Does the 'one bud and two leaves' plucking standard apply to matcha?

Yes, the "one bud and two leaves" plucking standard applies to matcha.

• Explanation:
  "One bud and two leaves" refers to harvesting the tender bud (core) and the two youngest leaves of the tea plant. This is a common tea plucking standard aimed at ensuring tenderness and flavor. In matcha production, this standard is widely adopted because matcha requires the youngest leaves to guarantee its distinctive vibrant green color, smooth texture, and high amino acid content.

  • Matcha is typically made from shade-grown young tea leaves. Plucking "one bud and two leaves" effectively controls tea quality by preventing mature leaves from compromising the final product's flavor.
  • In practical cultivation, major matcha-producing regions like Japan commonly follow this standard to produce high-quality matcha powder.

• Notes:
  While "one bud and two leaves" serves as the benchmark for matcha harvesting, some premium matcha varieties (e.g., "ichibancha" or first flush tea) may employ stricter standards like "one bud and one leaf" to pursue ultimate tenderness. Nevertheless, "one bud and two leaves" remains the mainstream and applicable standard for most commercial production.