In Japan and Korea matcha green tea is used in traditional foods such as soba noodles and mochi and is increasingly used to flavour Western food and drink. Matcha green tea has dusky, vegetal flavours and a vivid, enticing green hue which work well in drinks and pâtisserie.

Unlike other green teas, matcha green tea comes in a powdered form so that it is the actual leaves themselves (rather than an infusion) that is consumed. As such adding too much can overpower a drink or dessert - begin by adding less than you think you need as you can always add more.