Matcha and ocha are made from the same type of tea leaf. But the way of processing, taste, and utilization is different.
Here’s the explanation!
Matcha
Matcha quality green tea leaves are ground into tea powder. Brewed during the tea ceremony. Matcha smells good and is also used for flavoring foods, such as ice cream, cakes, cakes, biscuits, candy, wagashi, or various traditional Japanese cakes.
Ocha
Ocha is Japanese for green tea. The shape still looks like dried tea leaves, so you can enjoy it with hot water.
The difference between matcha and ocha from treatment, manufacturing process, and brewing method.
Not only served hot, ocha can also be enjoyed cold. The color of ocha is clearer and more greenish-yellow. As for matcha, the color is darker. Even with the texture when brewed, the water is thicker than the ocha brewed water.
Because the process is twice as complicated, matcha is more expensive than ocha. Making matcha starts from picking quality tea leaves. After picking the leaves are steamed and dried. The grinding tool is special, from stone to fine leaves like flour.
Ocha also has various types. One of them is ocha which has a bitter taste when the tea tree is exposed to a lot of suns. So, in some areas in Japan, plant tea trees in closed rooms to reduce the bitter taste from the high tannin content.
Quality matcha has a sweet taste and is not as spicy. Well, one type of matcha called koicha and usucha is usually served during tea ceremonies in Japan.
Koicha is thicker than usucha. However, in making usucha go through the koicha and stir until the texture is thinner with a tool called a chasen.
Based on the health benefits, ocha and matcha have the same content.
However, matcha has a nutritional level 10 times higher than ocha. Matcha also contains 137 times more antioxidants than ocha.
The tools for brewing matcha and ocha are also different.
Ocha is brewed in a teapot called kyusu. The majority of kyusu are made of clay, the aim is to withstand heat well and withstand high temperatures.
Whereas matcha, brewed in a small bowl and stirred with chasen, warm matcha is ready to be enjoyed.
