Why does matcha taste bitter at first, yet leave a gentle sweetness and deep umami afterward? If it is a type of green tea, where does this unusual balance come from? Matcha tastes both bitter and sweet because it contains multiple flavor compounds at the same time. Catechins create bitterness, while amino acids such as L-theanine produce sweetness and umami. This article explains how these elements work together to create matcha's distinctive taste. Matcha is a powdered green tea designed to be consumed as the whole leaf, where bitterness, sweetness, and umami are experienced together rather than separated ...
