[High-Quality Matcha] Why Uji Matcha has Outstanding Quality Compared to Others?

In our last article about matcha, we explored the detailed information about this healthy, finely grounded tea powder of Camella Sinensis (tea) plant.

Matcha tea is, indeed, got the most nutrients than other types of tea. The nutrients in one cup of matcha equal to 10 cups of green tea. The highest quality of matcha, or the so-called ceremonial grade matcha, usually sipped for the traditional Japanese tea ceremony “Sado”.

However, have you ever heard about Uji Matcha? It is the most searched and loved variety of matcha tea because of its outstanding quality, filled with a long history and passed-down tradition. Uji matcha’s quality is similar to ceremonial grade matcha from other regions or countries. That said, Uji Matcha becomes the top brand matcha of Japan.

Without further ado, let’s learn more about Uji Matcha and why you should consider choosing high-quality matcha like Uji Matcha!

What is a High-Quality Matcha?

Before we talk about high-quality matcha, let’s first learn about matcha. Matcha is 100% green tea (Camella Sinensis) leaves that have been shaded-grown before harvest and ground into a fine powder. Because of that, matcha is richer in chlorophyll, amino acid, and antioxidant contents than other types of tea.

To learn more about matcha tea in general, check our article below:

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How do We Determine the Quality of Matcha?

The thing you should know about high-quality matcha is their vibrant, vivid green color. Also, high-quality matcha has a smoother, talc-like texture than culinary grade (lower quality) matcha. High-quality matcha also has a rich and mellow taste you can definitely enjoy.

This bright color came from shading the tea plants from the sunlight for about three to four weeks before the harvesting process. The treatment could increase chlorophyll production and boosts the amino acid content to the tea leaves.

Only the youngest tea leaves are harvested by hands to make high-quality matcha, and they are processed with the stems and veins removed.

Another indicator of matcha’s quality depends on which region or country where the matcha is cultivated and processed. Suitable climate and geographical conditions for tea plant cultivation will make a big difference to matcha’s quality.

Remember that powdered tea is not exclusive to Japan or China only. Powdered teas can be cultivated and processed in another country.

However, Japan has so many good reviews for producing the best matcha tea in the world, and the best of that came from Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. Uji is a small city from south Kyoto Prefecture with 30 minutes bullet train ride from Tokyo station. Not only being the birthplace of Japanese matcha in Japan but Uji also the most leading region for green tea cultivation in Japan.

Recommended High-Quality Matcha

What is Uji Matcha?

The term Uji Matcha is very famous for high-quality matcha products in Japan. You’ll feel as if you got to taste the high-quality matcha product if a product has an “Uji Matcha” label.

  

Even the “low grade” notice in Uji Matcha still has the superb quality if compared to matcha from other regions or countries.

  

However, in present days, there are some products write a label of “Uji Matcha from Kyoto Prefecture (京都府産宇治抹茶)” or just “Uji Matcha (宇治抹茶)”.

  

To begin with, Uji is located in Kyoto Prefecture. So why the manufacturer bother to add “from Kyoto Prefecture” to the label? Are there any differences?

Let’s first take a look to the definition of Uji Matcha:

The Definition of Uji Matcha

Uji Matcha is a matcha tea cultivated in four prefectures such as Kyoto, Nara, Shiga, and Mie. However, Uji Matcha products can only be manufactured within Kyoto Prefecture by tea producers from Kyoto.
The label “Uji Matcha from Kyoto Prefecture” means it is a matcha product cultivated and manufactured both in Kyoto Prefecture. Recently, this type becomes more popular than the merely “Uji Matcha” label.
The reason is not it provides the highest quality, but they also have the passed-down tradition. In our store, you can find matcha tea products cultivated and manufactured in Kyoto such as Harimaen Seicha’s matcha.

Why Choose Uji Matcha, The High-Quality Matcha?

In producing matcha tea, the matcha cultivated in Uji has several reasons which can describe their never defeated quality.

Uji blessed with suitable geographical & climatic conditions for tea plantation. Not only that, but Uji also has a long historical background of Japanese tea culture.

