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Discover what matcha is, where to shop for it, and how to use it in our ingredient glossary
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Check out our guide to matcha, including where to buy it and plenty of recipe inspiration, then read about tempeh, nutritional yeast and agar agar.
What is matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made of processed green tea leaves. Traditionally, matcha has been consumed in East Asia, namely in Japanese tea ceremonies, where serving and drinking matcha as hot tea symbolises a meditative spirituality. These days, it’s also used as a flavouring and dye in desserts and drinks, such as mochi, ice cream and lattes. ‘Ceremonial-grade’ matcha refers to the higher quality powder used in tea ceremonies, whereas ‘culinary-grade’ refers to that of a lower-quality, even though no standard industry definition or requirements for matcha exist.
Check out this easy matcha white chocolate roulade from baker and former GBBO winner Edd Kimber. This light and creamy dessert is a great alternative to the classic Swiss roll and it's less than 350 calories per serving, too.
