Matcha Madness: How a Country Girl Fell for the Green Stuff

Until recently, I’d never even heard of matcha. Out here in the countryside, trends arrive at the speed of a sleepy cow on a Sunday afternoon—slow, confused, and slightly suspicious.

So when Paula started raving about this bright green powder, I just blinked. Green? Like, grass green? My first thought:

Oh no, not another cauliflower smoothie situation.

But curiosity got the better of me. I marched into the local shop (where the cashier gave me the same look she reserves for people asking for almond milk) and bought a tin of matcha. What on earth am I supposed to do with this? I thought, staring at the neon-green powder like it might start glowing.

I tried it. And—plot twist—it was delicious. That vibrant green color? Oddly satisfying. No longer did I associate it with questionable vegetable smoothies. I was converted. Matcha, you - evil green looking powder-, you’ve won me over.

What is Matcha? 

Matcha, a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves, traces its origins to China during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). 

The plant used to produce matcha is Camellia sinensis, the same species from which all true teas—black, green, white, and oolong—are derived.

This evergreen shrub thrives in subtropical and tropical climates, primarily cultivated in regions with well-drained, acidic soils. Today, Camellia sinensis is grown on several continents, including Asia (notably China, Japan, and India), Africa (such as Kenya and Malawi), and South America (particularly Argentina and Brazil).

Japan, however, remains the epicenter of matcha production, producing the vibrant green powder known as matcha.

Countryside: please hurry up!

Now, I’m just waiting for the countryside to catch up. Will there ever be a matcha hangout around here? Probably not. The mood around here is: if the farmer hasn’t eaten it, it doesn’t exist.

So for now, I’ll just keep my matcha stash hidden like a secret love affair—sipping my green elixir while the neighbors side-eye my "fancy city tea."

Matcha it is, folks. And if you see me glowing, it’s not the sun—it’s the matcha. ☕💚

By Marga van der Vet

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At Handmade Luxury Home, we share the same roots but have lived diverse lives across continents. Our passion for colour runs deep—it’s a constant topic of conversation for us, as cultural influences, local nature, and artisan traditions shape our unique colour perspectives.

We love to write about colour, too!

Explore our latest insights and inspirations in these blog posts:

What is the Colour of Matcha?

Pantone Colour of the year 2027, predicted by HLH

Marga van der Vet & Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Camellia sinensis, Barcin/Getty Images