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First Harvest (First Flush) vs. Second Harvest (Second Flush) Matcha
If you drink matcha tea often, you have probably come across the terms "first-flush" and "second flush" (ichibancha or nibancha), and the price of first-flush tea is significantly higher. If you are not sure why, let me explain below.
Why is first-flush matcha better?
In winter, tea buds hibernate for several months, waiting for spring. During this time, they accumulate all the valuable nutrients, making them exceptionally rich and full-flavored.
As the saying goes: "Quality takes time". First-flush tea leaves grow slowly in cold conditions, drawing the best from nature over a longer period. This is why first-harvest matcha is unmatched in quality and taste, offering a more intense experience for true connoisseurs.
Why is first-flush tea better?
L-theanine is a key source of umami, the plant-based sweetness that defines the quality and character of matcha. First-harvest matcha contains three times more L-theanine than second-harvest tea. In later harvests, such as the third and fourth, the L-theanine content is even lower. In addition, the first harvest accumulates the highest amount of nutrients in the leaves.
If you have ever tried very bitter matcha, it probably was not first-harvest tea. Bitterness is not synonymous with the taste of matcha; high-quality matcha has an intense, full flavor with minimal bitterness, so you do not need to add sugar to balance the taste.
This offer features first-harvest matcha with some second-harvest matcha. It is ideal for making matcha latte, drinking with sugar, or preparing in any other way. If you mix our matcha with something other than water, this version is for you, as you will not notice a difference between this and 100% first-harvest matcha. However, if you want to drink it with only water, the bitterness will be noticeable. It is perfect if you are just starting your matcha journey.
How to recognize good matcha?
We mainly recognize good matcha by its color. It must be an intense green, because the higher up and younger the leaves were, the more chlorophyll they had, which gives the intense green color. Leaves growing lower down are more yellow because they receive less light. Therefore, the more intense the green of the matcha, the better the leaves used to produce it, and the more yellow it is, the older and lower the leaves were on the plant.