Originally from Japan and dating back to nearly a thousand years ago, this finely powdered green tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Matcha plays an important part of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and the simplest way to enjoy it is whisked into hot - not boiling - water until it looks frothy. Some consider its earthy and bitter-sweet flavour an acquired taste, while others can’t get enough of it…

A host of potential health benefits has seen matcha take the world of wellness influencers by storm, with millions of posts under matcha hashtags. One of its biggest draws is that it is energising but with a gentler caffeine spike than coffee. Popular New York coffee chain Blank Street (with around 40 locations in the UK) serves a creative menu of matcha-based drinks which have caught the attention of matcha newcomers and afficionados alike.

Matcha is made from the entire tea leaf so contains higher levels of nutrients, such as vitamins and fibre, in comparison to other types of green tea. It’s also packed with natural antioxidants which can help protect your body from harmful free radicals, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Matcha’s concentrated source of polyphenols and caffeine have also been shown to improve attention, memory performance and metabolism.

There’s more to matcha than aesthetically pleasing lattes – although that’s as good a place to start as any. Step up your breakfast game and mix into overnight oats, pancake batters and porridge for a morning pick-me-up. Or get creative with your baking… matcha makes for a beautifully vivid buttercream for cakes or pairs particularly well with chocolate in cookies, cheesecakes and brownies. Fancy a cocktail? Add a little matcha powder to a classic margarita or try our sophisticated peppermint matcha martini.