Maccha is the tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is a tea similar to Gyokuro, named Tencha, "ground tea", for which the tea plants are overshadowed before the harvest just like the tea used for Gyokuro, but after the steaming it is not rolled, but gently dried. After all stems etc. have been removed, this tea is ground in a stone mill. Maccha means "powder tea". Maccha teas are very intense, aromatic teas, and an acquired taste.