Matcha is an 800-year old ritual of self-care from Japan. Here's the rich tale of how one Japanese monk discovered matcha, a green gem once exclusive to the monks and nobles, but now can be enjoyed by all.

The tale begins in the 8th century in the Chinese Kingdom. The method of mixing milled tea leaves in hot water can be traced all the way back to the 8th century in China, where they would drink regular tea this way.

Legend has that Eisai, a Japanese monk is the one who popularised matcha in Japan and further developed the Matcha making-technique over 800 years ago. The tale goes that the monk Eisai traveled to China to further his studies of buddhism back in 1191. Here, he discovered these green seeds that kept the safe on his journey back to Japan. Once back, he would grow and cultivate these seed and started drinking as medicin as well as to stay focused during long hours of meditation.

In his later years, Eisai, who has in the meantime become a Zen priest, wrote a book about the healing powers of matcha and how to prepare the delicate beverage. The book Kissa Yojoki 喫茶養生記 – How to Stay Healthy by Drinking Tea in 1211 is the oldest tea book in Japan. In the two-volume book, Eisai begins by saying matcha is the:

“The ultimate mental and medical remedy and has the ability to make one’s life more full and complete”

Kissa Yojoki led to the reintroduction of tea culture in Japan, because until then, tea was reserved for nobles and monks only. 

Matcha has been the cornerstone of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries, but it recently became popular in the rest of the world mainly due to its calming powers and benefits Now, matcha, like wine, comes in different, taste and qualities. See here. We scorched the globe for the best ceremonial grade latte. Luckily, this wellness-gem is no longer exclusive to Japanese monks, but a drink that we can all enjoy whenever we need a little liquid hug.