So Much More than Matcha

Matcha is not only delicious, but jam-packed with health benefits. It's gorgeous green gives an alluring aesthetic to your morning while welcoming you to your day. On top of this, matcha has a long history of tradition dating all the way back to 14th century. Looking for a refreshing San Diego matcha latte this summer? Delicious treats with quite the tale to tell is what we love here at Wildflour. Whether you're looking for a quick drink to go or a social Liberty Station brunch, our matchas are simply unmatched.

Matcha began in ancient China, blossomed in Zen Buddhist temples and samurai culture in Japan, and now powers everything from tea ceremonies to Instagram lattes.

Before matcha, tea leaves were traditionally steamed into bricks for the efficiency of trade and transport. The tea bricks would be roasted and pulverized into a fine tea powder, then mixed with a salt and water combination. A reputable Japanese Buddhist Monk by the name of Eisai would travel to Japan in 1191 with Chinese tea seeds and leaves that would come to be known as the highest quality in all of Japan.

Eisai also brought with him the methods of preparing powdered green tea, and would go on to plant the seeds all around the grounds of the Kyoto Temple, also known as the home of the Kamakura Shogun. Matcha would become known as a delicacy for the only the rich, as there was only a limited amount produced. The process of growing this green tea plant evolved, with Zen Buddhists growing the plant underneath shade and cool areas. It is due to this process that the many health benefits of matcha emerged.

Ceremonial matcha began in the 1500s thanks to Murata Juko, a Zen Buddhist student who formalized the unity of cultivating and consuming the tea into a ceremony of sorts. The Japanese Tea Ceremony was popularized by Zen Master Sen-no-Rikyu, and the four basic principles of the ceremony were born.

The four principles of the ceremony are Harmony (wa), Respect (kei), Purity (sei) and Tranquility (jaku).  This became known as "the way of tea", translated into "chado" or "sado" in Japanese. These four principles have truly come a long way to bring us the delicious San Diego matcha latte we're drinking today.

Wildflour Matcha Latte

Matcha, the vibrant green powdered tea, has a history steeped in Zen, ceremony, and warrior spirit.

It all began in China during the Tang Dynasty (7th–10th century), where tea leaves were steamed, dried, and ground into powder. This powdered tea method traveled to Japan in the 12th century, brought by the monk Eisai, who had studied Zen Buddhism in China. Eisai introduced matcha not just as a drink, but as a spiritual and meditative practice.

In Japan, matcha found a home in Zen monasteries, where it was used by monks to stay alert during long meditations. Later, it became a staple among samurai, who valued it for its energizing effects and focus-enhancing properties.

By the 1500s, matcha was formalized into the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu), perfected by the tea master Sen no Rikyū, who emphasized simplicity, mindfulness, and harmony.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and matcha has gone global — not just as a traditional tea but in lattes, desserts, smoothies, and even skincare. Its high antioxidant content and unique, earthy flavor have made it a health and lifestyle icon around the world.

Whether you're in the mood for a traditional ceremonial matcha or creamy matcha latte, we've got you covered. Take a trip back in time and appreciate the cultivation, consumption and ceremonial principles of matcha. Stop into Wildflour and grab your matcha beverage, because when it comes to this San Diego beverage, it's clearly so much more than just matcha.