Frequently Asked Questions
Matcha & Products
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a fine powder obtained from shade-grown green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) ground on granite stones. Unlike classic green tea, with matcha you consume the entire leaf, not just the infusion. The result: a higher concentration of nutrients, chlorophyll, and L-theanine. Greenglass Matcha comes from Uji, Kyoto, and is produced by a family with a 4-generation tradition in cultivating and processing ceremonial-grade matcha.
How do I choose quality matcha?
Color is the first indicator: quality matcha has an intense, almost emerald green. A yellowish or brownish color indicates oxidation or poor raw material. The second indicator is origin: Japanese matcha from established regions (Uji, Kyoto) is superior to any alternative. The third is texture: the powder must be extremely fine, with no visible granules. Avoid products that do not specify origin or contain additives.
Always check the expiration date: real quality matcha cannot have a very long shelf life. The longer the shelf life, the higher the chances that the product contains preservatives or is of inferior quality. Greenglass Matcha has a shelf life of 8 months, which reflects its freshness and absence of any additives.
How should it be stored?
Store matcha in an airtight, opaque container in a cool, dry place, seal the packaging well after each use to avoid exposure to air, and consume it before the expiration date to maintain its taste and freshness. Avoid storing it in damp places or near sources of humidity.
How to prepare Usucha & Koicha
Usucha (thin matcha): 1.5-2g powder + 70-80ml water at 70-80°C. Whisk with the chasen in rapid "W" or "M" motions until you get a fine layer of foam.
Koicha (thick matcha): 4g powder + 40ml water at the same temperature. Do not whisk, but stir slowly, in a circular motion, until you get a homogeneous paste. Koicha requires high-quality ceremonial matcha, otherwise the taste becomes bitter.
How do I make Matcha Latte?
Step 1: prepare a concentrated shot: 2g powder + 30ml hot water (70°C), whisk well with a chasen. Step 2: heat 150-200ml milk (plant-based or animal) and froth it. Step 3: pour the milk over the matcha shot. Do not add matcha directly to milk without first dissolving it in water: the powder will not dissolve uniformly.
What ingredients does matcha have?
One single ingredient: ground Camellia sinensis leaves. Greenglass Matcha contains no additives, colorants, flavorings, or sweeteners.
How much caffeine does it have?
A serving of matcha (2g) contains approximately 50-70mg of caffeine, compared to 90-120mg in an espresso. The important difference: L-theanine in matcha modulates the effect of caffeine, resulting in a state of calm alertness, without anxiety and without a sudden energy crash. The effect lasts 4-6 hours.
Are children allowed?
Matcha contains caffeine, so it is not recommended for children under 12 years old. For teenagers over 12 years old, a small occasional serving (1g) is generally tolerated, depending on individual sensitivity. Consult your pediatrician if in doubt.
Is it allowed for pregnant women?
Pregnant women are advised to limit caffeine intake to a maximum of 200mg/day (according to WHO). One serving of matcha (2g) provides 50-70mg, so it can be included in moderation if there are no other sources of caffeine in the diet. We recommend consulting a doctor before consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Hojicha Powder
What is Hojicha Powder?
Hojicha is a Japanese green tea roasted at high temperatures, which gives it its characteristic brownish color and a warm taste, with notes of caramel and light smoke. Unlike matcha, hojicha is not ground from shade-grown leaves, but from roasted leaves, stems, and twigs. Hojicha powder retains all the benefits of the roasting process: a mild taste without bitterness, and a very low caffeine content
How do I prepare?
Hot drink: 1.5-2g powder + 150-200ml water at 90-95°C. Stir well with a chasen or small whisk until completely dissolved. You can add milk for a hojicha latte.
Hojicha Latte: dissolve 2g powder in 30ml hot water, then add 150ml heated and frothed milk (plant-based or dairy). Sweeten to taste; hojicha pairs very well with maple syrup or honey.
