The History of Matcha Latte

A If you've visited a coffee shop recently, you've probably noticed matcha lattes on the menu. This bright green drink has become incredibly popular around the world, but its story begins centuries ago in Japan. Matcha is a type of powdered green tea that was traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies. The drink we know today as a matcha latte, however, is a much more recent invention that combines this ancient ingredient with modern café culture. B The origins of matcha itself date back to the twelfth century, when a Buddhist monk brought tea seeds from China to Japan. Over time, Japanese tea masters developed a special way of growing and preparing the tea. They covered the tea plants with shade cloths for several weeks before harvest, which increased the chlorophyll content and gave the leaves their distinctive bright green colour. After harvesting, the leaves were steamed, dried, and ground into a fine powder using stone mills. This labour-intensive process made matcha quite expensive and it remained primarily associated with formal tea ceremonies for hundreds of years. C The transformation of matcha into a latte-style beverage began in the 1990s when Japanese cafés started experimenting with Western-style drinks. They mixed the traditional matcha powder with steamed milk and sweetener, creating a drink that appealed to younger customers who found the bitter taste of pure matcha too strong. By the early 2000s, matcha lattes had spread to coffee chains in North America and Europe. The drink's Instagram-worthy appearance and reputation as a healthy alternative to coffee helped boost its popularity among health-conscious consumers and social media users alike.