What’s the difference between koicha vs usucha? If you’re a matcha fan, these are likely terms you’ve heard before, and in this article we’re going to clear up the confusion once and for all.
In this article, we’re going to discuss what koicha and usucha are, and the difference between koicha and usucha. We’ll also show you what to look for when purchasing each type.
Let’s get started! 🍵 💚
Koicha vs Usucha Explained
So what’s the difference between koicha vs usucha? 🤔
Koicha means “thick tea” and usucha means “thin tea”.
These are two preparation styles in the Japanese tea ceremony.
Koicha is a thick matcha paste drunk during special ceremonies, and usucha is a light foamy tea for more informal tea ceremonies.
The Difference
Koicha
Koicha is prepared using 4 grams of matcha and 40 ml of water. This creates an extremely thick matcha paste with the consistency of paint. The flavor and nutrients of the matcha become extremely concentrated, and it can only be made with the highest quality powder.
Usucha
Usucha is prepared using 2 grams of powder and 70-80 ml of water. This is a thinner texture more similar to a normal green tea. It can also be whisked to create a foam on top, giving the matcha a lighter and airier consistency.
How to Make Koicha or Usucha
Now that we’ve compared the differences of usucha vs koicha, let’s learn how to make each one!
Making Usucha
So how much matcha per cup of water should you use for usucha?
To make usucha, sift 2 grams of matcha powder into your bowl and add 70 ml of water at a temperature of 140-175°F (60-80°C).
Whisking usucha
Use your bamboo matcha whisk or chasen to gently scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure all the matcha powder is combined into the water.
Then you can begin whisking the matcha. Use rapid, zigzag motions with your wrist until a light green foam appears on top of the matcha.
It may take some practice, but once you get the technique down, you should be able to create a beautiful foam in seconds.
Making Koicha
For koicha, sift 4 grams of matcha powder into the bowl and add 50 ml of water at 140-175°F (60-80°C).
After the water has been added, it’s time to mix the powder in.
Don’t whisk the matcha
Making koicha is much different than whisking thin matcha.
You don’t whisk the matcha, but rather “knead” the powder into the water to create a smooth paste.
For this, you may want to use a special type of whisk, which we’ll discuss in the next section.
32-Prong Chasen for Koicha
While both koicha and usucha can be made with a normal chasen, for koicha you may prefer to use a special 32-prong chasen. These chasen are much sturdier and better for kneading bowls of koicha.
For whisking foamy bowls of matcha, the more tines the better. These bristles agitate the matcha particles into the water and inject air more effectively.
Using Usucha vs Koicha for Matcha Latte
How to prepare a matcha latte?
Should you use koicha or usucha for matcha latte? We recommend using koicha, and there are two reasons why. Just start with a matcha paste and then add that directly into the latte. You’ll thank us later!
Using Koicha to reduce clumps
Using koicha paste in your matcha latte is a great way to reduce clumps. When you are mixing the matcha into a paste, it is much easier to see and smooth out the clumps.
If you add too much water, the clumps will get lost and it will be almost impossible to get rid of them.
Enhance the flavor with Koicha
Koicha also gives a much stronger flavor to your matcha latte. You’re already adding a lot of milk to your matcha latte, so you really want to reduce the amount of water. Rather than using 80 ml of water to make matcha for your latte, just add the paste directly to the milk and it will be less watered down.
Can you just make the paste with milk? Actually, the hot water is key because it will start to extract the flavor of the matcha and make the latte more flavorful.
Selecting the right Matcha
Whether you’re making koicha or usucha matcha, it’s especially important to go for a high-quality source. After traveling all around Japan for the past few years, we’ve met with dozens of different farmers and sampled hundreds of different matcha teas.
If you want to find our usucha and koicha grade matcha, you can browse our ceremonial matcha section. The more affordable matcha will be perfect for usucha, and the high-end stuff can work great in koicha!
