (1 tablespoon) until smooth. Carefully mix both masses.
3. Add tea to the egg mixture, mix thoroughly.
4. Beat cream with a mixer with sugar sand, combine with the previously obtained mixture.
5. Pour the ice cream into pre-prepared forms and put in the freezer for 3-4 hours until completely set.

Useful properties

The popularity and demand for this drink is not accidental, it is due to the great benefits that the body brings. Tea contains many useful trace elements, minerals and vitamins that have a beneficial effect on health:

• proteins;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• tocopherol;
• fiber;
• B vitamins;
• ascorbic acid;
• iron;
• catechins;
• Retinol;
• fluorine, etc.

Just one cup of matcha contains so many different benefits that it can more than replace 10 kettles of any other drink.

Let's summarize

Now everyone understands how to brew Matcha tea at home. Even a beginner can easily cope with the task. Moreover, this is not just a delicious drink, but also a very rich, beneficial drink. The Japanese say that its daily consumption improves mood and memory, gives a charge of vigor and energy for the whole day, but does not have a negative effect on the body. However, it is still better to purchase it from well-known and proven manufacturers and implementers, so as not to fall for the cunning tricks of scammers.