There's something deeply satisfying about the perfect cup of tea. While all teas have their charm, matcha stands apart with its vibrant green hue, distinctive preparation method, and it’s status on the wellness scene.
The Art and Science of Tea Temperature
Water temperature is crucial for brewing exceptional tea. Different varieties need specific temperatures to release optimal flavour without bitterness. Delicate green teas flourish at lower temperatures (70-80°C), while robust black teas need hotter water (95-100°C). If you are looking for help on how to get the temperature right, our Boil IQ Digital Kettle allows you to select the temperature and the time you boil, ensuring you'll never scald delicate tea leaves or under-extract robust varieties (and its removable tea infuser allows you to steep tea leaves directly in the kettle too!) The Boil IQ also has a reference guide included on its base, so you can ‘look up’ the optimal time and temperature for the tea you feel like each day.
Matcha: More Than Just Green Tea
But today we are talking about “Matcha”. Matcha isn't simply another variety of green tea, it's an experience. Unlike typical teas where leaves are steeped and discarded, matcha involves consuming the entire leaf in powdered form, delivering a richer flavour profile.
Traditional Japanese matcha preparation creates a moment of mindfulness - a miniature meditation that slows down time in the best possible way.
The Perfect Matcha Process
1. Water temperature is crucial: Matcha thrives at 80°C, not boiling. So set our Boil IQ to 80°C - but don’t add the matcher powder to the included tea infuser!! If you overheat your matcha powder it will taste bitter, so temperature is crucial to the perfect cuppa.
2. Sift the matcher powder: Use a fine sieve when adding the matcha powder to your choice of cup or mug. This will eliminate clumps for a smooth texture.
3. Measure precisely: For thin tea, use about 2g of matcha to 70ml of water. Pour the hot water over the matcha powder in your favourite cup.
4. Whisk with purpose: Use a bamboo whisk in a quick W motion until a froth forms. Take this time to enjoy the repeated movement and to take time for yourself.
5. Sip and Savour: Now it is time to enjoy your matcha tea and enjoy the benefits including a slow release of energy (no jitters like coffee can create), improved focus and also antioxidant protection. All wins we think!
Other Teas Worth Exploring
Delicate Whites: Require our Boil IQ's lower temperature settings (70-75°C).
Complex Oolongs: Showcase remarkable complexity at temperatures between 85-90°C.
Robust Blacks: Develop their full-bodied profile when brewed at 95°C.
For a deeper dive visit our brewing the best cuppa tea guide.
Why Temperature Matters
Tea leaves contain compounds that extract at different temperatures. Our Boil IQ eliminates the guesswork giving you complete control over the time and temperature. PLUS… it’s keep-warm function keeps the water at the set temperature for 30 mins, so you don’t need to keep reboiling the water each time you forget to pour yourself a cuppa during the early morning breakfast, school prep rush.
Creating Your Tea Ritual
Whether you embrace the full Japanese tea ceremony or simply take a mindful moment with your morning matcha, remember the perfect matcha begins with perfect temperature. With the right tools, your daily tea becomes not just a beverage, but a meaningful retreat too.
