Opaque green tea, what is that?
If you order green tea in Thailand you get a long drink in a plastic cup that resembles a sweet, frozen shake. (Then you can put the cup in a plastic bag, hang it on the steering rod of your motorbike, drive around and sip it with a thick straw on hot days.)
The Thai green tea is very different from Japanese and Chinese (usually hot) green tea. The Thai drink is light green and completely opaque.
I read that Thais use "green tea powder", condensed milk, "oriental spices", crushed ice and more to produce this shake.
When I drink this I remember having been served "similar" in Japan. Opaque, green tea in small clay cups. Much more filled with "small particles" than is "normal" tea. It was hot and not sweet, at least as I remember.
When I Google I just find entries like Oolong tea which is not what I am looking for. Oolong tea is clear and more resembles traditional tea.
My question mostly relates to what I have had in Japan. What is this brew that is green but differs very much from "normal" green tea by being opaque?
Best Answer
If it's "green tea powder" it's probably matcha.
Matcha is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea. It's special in two aspects of farming and processing: The green tea plants for matcha are shade-grown for about three weeks before harvest, and the stems and veins are removed in processing.
The traditional Japanese tea ceremony centers on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha. In modern times, matcha has also come to be used to flavour and dye foods such as mochi and soba noodles, green tea ice cream and a variety of wagashi (Japanese confectionery).
The drink you had in Thailand is probably an iced matcha shake of some sort, made with condensed milk. In Japan, the drink is served by itself as part of tea ceremonies and is opaque even without milk added to it.
There's a guide to how tea ceremonies work and the process of making tea here, if you're interested.
Pictures about "Opaque green tea, what is that?"
Quick Answer about "Opaque green tea, what is that?"
Inadequate Pan Fixing: If the temperature is too low in the pan fixing process, the heat will not penetrate the leaves. This inadequate pan fixing process will leave too much moisture in the leaves, making the tea soup cloudy.Why is matcha opaque?
Because it's a powder it doesn't get strained after brewing, which is why it's .. grittier than tea leaves that then get strained out. The higher the quality of the matcha, the less gritty it will be, it'll be smoother, almost creamy. Show activity on this post.What is the real color of green tea?
A brewed green tea is typically green, yellow or light brown in color, and its flavor profile can range from grass-like and toasted (pan fired) to vegetal, sweet and seaweed-like (steamed). If brewed correctly, most green tea should be quite light in color and only mildly astringent.Which Colour is best for green tea?
The color of tea should generally be in the lighter end of the spectrum. A well-brewed cup of green tea would have a light brown, green, or light yellow color depending on the type of green tea used.What are the differences between green teas?
Green teas usually have a lighter body, and may have nutty, vegetal, or oceanic notes. Chinese green teas tend to be lighter and mellower, while Japanese green teas tend to be a darker green with a more savory umami flavor.Goldie, James Davidson, Subjective - Dark ft. Greentea Peng
More answers regarding opaque green tea, what is that?
Answer 2
Green tea powder = matcha tea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha)
Pics for matcha: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=matcha&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CNABEIkeahUKEwiG4OqP6NnHAhWHsJQKHc-6CMA&biw=1298&bih=911
It's originally from China, but it's most often thought of as a Japanese tea.
They dry the tea leaves and then pulverise them to form a powder.
Because it's a powder it doesn't get strained after brewing, which is why it's .. grittier than tea leaves that then get strained out. The higher the quality of the matcha, the less gritty it will be, it'll be smoother, almost creamy.
Answer 3
Tea is originally from China but matcha is from japan. It is the heart of the Japanese tea culture. Uji Kyoto matcha is known as the highest quality matcha. Though Thai green tea is not matcha ... the Thai’s have their own styles of tea. They prefer their tea sweet and often add a lot of spices and sweetened condensed milk. The green milk tea there is either a powder made from grinding their own tea leaves and the spices and powders milk put all together to easily make a Thai green tea or if you go to a higher end restaurant they will make the tea themselves with the leaves and add the rest fresh for you on spot. Sometimes they even make a batch and have it in a container or in the fridge all day on call for when you order it. Just needed to set this straight though. Thai green milk tea is not matcha.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Yaroslav Shuraev, lilartsy, Vlada Karpovich, Karolina Grabowska