Changes

==Production==

==Production==

Matcha is made from shade-grown tea leaves also used to make [[gyokuro]]. The preparation of matcha starts several weeks before harvest up to 20 days, when the [[tea]] bushes are covered to prevent direct sunlight. This slows down growth, turns the leaves a darker shade of green and causes the production of [[amino acid]]s. Only the finest tea buds are hand picked. After harvesting, if the leaves are rolled out before drying as usual, the result will be ''[[gyokuro]]'' (jade dew) tea.  However, if the leaves are laid out flat to dry, they will crumble somewhat and become known as ''tencha''. ''Tencha'' can then be de-veined, de-stemmed, and stone ground to the fine, bright green, talc-like powder known as matcha.

Matcha is made from shade-grown tea leaves also used to make [[gyokuro]]. The preparation of matcha starts several weeks before harvest up to 20 days, when the [[tea]] bushes are covered to prevent direct sunlight. This slows down growth, turns the leaves a darker shade of green and causes the production of amino acids. Only the finest tea buds are hand picked. After harvesting, if the leaves are rolled out before drying as usual, the result will be ''[[gyokuro]]'' (jade dew) tea.  However, if the leaves are laid out flat to dry, they will crumble somewhat and become known as ''tencha''. ''Tencha'' can then be de-veined, de-stemmed, and stone ground to the fine, bright green, talc-like powder known as matcha.

 

 

Note that only ground ''tencha'' qualifies as matcha, and other powdered green teas, such as powdered [[sencha]], are known as ''[[konacha]]'', lit. "powder tea").

Note that only ground ''tencha'' qualifies as matcha, and other powdered green teas, such as powdered [[sencha]], are known as ''[[konacha]]'', lit. "powder tea").