Green Tea Forum

aspincal · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Hi,

I'm on the mailing list of a popular holistic health practitioner who also sells products. The recent email I got was for a matcha product. What was interesting is that the email insinuated that many matcha products are inferior. Here is the link: (removed - please read our linking policy)

How does the o-cha matcha compare. IS it tested for quality and nutrient content? I'm new to matcha and was interested in its health benefits. I'd like to be confident that whatever product I purchase is of high quality with as little pollution residuals as possible.

Thanks

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 904 Location: Japan

A couple of things. First , for the last 10 or more years, ol "Dr. Mercola" has been at the forefront of scaring the bejeezus out of the general public by implying that they will become ill from the flouride found in green tea. I can't tell you how many emails I have received over the years from concerned people who read his site, he used to have this big long expose and was selling some alternative product. So after reading your post I had to take a look see for myself - just amazing! He is now selling "authentic" green tea! I'm sorry - Dr. Mercola is a quack, and a hypocrate. Check out this amazing revelation:

aspincal · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Sorry about posting the links... I always took things that Dr Mercola said with a grain of salt. He does come across as having a bit of "the sky is falling" sales pitch.

He seemed to suggest that some matcha were "purer" or less contaminated by pollution etc than other matchas. You sell organic match. In the end, what is the difference between buying an organic matcha vs one of your non-organic matchas?

okimasa · Posted: Mar 19, 2008 5:53 am Post subject:

The difference between organic and non-organic (as I just found out) really isn't much. I heard to become "Certified Organic" is an expensive process so you end up paying a higher price for a lower quality matcha (compared to non-organic).

olivierco · Brown Belt Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 67 Location: France

It is, besides non using pesticides or chemicals, expensive because

1. you have to prove everything (fill many documents, traceability) and pay for many analysis to prove the absence of chemicals, GMO, etc...
2. organic tea should be processed, packaged on machines exclusively used for organic tea.
3. you have to pay for the inspections of the certification organization

So if you buy organic food or tea, a good part of the price goes to the organic certification.

Most of the food I buy is organic (it is also a way for me to support non intensive agriculture), but for tea, especially japanese tea, I drink them organic or not. If someone could sell an organic gyokuro as good as Uji Gyokuro Kame-Giru-Shi or any other top o-cha gyokuro, I would be ready to buy it and spend some extra money on it.

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 175

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

For whatever it's worth, I've heard that Japan utilizes pesticides that are not water-soluble on tea. I have no idea if it is true, just have come across this sentiment before. I've also read that Uji prefecture has very stringent standards in regards to pesticide usage.