What is matcha, really?

Matcha 抹茶 is shade-grown, finely stone-ground green tea, prized for its delicate flavor. A complex blend of umami, mild bitterness and savoriness, matcha is unique to Japan. Traditionally, matcha was enjoyed only as tea, but in modern times matcha stars in many things from lattes and ice cream to cookies, cakes, and now, Wanola Granola!

The difference between matcha and other green tea comes down to one thing: with a steeped tea you throw the leaf away, and with matcha you drink it. Everything the leaf contains ends up in your cup — colour, aroma, umami and caffeine included.

That's also why grade matters so much. Lower grades taste flat and chalky; good matcha is vivid, almost broth-like, and finishes sweet rather than bitter.

When we started testing granola, cheap matcha simply vanished under the oats and nuts. Stone-ground matcha holds its own.