Matcha is consumed as part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony(chanoyu). There are two types of matcha - Koicha and usucha which translate to "thick" and "thin" tea. Matcha is made from ground Gyokuro leaves that have all stems and veins removed before being stone ground to a fine powder with the consistency of talc. Unlike other green teas, when you drink matcha you are consuming the leaves. Therefore, matcha contains higher concentrations, by volume, of beneficial catechin polyphenols and vitamins than green tea infusions. Independent studies have shown our Izu Gyokuro Matcha contains 10% polyphenols by dry weight. A delicious source of powerful antioxidants.