Welcome back for the final class of Matcha 101. In our previous sessions, we've talked about what matcha is, what you need to make it, and how to make it using the traditional method. This time, for those who don't have the equipment yet or are on the go, we'll talk about matcha hacks to get you your matcha faster, with two different alternatives on how to make it as well as some bonus tips.

The non-traditional method

First, we'll walk through the instructions provided on our website here.

Step 1

Heat your water to 160-180°F.

We suggest using an electric kettle for this (we offer three options: the UtiliTEA Kettle, the VarieTEA kettle, and the VelociTEA Tea Maker) to be more precise. Anywhere between the settings you use for green and white tea should be fine.

Step 2

Add your matcha.

Add a teaspoon of your favorite flavor of matcha powder to your cup. The first time I tried this, I just dropped the matcha in, but using a spoon to break up bigger clumps or sifting the matcha into the cup with a matcha sifter before adding the water probably would have made it easier to mix the matcha in during step 3. I recommend it!

Step 3

Add a little water into the cup and use a spoon to mix the matcha in so that it forms a paste.

Use about enough to cover the bottom of your glass, but not much more. If big clumps of powder stick to your spoon, make sure to break them up.

Step 4

Add the rest of your water and mix until you have bubbles or a light foam.

For this step, because you are not using a whisk, it is going to be harder to get the characteristic foam associated with matcha, but by using a zig-zagging motion with your spoon rather than a circular one, you can get close. The most important thing is just to make sure that the matcha is completely mixed in. If you have big clumps on your spoon, make sure to get them broken up and mixed in too. I also have a working theory that a fork could work better to get more foam as it is more similar to a whisk, but a spoon is better for scraping hidden matcha deposits from the bottom of your cup, so I'm whichever you prefer will work just fine.

Step 5

Cleanup.

Matcha, like all teas, can stain, so if you get any on your counter during mixing like I did, make sure to wipe it up right away.

Step 6:

Enjoy!

Lessons learned

In trying this method for the first time, there were a few lessons I learned along the way.

Don't overfill the mug. It's tempting to want to fill your cup to the brim, but since you are going to be stirring the contents, make sure you leave enough space at the top for splashing.

Stir as you drink. Because you are putting the actual ground gyokuro leaves directly into your drink rather than steeping and then removing the leaves as you would with a normal tea, there is a tendency for matcha to settle at the bottom of your cup if you're enjoying your brew over time. To avoid this problem, keep a spoon handy to reincorporate the matcha as you sip.

Matcha Sticks Method

So the above method works great if you've got time to sit and enjoy your cup at home or the office, but what do you do if you're looking for your morning pick-me-up but don't have time to enjoy a full mug or have a job that keeps you on the go?

Enter: Matcha sticks.

Available in eight different flavors, including traditional, blueberry, raspberry, peach, sweet, jasmine, oolong, and black (try all eight in our discovery pack), these little power packets are by far the easiest way to make matcha. Simply add the contents of the matcha stick to a 500ml water bottle or thermos (the water can be hot or cold), shake, and enjoy.

It's just that simple.

Matcha Hacks

So, now you know how to make matcha in a snap, but, as with most things related to this power tea, there's still more you can do. As a parting graduation gift from matcha 101, please enjoy these parting tips, tricks, and hacks to incorporate matcha more into your tea life.

Pair it with other flavors. Matcha is a pretty versatile flavor that pairs well with a lot of things. Flavors you'll often see paired with matcha, besides our flavors listed above (we also have chocolate, cinnamon apple, and mocha), are white chocolate and berry flavors, though it also pairs well with more savory flavors too.

Add it to baked goods. Looking at several different recipes for cakes, cookies (such as this one from our TeaChef site), and muffins, it looks like most recipes suggest about two tablespoons per batch/cake, give or take a few teaspoons. A lot of it is going to depend on how strong you want your flavor or color, so play around and see what you like! Also, try using our flavored matcha to add or pair an extra flavor boost.

Use it as a mix-in for other liquids, such as melting chocolate, smoothies, lattes, puddings, etc. to taste. Just make sure to mix it in really well (sifting helps) to avoid clumps.

Make good use of matcha sticks. Each matcha stick contains about two teaspoons of matcha (twice as much as you would use for a single cup of tea). As most baking recipes call for between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons of matcha, that evens out to around 4-8 matcha sticks, depending on your tastes. And, since they're flavored, you can also pair those flavors with whatever you're baking.

Watch the caffeine. Because matcha is so high in caffeine, it makes for a great pick me up. Just be sure to eat some snacks or to drink it long before bedtime if you're more sensitive to caffeine's effects.

So, with that, matcha 101 comes to a close. Please enjoy the lessons learned, and if you put any of these methods, tips, or hacks to good use, please let us know. Our TeaChef site is great if you are looking for recipes (or have some to share), and if you want to show off your favorite matcha creations or ask questions, we're always listening on Facebook and Twitter @adagioteas.