The History of Uji Matcha

The history of uji matcha can be tracked down to the early 600’s in Tang-Dynasty China. At this time, The Zen Buddhist monks’ prepared the matcha by roasting and pulverizing the tea leaves, brewing it with hot water, and adding a pinch of salt into the resulting tea powder as the monk’s daily ritual.

Continuing in the next Dynasty, the Song-Dynasty (901-1300) is where the tea preparation culture makes its historical move. The influential Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, Eisai, brought the tea seeds and the powdered green tea preparation method to Japan in 1191. Eisai returned permanently to Japan after spending years studying the Zen Buddhist methods in China.

The tea seeds he brought then planted in the temple grounds in Kyoto, the home of the Kamakura Shogun. During this period, matcha’s production is very limited, thus considered as a luxurious item.

Soon as Eisai’s return to Japan, the Zen Buddhist Monks develop new methods for green tea plant cultivation, especially in Uji, Kyoto.

Eisai also wrote a book about tea: Kissa Youjyouki (喫茶養生記) which talks about the health benefits of tea, how to cultivate it, how to prepare it, etc. Hence, Eisai played a prominent role in Japanese tea history.

Uji earned the status as the birthplace and the excellent area for tea plant cultivation because many tea cultivation methods were introduced here. Moreover, the tea seeds Eisai brought to Japan considered to create the highest-quality tea in all of Japan.

Uji’s Geographical & Climatic Condition

Tea plant is very sensitive to climatic changes, such as average temperature increase and extreme weather events, which can directly affect the quality of the cultivated product (source).

Luckily, Uji lies in a basin surrounded by mountains, lakes, rivers, and small streams. This geographical condition provides gentle wind in Uji. Uji has an average humidity of 80%. The soil is rich in minerals with low acidic pH levels suitable for tea plantation.

Uji’s climate is considered as warm and temperate. As for the temperature, Uji has an average annual temperature of 18° Celcius. The tea bushes in Uji is planted on gently sloping hills or hilltops. These gentle slopes provide the ideal layout to grow the highest quality tea bushes in Uji.

Organic Uji Matcha Manufacturer – Harimaen Seicha

Most tea plantation in Japan uses pesticides. The reason behind that is because tea plant is actually very weak to insects. Also, mass production is needed because tea has a high demand, especially in Uji Matcha’s case.

Using a pesticide means a tea plantation will have to do spraying for 7 to 8 times a year. Spraying time will take some hours up to 2 full days. That is a terrifying procedure that could affect the worker’s health and people who eat the harvested tea.

We are consuming matcha tea for our health. But if we consume matcha tea cultivated with pesticide, it is not good for our health.
The matcha tea will lose its benefits.
Because of this, drinking organic matcha tea will be a good choice to maintain your health.

Cultivating organic tea plant is harder and require so much time and effort, such as a large amount of weeding.

Therefore, one of the tea plantation company from Uji, Kyoto — Harimaen Seicha, put so much effort in producing the organic cultivation and pesticide-free Uji matcha tea. Harimaen Seicha is one of few company in Japan that produce a high quality tea products with JAS certification, NOP (Natural Organic Program) Certification, and EU Organic Certification. They are certainly maintaining their product quality to deliver a healthy and safe matcha tea for their customers.

Enjoy the organic, healthy, and safe matcha tea products from Harimaen Seicha.

Why Uji Matcha has Become a Special Brand?

Uji Matcha is known as the green tea’s foundation in Japan which born from never-ending dedication from its manufacturers. Its existence expands worldwide and still lead the highest position as the top brand of Japan.

Have you wondered why?
Here are the reasons!

The Emperor of Japan and General Ashikaga take a liking to Uji Matcha Between 15th-16th Century

  

Uji matcha starts to become a top brand by the mid-15th century due to the patronage of the Emperor of Japan with the imperial family, and General Ashikaga’s family.

  

They take a liking to Uji matcha after Uji starts producing tea in the 14th century.

  

Being recognized by the emperor and the shogun (general) is such a big deal. Thus this patronage continued by great samurai Oda Nobunaga and the Tokugawa Clan.

