The Water Temperature You Should Use To Prevent Bitter Matcha

Matcha seems to be taking over the world, with many cafes offering hot drinks, smoothies, and desserts flavored with this vibrant green tea powder. You can even use matcha powder to upgrade your popcorn. Its earthy, grassy taste can take some getting used to, but once you're hooked it's definitely worth making your own your matcha lattes at home. But there are some common matcha pitfalls to avoid, like whisking your Japanese tea in water that's too hot — unless you like your beverage on the bitter side.

The ideal water temperature for matcha is around 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Your water should never go above this, but you can certainly make matcha with slightly cooler water. This green tea powder contains chlorophyll, which can break down quickly in higher temperatures – and this process causes your matcha to taste bitter. 

If you don't have a thermometer, an easy trick is to boil your water and then pour out how much you need into a cup, before transferring this into another cup or bowl and adding your matcha. This method will cool your water enough so that it's the perfect mixing temperature.

While your water temperature is crucial for a smoother tasting matcha drink, it's not the only factor that can leave you with an unpleasant taste. Using too much powder can also leave your drink tasting overpowering, and less is definitely more here, especially if you're a matcha newbie. Around 1 teaspoon per 6 ounces of water is a good starting point. Before you add your powder, it's also wise to sift it first to remove any clumps. Otherwise, you'll end up with clumpy matcha and a whole lot of bitterness.

Whisking your matcha incorrectly can also lead to a bitter drink, so it's important to get it right. Stirring with a spoon won't work here and neither will whisking the way you're probably used to. Using either a bamboo or regular whisk, whisk lightly in a zigzag motion, making sure to incorporate the powder until smooth. 

If for any reason your matcha turns out bitter, you can offset the taste with some liquid sweetener like honey or agave syrup, or use it in a dessert with other sweet ingredients. But with these tips, you're on a sure path to smoother-tasting matcha.