Assam becomes country’s first State to commercially produce Matcha tea

Why in News?

An Assam tea estate has sold India’s first commercially produced Matcha tea, making Assam the first State in the country to commercially produce this premium green tea. The development has been facilitated by the growing India–Japan partnership.

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a premium powdered green tea made from specially cultivated leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Unlike conventional green tea, Matcha is consumed in powdered form, allowing the entire tea leaf to be ingested. 

Matcha tea leaves are shade-grown for three to four weeks before harvesting. About 90% of sunlight is blocked, which increases the leaves’ chlorophyll and amino acid content, giving Matcha its characteristic bright green colour, rich umami flavour, and smooth texture. 

After harvesting, the leaves are steamed, dried, and stone-ground into an ultra-fine powder. Unlike regular green tea, where the leaves are steeped and discarded, Matcha involves consuming the entire powdered leaf.

Significance for India

Commercial production of Matcha diversifies India’s tea industry beyond conventional black and green teas. It reduces dependence on imports from Japan, China, and Vietnam, supports the rapidly expanding café and wellness beverage market, and opens new opportunities for value-added tea exports.

Sources: TH & HT

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