What chlorophyll means
Chlorophyll is the pigment plants use to capture light, and tea bushes raise its concentration in their leaves when sunlight is restricted. Shading tencha for roughly 20 to 30 days drives chlorophyll levels well above those of sun-grown sencha, producing the deep jade color associated with good matcha. Color fades as chlorophyll oxidizes after milling, which is why Ippodo and Marukyu Koyamaen recommend storing tins sealed, cold, and away from light. A dull or yellow-green powder is one of the clearest signs that matcha is past its prime.
Also called
Chlorophyll also appears as leaf pigment.