What Makes Matcha Green? The Science Behind the Colour
The vivid green of high-quality ceremonial matcha is not a coincidence or a result of additives. It is a direct expression of how the tea was grown, and it is one of the most reliable visual indicators of quality available to someone buying matcha without tasting it first.
Chlorophyll and Why It Accumulates
The green colour in matcha comes from chlorophyll, the pigment plants use to capture light energy for photosynthesis. In most plants, chlorophyll is produced in response to sunlight. In matcha production, shade-growing creates a paradox: by blocking sunlight, growers cause the tea plant to produce more chlorophyll as the plant works harder to capture whatever light is available.
This is why shade-grown, first-harvest matcha, the basis of A-Grade ceremonial matcha, is so much more intensely green than culinary grade matcha made from unshaded, later-harvest leaves. The visual difference is a direct consequence of the different production methods.
What Colour Tells You About Quality
Vivid, saturated green: indicates high chlorophyll content, consistent with shade-grown, first-harvest production. This is the colour of properly produced ceremonial grade matcha.
Yellow-green or olive: indicates lower chlorophyll content, consistent with unshaded or later-harvest leaves. This is the colour of culinary grade matcha. In some cases it may also indicate matcha that has aged or been stored incorrectly, as chlorophyll degrades over time and with exposure to light.
Colour alone is not a guarantee of quality, but it is a useful first check. If a matcha labelled as ceremonial grade is visibly dull or yellowish, that is a signal worth taking seriously.
How Light and Heat Affect Colour After Purchase
Chlorophyll is sensitive to light and heat. Once the tin is open, exposure to direct sunlight and warm temperatures will gradually break it down, reducing both the colour intensity and the freshness of the flavour. This is one reason proper storage, in a sealed container, away from light and heat, matters for maintaining the quality you paid for.
All our matchas, whether the Ceremonial Matcha A-Grade from Yame or our Wazuka single-cultivar range, have the vivid green colour that comes with genuine first-harvest, shade-grown production. It is visible in the tin and in the cup.