Uji Matcha also acknowledged by Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Clan

  

In the early 16th century, chanoyu (茶の湯) or sado (茶道) was introduced. It is a ceremonial way to preparing Japanese matcha tea, together with traditional Japanese sweets which greatly loved by Oda Nobunaga.

  

Oda only used Uji Matcha in his tea ceremony, making Uji Matcha a luxurious top brand for tea ceremony.

  

Later in Edo Period (17th century), a system called “御茶壷道中 (Ochatsubodochu)” is introduced under the patronage of Tokugawa Clan family. It is an annual ceremony where the tea masters from Uji brings new tea to Edo (Tokyo) to present it to the Tokugawa Shoguns.

  

This tradition has been going on for 260 years.

In other words, Uji Matcha was not only superior in quality and taste but also protected by people with authority and became a top brand because it was deeply loved by them.

Uji Matcha is an indispensable heritage from Japan.

Matcha Tea Health Benefits

In recent years, matcha tea has become increasingly popular not only because of its taste but because of its benefits for health and beauty effect. Here are some benefits from consuming matcha.

Health Benefit 1　Packed with Antioxidants

Matcha is rich in catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) — one of the plant compounds in tea that act as natural antioxidants.

  

The antioxidants may prevent damage that caused by free radicals, therefore consuming matcha tea could lower the risk of several chronic diseases for your body. A study strongly propose matcha tea as a natural compound that could help to overcome cancer cell resistance to chemoteraphy.

  

Matcha tea contains 137 times more antioxidants than green tea. That is because every one cup of matcha tea was made with 1 gram of green tea leaf powder containing 143 mg total catechins.

Health Benefit 2　Gives Relaxation Effect

According to studies, the active amino acid (L-theanine) contained in matcha tea induces relaxation effect. L-theanine stimulates the alpha brain waves that could create deep mental relaxation.

  

This amino acid is responsible to give the umami flavor that becomes the characteristic flavor of tea.

Health Benefit 3　May Help You to Lose Weight

A study shows that drinking 4 cups of matcha tea in 24 hours can enhance fat oxidation by 18% during brisk walking in healthy females. Every one cup is made with 1 gram of matcha tea powder.

  

This proves that 4 cups of matcha tea’s composition is sufficient on the metabolic responses during exercise (*but please note that there are individual differences for matcha’s maximum consumption limit per day due to its caffeine content).

  

So consuming matcha to start your day might make your workouts and diets more effective.

Health Benefit 4　Gives You Energy

Chlorophyll is a natural green pigment contained in all green parts of plants, including matcha tea.

  

As chlorophyll creates energy for the plant, they can provide energy to your body.

  

The energy does not get absorbed in the body but travels through digestive track instead. So it makes you fuller longer and prevent overeating.

We had an Interview with the Japanese Tea Ceremony Expert

The traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony is called sado (茶道, “The Way of Tea”) or chanoyu (茶の湯). It is the ceremonial way to prepare Japanese matcha tea, together with traditional Japanese sweets (和菓子, wagashi) for the guests to enjoy the hospitality, atmosphere, and aesthetics that the host has to offer.

This time, Kawashima The Japanstore team had the chance to interview a Japanese Sado Expert. Let’s learn what he has shared!

Profile

◎Name: ITO

◎Nationality: Japan

A qualified and professional Japanese Tea Ceremony “Sado” instructor who teaches Sado at home and seminars. A veteran who has been involved in the Sado world for over 10 years.

Uji Matcha Q&A

Here’s our Q&A summary that will answer all your curiosity about Uji Matcha!

Recommended Products for Uji Matcha

Kawashima The Japanstore only recommends the high-quality Uji Matcha cultivated and manufactured in Kyoto Prefecture.

Harimaen Seicha is one of few Uji Matcha manufacturer in Kyoto, Japan that commits to produce a high quality products with JAS certification, NOP (Natural Organic Program) Certification, and EU Organic Certification.

Enjoy the rich and mellow texture of high-quality matcha cultivated and manufactured 100% from Uji, Kyoto.