What Is Matcha

Not tea?

Matcha is made from the same plant as green tea, but it’s so much more. Nekohama Matcha is a green energy superfood.

It’s abundant in nutrients, full of antioxidants and refreshing caffeine, and aligned with calming amino acids.

One cup has hours of energy, without the jitters and crash of coffee. It’s fresh, pure, green energy. 

Healthy lives deserve balance 

Matcha is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant and ground into a fine powder. Carefully cultivated and produced by artisans in Japan, the process is delicate, intricate, and strict, a balance of nature and craftsmanship.

Balanced climates, proper sunlight, and rich soils make the bountiful hills of the Japanese islands the ideal place for growing this healthy energy source. Every leaf takes the same journey from the fields of the matcha farms in Japan into your cup. Each mindful cup reminds us to stay balanced.

Matcha has been grown by family farms across Japan for generations.

At a specific point in the leaves’ growth, farmers cover and shade the crop to prevent direct exposure to sunlight with a straw canopy or alternate shading technique.

• Camellia Sinensis leaves upgrade in the shade by boosting their production of nutrients (L-theanine, caffeine, and chlorophyll, to name a few) to give you a healthier experience in every cup.

• Only the finest first flush leaves are picked at the height of the harvest, then steamed, cooled, and dried. 

• The leaves are cut, deveined, and destemmed to ensure the highest quality taste and nutritional value. 

• Then, they are quality inspected to ensure the utmost balance and consistency.

• Finally, the batch is ground by stone into a fine green powder.

In the end, matcha is judged by more than just flavor. You look at the vibrancy of the fine green powder and you taste the umami, also known as the fifth flavor. Is the matcha creamy, rich, and savory? If so, you will feel the refreshing energy that differentiates matcha from other caffeinated products. Every cup of matcha allows you to feel your best.

Matcha is a nearly-thousand-year-old tradition with stunning ceremonies that have influenced culture, customs, and art. Matcha is both a practice and an art. It’s a ceremony which we at Nekohama call “Matcha Mindfulness”

Combining warm water with matcha, whisking it together, and watching the powder transform is the perfect way to start any day with positive intentions.

Why Drink Matcha?

There is a compromise between peak energy and mood, but why not have both? Matcha gives you clean, green energy without the crash or jitters of other caffeinated beverages like coffee. Where coffee and other beverages fail, matcha fuels your entire day. Caffeine by itself isn’t perfect. But when combined with l-theanine, Nekohama’s matcha energizes you while keeping you focused delivering pure, clean energy. 

Delicate on the outside. Unparalleled on the inside.

Nekohama's matcha is grown in the nutrient & microorganism rich soil of the Japanese volcanic island, Kyushu.

Nekohama matcha is powered full of these nutrients that promote attention, focus, mood, and energy. In addition, matcha (in studies) has been found to fortify the immune system and boost metabolism.

 

What are the nutrients?

• Caffeine:
• What you find in coffee is caffeine without the nutrients and antioxidants present in Nekohama. While known for promoting focus, attention, and concentration, caffeine alone can also cause anxiety, a crash, and the dreaded jitters that so many coffee drinkers experience. 
• L-theanine:
• Matcha, unlike coffee, contains L-theanine (an amino acid) and caffeine.Together, you get balanced, grounded energy. The L-theanine in matcha promotes clarity, relaxation, and can reduce stress. It’s been shown to increase cognitive function, and also adds to the sweet and savory umami taste that’s unique to Nekohama.
• Antioxidants:
• Matcha is filled with many different disease-fighting antioxidants which have been known to reduce inflammation, boost immune function, reduce oxidative stress, and combat the free radicals known for causing diseases like cancer.
• Catechins: 
• A large portion of the antioxidants are called catechins. EGCG, one of the most abundant catechins in matcha, promotes mood, memory function, cognitive function, and some studies have shown matcha to increase your body’s metabolism. 
• Chlorophyll:
• Traditionally, the matcha leaves are covered and shaded from the sun using traditional layers of straw. The lack of sunlight stimulates the plant's production of chlorophyll, which is responsible for many health benefits. Chlorophyll battles odors, toxins, fungus, and diseases like cancer by stimulating the immune system.
• Magnesium:
• The magnesium found in matcha is located within the chlorophyll. This green pigment is full of the important mineral known to help the immune system, relaxation, bone strength, and more.
• Zinc:
• Zinc, an immune-boosting mineral, helps give matcha a complete wellness profile. A healthy immune system helps you keep your health elevated and avoid colds and illness.
• Vitamin C
• Known for reducing inflammation and bolstering your body’s immune function, vitamin C can be found in matcha. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant.
• Vitamin E
• Matcha may help the health of your skin, hair, and nails. With the help of vitamin E found within matcha, you may be able to protect your appearance from age-related damage. Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

We challenged the idea that “bigger is better.” From our founder’s time in Japan, we learned the importance of quality first. Like the Japanese philosophy that imbues our company, “quality over quantity” is the Nekohama way. 

It begins with taste. We started our matcha journey focused on finding a unique organic matcha without the bitterness and chalky aftertaste that many of us have experienced. 

We use the highest quality “first flush” leaves from the spring harvest. The color of Nekohama matcha is unique due to its freshness, its geographical source, and the care it receives at every step of its production.

Our matcha is grown on the volcanic island of Kyushu. Known for its subtropical climate, Kyushu is one of the southernmost islands of the Japanese Archipelago. This volcanic island’s nutrient-rich soil and warmer climate work together to create our unique matcha flavor.

[JAS Organic Symbol]

Only the highest quality organic leaves are used to create Nekohama’s matcha. To receive the Japanese organic standard certification (JAS), Nekohama must meet a 95% or more organic threshold, a much stricter quality standard than USDA Organic. 

The leaves closest to the sun are called “first flush”. These sun-fueled “first flush” leaves have the highest concentrations of caffeine, nutrients, aminos, and therefore provide the most benefits.

“From farm to bowl” means Nekohama only carries fresh matcha ground in the past six months. This ensures our matcha’s freshness, reduces any unnecessary waste, and drives our mission to create a more sustainable company. We only use recycled cardboard, biodegradable plant packaging, and compostable materials to lessen our overall environmental footprint and do our part to make this a healthier planet.