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What Gives Matcha Its Green Color?

If you have ever seen or used high quality matcha, the first thing you are likely to notice about it is that it has this incredibly distinctive bright green color. That is part of its appeal, for sure: you know you are probably getting something in your body that has a lot of good natural ingredients, plenty of antioxidants, and so on. But it also has this aesthetic appeal that is part of what makes matcha such a pleasing and enjoyable drink to have.

But you might be wondering what it actually is that gives matcha that green color and distinct matcha taste. In this article, we will take you through all you need to know about this - as well as offering some tips on what you can actually do with that color when you use matcha.

Chemical Components

So what is in matcha that makes it so bright and green? The short answer is: chlorophyll. You probably already know that this vital ingredient is what allows plants to photosynthesise. Well, it’s also the main component that makes most plants green. And matcha, as you may have gathered, has a ton of chlorophyll in it, so it’s especially green compared to many other plants of its kind.

But there’s more to it than that. Having lots of chlorophyll is also related to there being a high amount of antioxidants, so the greener your matcha is, the more likely it is going to be hugely beneficial for your health. That’s why high grade Encha matcha is particularly vivid and green.

Cultural Symbolism

As you may already be aware, matcha and tea in general is of huge and central importance to Japanese culture, and this is something that you might want to know a little about next time you are drinking matcha tea. In fact, the green color is symbolically relevant in Japanese tea ceremonies and in the culture generally, and poorer colors would certainly be looked down upon. So it is also for cultural and historical reasons that you should expect your matcha to be green.

This symbolism helps to keep you in line with the culture and to enjoy it more for what it is, so it’s something to be aware of.

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