Waku Waku II Matcha

Recommended for usucha and matcha lattes.

How To Prepare Usucha (Thin Matcha)

1 tsp (2g) matcha powder
1/4 cup (60ml) water at 176F (80C)

1. Sift* the matcha powder into a bowl.
2. Soften the bamboo whisk by submerging it in hot water for 30 seconds before whisking. 
3. Add water to the matcha powder. Whisk vigorously* back and forth in a straight line until frothy and no clumps remain for about 30 seconds. (The placement of your whisk should be near the bottom of the bowl).
4. Lift the whisk near the surface and whisk in a zigzag direction for 10-15 seconds to break the big bubbles to create a microfoam.
5. Enjoy your bowl of usucha.

Matcha Latte Recipe:

1 tsp (2g) matcha powder
1/4 cup (60ml) water at 176F (80C)
1/2 cup (120ml) milk*
1 tsp sugar (optional)

1. Sift* matcha powder into a bowl.
2. Soften the bamboo whisk by submerging it in hot water for 30 seconds before whisking.
3. Add water to the matcha powder. Whisk vigorously* back and forth in a straight line until frothy and no clumps remain for about 30 seconds. (The placement of your whisk should be near the bottom of the bowl).
4. Lift the whisk near the surface and whisk in a zigzag direction for 10-15 seconds to break the big bubbles to create a microfoam.
5. Mix sugar with milk until sugar has dissolved. 
6. Pour whisked matcha onto milk and enjoy!

Feel free to adjust the amount of milk or sugar as desired. For a stronger matcha latte, double the matcha to 2 tsp and water to 1/2 cup water. 

Katelyn's Tips:
- *Sifting ensures a smoother texture since matcha has a tendency to clump. In the case you do not have a sieve, take the edge of your tea scoop or a spoon and draw vertical and horizontal lines across the powder to separate as many clumps as possible. Envision drawing a 4x4 tic-tac-toe grid. 
- *Whisking vigorously means to whisk at a fast pace so you can aerate the matcha. Keep the whisk in one plane as you whisk back and forth. Avoid pressing the whisk into the bottom of the bowl although gently scraping the bowl sometimes cannot be avoided. 

Osada Tea is a Japanese family-owned tea business in Shizuoka dedicated to sustainable farming and producing high-quality green teas. Natsumi Osada, an 8th-dan tea appraiser, is the head of Osada Tea and continues the family tradition of organic tea cultivation. Prioritizing relationships for decades, they work closely with tea farmers, particularly in the Isagawa region. Both a manufacturer and a wholesaler, Osada Tea is pioneering the way to make good matcha more accessible domestically and internationally. We are honored to partner with Osada Tea to offer you this matcha!

This tea is our way of saying thank you to our new and old customers. 'Waku Waku' means a state of excitement in Japanese. At Dear Tea Co, we want to always offer an accessible option so our customers stay excited about matcha.

Waku Waku II is an upgrade to our original Waku Waku as it is not only more vibrant and aromatic, but also it is a single-cultivar option that we are intentionally marking down to make good matcha accessible! Please enjoy!