Matcha rose, "pink matcha": what is pitaya powder?

Now very popular in the West, matcha tea has stood out from the crowd, thanks in particular to its pretty green colour, which gives drinks and pastries a beautiful appearance. In the same vein, pink matcha, a fuchsia-colored powder, has become a popular coloring agent for recipes shared on social media.

But what is "pink matcha"? Is it really matcha tea?

What is pink matcha?

What is known as pink matcha is a powder produced from dragon fruit. Also called "pitaya" or "pitahaya," it is an exotic fruit from a cactus native to Central America, which is now also grown in Asia. There are several varieties of pitayas, of different colours, including the pink-skinned variety Hylocereus costaricensis, which is the most popular.

It is from this variety that pink matcha is obtained. Matcha powder is obtained by drying and then pulverizing the fruit.

What does pink matcha latte taste like?

Pink matcha has a sweet flavour, with less pronounced dragon fruit notes than the whole fruit. The aromas of this fruit are similar to those of kiwi, watermelon, and strawberry combined.

Combined with warm milk, the pink matcha latte gains sweetness thanks to the milky notes, which soften its slight acidity.

What are the benefits of pink matcha?

Pink dragon fruit powder offers many benefits, including a high concentration of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins B1, B2, B3, C, A, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. Its high vitamin C content makes it ideal for maintaining healthy skin.

Thanks to its high quantity of antioxidants and fibers, pink matcha aids digestion and protects against aging.

Finally, it has anti-inflammatory properties thanks to its betalaine content, antioxidants capable of inhibiting the multiplication of cancer cells.

Although beneficial to health, it should be noted that it does not contain theine (= caffeine) because it is produced from a fruit, not tea leaves!

Pink matcha = dragon fruit powder. Beware of fake matcha!

As you can see, "pink matcha" is definitely not a tea, let alone a variety of matcha tea.

The term "matcha" is not regulated outside Japan, which allows for such misleading labels. True matcha is always green and produced using traditional methods: it is a green tea whose young tea leaves are grown in the shade and then finely ground.

There is a wide range of powdered products available online or in stores under the name "matcha," such as "blue matcha," which is made from butterfly pea flower petals and does not follow the production process of real matcha.

An interesting ingredient for adding variety and enjoying a caffeine-free drink, this powder is not comparable to matcha, either in terms of benefits or taste.

That's why at Kumiko Matcha, I only offer my community authentic Japanese matcha that is organically grown and produced with passion by artisan farmers.

>>> Click here to discover all our organic matcha teas