Cold variant: prepare the concentrated shot, let it cool, then add ice and cold milk. No additional sweetener is needed due to its naturally caramelized flavor.
How do I store it correctly?
Store it in its original, tightly sealed container, away from light, air, and moisture. A cool, dark place is sufficient; hojicha does not necessarily require refrigeration. Once opened, consume within 4-6 weeks to enjoy its specific aroma to the fullest.
How much caffeine does it have?
Hojicha has a very low caffeine content compared to matcha or coffee. A 2g serving contains approximately 7-10mg of caffeine, compared to 50-70mg in matcha and 90-120mg in an espresso. High-temperature roasting breaks down most of the caffeine, making hojicha an ideal choice for the afternoon or evening.
Is it recommended for children?
Yes, hojicha is one of the few tea-based drinks recommended for children, precisely because of its extremely low caffeine content. It is suitable from the age of 3, in small portions and without excessive added sweeteners. Its mild and sweet taste makes it easily accepted by children.
Ube Powder
What is Ube?
Ube is a purple yam native to the Philippines (Dioscorea alata), used in Asian cuisine for centuries. Its intense purple color does not come from a dye, but from anthocyanins, the same natural pigments found in blueberries and blackberries. Greenglass ube powder is 100% dehydrated purple yam from the Philippines, with no additives and no excessive processing. The taste is sweet, with notes of vanilla and nuts, completely different from any other ingredient.
How do you use it?
Ube powder is versatile: it can be used in hot and cold drinks, smoothies, desserts, pastries, and ice cream. For an ube latte: dissolve 1-2 teaspoons in 30ml hot water until you get a smooth paste, then add your preferred milk (plant-based or dairy), hot or cold. It can also be used directly in dough for cakes, pancakes, or mochi, for natural color and flavor.
Ube Latte Recipe
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon Greenglass ube powder, 200ml milk (plant-based or cow's), 30ml hot water, sweetener to taste (optional).
Step 1: Dissolve the ube powder in 30ml hot water (70-80°C) and stir until you get a smooth paste, without lumps.
Step 2: Heat the milk until it steams, without boiling.
Step 3: Pour the ube paste into the milk and stir gently until the color is evenly distributed.
Step 4: Froth with a frother for 10-15 seconds for a creamy texture.
Add sweetener if you prefer and serve immediately.
Does it contain sugar, caffeine, or additives?
The ube powder we sell contains only one ingredient: 100% pure purple yam (ube) from the Philippines. It contains no added sugar, caffeine, colorings, flavorings, or preservatives. The purple color is natural, coming exclusively from the anthocyanins in the ube.
Does it dissolve completely in water or milk?
Yes, but with an important step: always dissolve the powder first in a little warm water (70-80°C), mixing until you get a lump-free paste. Only then add the milk, warm or cold. Added directly to cold milk without pre-dissolving, the powder forms lumps and does not distribute evenly.
Buckwheat Tea
What is Buckwheat tea?
Buckwheat tea, known in Japan as sobacha (そば茶), is a drink made from roasted buckwheat grains. It is caffeine-free and does not come from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), so it is technically an infusion, not a tea. The Greenglass product is made from dattan (tartary buckwheat), a variety of buckwheat with a significantly higher rutin content compared to common buckwheat. The taste is warm, slightly nutty and roasted, with no bitterness.
How is it prepared?
Dattan buckwheat tea is simple to prepare, taking just a few minutes.
Step 1: Boil water (100°C; unlike matcha, buckwheat tea tolerates boiling water).
Step 2: Add 2 tablespoons of grains to a teapot or pot and pour in 800ml of hot water.
Step 3: Steep for 3-4 minutes, then strain and serve warm.
Cold variant: prepare the tea, let it cool to room temperature, store in the refrigerator, and consume within 3-4 days.
The grains can be reused 2-3 times. For each subsequent infusion, add an extra 1-2 minutes to the steeping time.
What are its benefits?
