Green tea and matcha are both made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, but they are processed and consumed differently.

Green tea leaves are plucked and then quickly steamed or pan-fried to prevent oxidation, which preserves the green color and fresh flavor. The leaves are then rolled and dried. To brew green tea, the leaves are steeped in hot water, and the tea is consumed by drinking the liquid. The leaves are then discarded.

Matcha, on the other hand, is made from shade-grown leaves that are plucked and then ground into a fine powder. This powder is mixed with hot water to make a tea and consumed entirely, the leaves are not discarded. This means that when consuming matcha, you are consuming the whole leaf, which is richer in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.

In summary, green tea is a type of tea made by steaming or pan-frying leaves, and then rolling and drying them, while matcha is made by grinding up the leaves into a powder, which is then mixed with hot water and consumed entirely.