Matcha was first brought back to Japan in 1999 during the Kamakura period by Zen monk, Eisai. He travelled to Tang to learn about Southern Song culture and planted the matcha seeds in Fukuoka in the south of Japan. At the same time, he opened several Zen temples in Kamakura at the behest of Kamakura Shogunate and entrenched the custom of drinking matcha.

Matcha was considered to be a medicine to nourish and arouse monks from lethargy. A book called ‘Azuma Kagami’ (National Treasure and Important Cultural Property) records that when Shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo suffered from a hangover, Eisai recommended tea as a ‘good medicine’.

Subsequently, partaking of matcha became part of a luxurious lifestyle as it was and still remains opulent compared to other teas. Since tea culture grew up alongside the development of Zen, it is also known as ‘chazen ichimi’ (tea Zen and tea), and Kamakura is said to be the birthplace of Zen and Tea.

The main style of tea drinking that time was to put the tea bowl on the saucer called ‘Tenmoku.’ Frothing up the powdered tea leaves with a bamboo whisk was a highly aspirational lifestyle custom of the Southern Song period, along with calligraphy, painting, arranging flowers and burning incense. They flowed into Japan and matured into the “way of tea,” the “way of flowers,” the “way of calligraphy” and the “way of incense.”

Today they are highly respected as representative pillars of authentic Japanese traditional culture.

Matcha benefits

Anti-ageing – antioxidant properties

Immunity – catechins

Relaxation

Increases concentration

The caffeine contained in matcha tea has a stimulant effect and helps to counter drowsiness and improve concentration.

Theanine, a relaxing component of matcha, moderates the strong effects of caffeine present in matcha.

Nutrition – dietary fibre intake, vitamin C, etc.