Buckwheat tea dattan is one of the richest natural sources of rutin, a flavonoid with strong antioxidant properties. The rutin content in dattan is several times higher than that of common buckwheat.
Benefits documented in the specialized literature: supports blood circulation and can reduce the risk of varicose veins, contributes to maintaining normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, has an antioxidant effect that supports the immune system, supports digestion through its resistant starch content with prebiotic effect, and is indicated in the evening, before bedtime, precisely because it does not contain caffeine.
Orders and delivery
How do I place an order?
Orders are placed online, after you add products to your cart and go through the Checkout form, completed with your address, delivery method, and choice of payment option, cash on delivery to the courier or online with a card.
How long does delivery take?
1. Next-day delivery via DPD courier – Delivery: 19 RON
Orders placed by 12:00 PM are processed and picked up by the courier on the same day.
Orders placed after 12:00 PM are processed the next day.
Orders placed on Friday after 12:00 PM are processed and handed over to the courier on Monday.
3. Delivery to an Easybox locker via SAMEDAY courier – Delivery: 16 RON
Orders placed by 12:00 PM are processed and picked up by the courier on the same day, with next-day delivery to the selected Easybox.
For orders placed after 12:00 PM, pickup by the courier occurs the next day, and delivery to the Easybox can take up to 2 business days:
- those loaded from Sunday to Thursday – 36 hours;
- those loaded on Friday – 72 hours;
- those loaded on Saturday – 48 hours.
How do I track my order?
After your order has been processed in our warehouse, you will receive an email with the tracking number. Based on this, depending on the chosen courier, you will be able to track the status of your order.
Orders & Shipping
How do I return the product?
Return Policy
We want you to be completely satisfied with your experience with Matcha Greenglass products. Our return policy complies with the provisions of GEO no. 34/2014 regarding consumer rights in distance contracts.
Food Products
Food products can be returned within 14 calendar days from receiving the order only if they are in their original, sealed, unopened packaging and in the same condition in which they were delivered.
In accordance with Article 16 letter d) of GEO no. 34/2014, the right of withdrawal does not apply to sealed products that have been unsealed after delivery and cannot be returned for health protection or hygiene reasons.
If you received a damaged, defective, expired, or different product from the one ordered, please contact us within a reasonable time from receiving the package at orders@matcha-greenglass.ro, attaching relevant photos. After verifying the situation, we will replace the product or refund the amount paid, and all associated costs will be borne by us.
Accessories and other non-food products
For accessories and other non-food products, you benefit from the legal right of withdrawal within 14 calendar days from receiving the order, without needing to justify the decision.
Products must be returned in the same condition in which they were received, without signs of use, in their original packaging, and accompanied by all accessories or related documents.
The shipping cost for returns is borne by the customer, except in situations where the product was delivered incorrectly, has defects, or was damaged during transport.
How do I get my money back?
If your return has been approved, or if a problem has been identified with the food products delivered and you opted for a refund (not a product replacement), the process is simple:
Payment Term: We will process your refund within a maximum of 14 calendar days from the moment the returned package arrives at our warehouse and we verify the condition of the products.
Payment Method: For orders paid online by card, the money will be returned directly to the card account associated with the initial transaction. For cash-on-delivery orders (paid to the courier), payment will be made by bank transfer. In this case, please send us your IBAN account and the full name of the account holder via email.
Amount to be refunded: In the case of a full order return, we will refund the full value of the products, plus the initial delivery fee (if you paid it when placing the order). Please note that the shipping fee for returning the package to us remains your responsibility.
Account Information
Do I need an account to place an order?
With us, things are simple. You don't need an account on the site to place an order!
You can complete your purchases quickly as a guest (Guest Checkout) – we only need your delivery and contact details to send you the package.
Why would you want to create an account anyway? (Optional)
If you choose to save your data at the end of the order, next time you will shop even faster and will be able to access your order history.
The choice is entirely yours!