DoMatcha Tea Fields in Kagoshima, Japan | Photo courtesy of DoMatcha
Matcha expert Gislinde Bronson is the North American Brand Manager and US Sales Manager for DoMatcha. She is in charge of marketing, advertising, events, new product development and launches. Today, she’s sharing her personal interest in matcha and the unique story behind the DoMatcha brand.
Check out our reviews of DoMatcha (DoMatcha Organic Ceremonial, DoMatcha 2nd Harvest Culinary)
Have you always had an interest in tea?
Tea has been an intricate part of my life since childhood. Coming from a European background, tea was always viewed for its medicinal qualities. I was introduced to matcha 11 years ago and have been drinking it almost every day since. I also have my family drink it.
What does the name DoMatcha mean? What’s the correct way to pronounce it?
Sadō – “The Way of Tea” – is the ancient name for the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. DōMatcha® symbolizes the union of Matcha green tea and Sadō, the centuries old tradition of the Japanese “Way of Tea”, of which Matcha has long been the centerpiece. Dō (pronounced ‘Doh’) means “way” or “journey of Matcha”. This is the journey of DōMatcha®.
Your website says that the DoMatcha brand reflects an alignment of East and West. Can you explain?
It was created to introduce the most authentic and highest quality matcha green tea to the North American market. In the spirit of the traditional tea ceremony, DōMatcha® strives to bring together people from different walks of life and cultures. The ancient tea ceremony follows the principles of purity, harmony, respect and tranquility. DōMatcha® was created to honor this way of life.
The journey of DōMatcha® began when John Harrison, owner of Andrews & George Co. and EcoTrend Ecologics Ltd., went back to Japan in search of a partner in his quest to bring part of the Japanese soul to North America.
In traveling back to Japan, John was following in the footsteps of his forbears. Andrews & George Co., the DōMatcha® parent company, had belonged to John’s great-grand father. Its long and prosperous history in Japan spanned four generations. In 1891, it became the first foreign trading company to establish a business in Tokyo, and it imported the first automobile to Japan in 1902.
John’s quest would further build on these strong and long-standing relations. He found the perfect partner in Shohokuen, one of Japan’s oldest and most established Matcha suppliers. Located in Kyoto, the magical place where matcha originated, Shohokuen has been cultivating the very finest grade matcha green tea for over 300 years. In perfecting this product, John also partnered and received valuable expertise from the famous tea master Mr. Kazunori Handa, whose family has been in the tea business for 300 years.
What makes your matcha special? Can you tell us a little about where it comes from?
DōMatcha® is 100% authentic Japanese matcha green tea now grown in the southwestern corner of Japan in Kagoshima. We work very closely with our partners who have collectively been in the tea industry for over 700 years, Shohokuen one of our producers, and also the famous Japanese tea master Mr. Kazu Handa, whose family’s knowledge and expertise has been handed down generation after generation for over 300 years.
DōMatcha® is cultivated, harvested and processed very carefully every step of the way to keep it fresh and rich in flavor, the Japanese way! Very little machinery is used in the process to assure top quality and to stay true to the ancient roots of Matcha.
What should readers know about drinking matcha?
With authentic matcha, only the fine top leaves of the shade grown tea plant (veins and stems removed) are slowly stone ground into an ultra-fine, jewel-green powder and dissolved in water when brewed. It is the only form of tea in which the whole leaf is consumed, giving you 100% of its powerful arsenal of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids, making matcha one of the healthiest beverages on earth. To match the potency found in a single serving of matcha, you would need to drink at least ten cups of brewed green tea. At DōMatcha®, we pride ourselves on our authenticity and quality.
What should readers know about cooking with matcha?
Though traditionally consumed as a drink, the Japanese have been using matcha in contemporary cuisine for a long time, adding the jade green powder to everything from pastries to ice cream.
As matcha gains exposure in the West, chefs have embraced matcha with enthusiasm. Its powdered form and rich earthy flavor make matcha a popular addition to both sweet and savory dishes. Keep in mind that cooking or baking matcha destroys the amino acids.
Do you have any recommendations for readers wanting to learn more about matcha?
Visit our website, and our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram pages for more information. This is updated all the time. We post a lot of information that matcha lovers may find interesting, as well as recipes to try.