Glossary

Shade-Grown

Shade-grown means the tea plants were covered before harvest to reduce sunlight exposure.

Shading helps preserve chlorophyll and amino acids, which is one reason matcha can taste sweeter, greener, and more umami-rich than unshaded tea. Longer or more careful shading often supports premium ceremonial quality.

Related Terms

Tencha

Tencha is the shaded tea leaf material that gets ground into matcha.

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Umami

Umami is the savory, brothy depth that makes good matcha feel satisfying rather than simply grassy.

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Related Products

Matcha where shade-grown is a notable characteristic.

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