Matcha and green tea both originate from the Camellia sinensis plant, but they are processed and consumed differently. Matcha is the finely ground tea leaves that have been specifically grown and shaded from sunlight for several weeks. With matcha you are consuming the whole tea leaf in powder form. Green tea involves steeping whole or loose tea leaves in hot water, then discarding them. Matcha has an earthy flavor with a slightly sweet undertone while green tea ranged from a vegetal to floral and sweet flavor.