The Best Organic Matcha Powder From a Japanese Perspective
An earthy, green grass-like smell comes into my body when I open the door. I used to go to a small local tea store near my hometown. My ground mother loves matcha. So she invited me to go to get a matcha with her and have a tea ceremony at her traditional Japanese home. I was too young to enjoy the bitterness of matcha, but I remember how much I loved to smell the fragrance of matcha, and a vibrant green color stuck in my small eyes still.
When it comes to choosing matcha, you might find it hard to pick matcha since so many of them out there. Therefore, I would like to introduce what factors you should consider, and the recommendation for matcha in different situations (drinking, baking, latte, etc..) from a Japanese perspective!
What Factors to Consider When You Buy Matcha?
Color: Look for a vivid green color
Just observing the color is one of the simplest methods to identify premium matcha. A good matcha should have a bright, vivid green color. This indicates that the tea leaves were adequately shaded prior to harvest, which boosts the production of chlorophyll and improves the color.
The leaves were either improperly shaded or of poorer quality if the matcha you are looking at is lifeless has a yellow tint, or is at all brownish. That is, the better the matcha, the brighter the green. Matcha of superior quality will always be rich and emerald green.
Smell: Smell for a grassy and fresh aroma
The aroma of high-quality matcha is grassy, fresh, and slightly sweet. Inhale the scent of the powder. It probably could be better matcha you can purchase if it has a slightly strange, musty, or absence of that crisp, green tea aroma.
Conversely, you're headed in the right direction if it smells fresh, clean, and earthy. The scent should remind you of spring, such as a field of verdant leaves or freshly cut grass.
Texture: Feel the fine, smooth texture
The texture of the matcha is another indicator of its quality. Matcha powder ought to have a baby powder-like texture.
Why is this texture so smooth?
It is ground in conventional stone mills to produce a silky, incredibly fine powder. Your tea will be creamier and frothier if the matcha is finer because it dissolves more readily in water. It's probably not the highest quality matcha if it feels grainy or gritty. When properly sifted, premium matcha should almost dissolve into the water, giving it a velvety, smooth consistency.
Grade: Ceremonial Matcha vs Culinary Matcha
Ceremonial matcha indicates that the tea comes from the plant’s first harvest of the spring season, usually around May, and has been shaded from excessive sunlight throughout most of the growing period. This is the ideal time for capturing matcha’s balanced flavor and nutrients, and, because these leaves are young, they have more chlorophyll and feature the most vibrant color.
After harvest, the leaves are finely milled and stems are removed during processing, which is why the powder is ideal for silky-smooth lattes, lemonade, smoothies, and more.
A second, later tea harvest will produce culinary matcha, which has a slightly bitter flavor and coarser mouthfeel. These leaves have been subjected to more sunlight, so the taste is more astringent. They're also ground more quickly than ceremonial matcha leaves, contributing to a slightly more granular powder that's earthy and bitter.
This grade is typically combined with milk and sweeteners that help balance and round out its flavor. Therefore, it is typically used for baking.
Sourcing Region
The region where the green tea leaves are grown would have an influence on taste, consistency, and color, just like with many foods where terroir is crucial — consider specialty coffee beans. The best conditions for growing high-quality matcha are cool, high-elevation regions where fog or cloud provides the shade these plants need.
In addition, low temperatures, particularly at night, enhance flavor and nutrient density. The soil is another essential component. The soil improves the quality of the tea leaves when they are highly aerated and have a lower pH. Certain parts of Japan produce the best matcha, especially Uji, Kyoto, and Nishio. These regions offer the perfect climate for matcha cultivation, as well as centuries of history of producing tea of superior quality.
Because of the skill and attention to detail in cultivation and processing, matcha grown in these areas is typically of higher quality. Your matcha is probably a good choice if it comes from one of these places.
Best Organic Matcha Powder Overall
Kyoto Geisha Matcha - "Ceremonial" Matcha
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Taste: Well-balanced flavor with umami
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Japan
Size: 1.06 oz/30g
Price: $24.99
Other note: For people who want to drink organic matcha more frequently, Kyoto Geisha Matcha's "Ceremonial" is the best option. The best use of this matcha is making lattes and tea.
Most often, this matcha is combined with the "Yabukita" cultivar, which is extensively cultivated in Japan. It is produced using hand-picked organic tea leaves from the first harvest in Kyoto and Kagoshima.
This matcha adds comfort and relaxation to your everyday matcha moments with its well-balanced flavor and sophisticated aroma. It is suggested for people who want to enjoy matcha's sweetness and umami.
Jade Leaf Matcha Teahouse Edition Matcha Powder
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Taste: Remarkably smooth, with a light nutty flavor and floral sweetness.
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Uji & Kagoshima, Japan
Size: 1.06 oz/30g
Price: $25.95
Other note: Jade Leaf offers both ceremonial and culinary-grade matchas. The brand's Teahouse Edition Matcha Powder has won a GH Tea Award. It is produced using tea leaves that grow in shade and were first harvested from the Kagoshima and Uji regions, which are both well-known for growing matcha. Analysts praised the creamy, lingering flavor and remarked on the grassy undertones.
"Happy to drink it without any milk or sweetener," one person commented. This choice is Whole30 approved for those on a diet, USDA-certified organic, and CCOF-certified organic. About 30 to 40 milligrams of caffeine, or one-third of a cup of coffee, are found in each serving.
Best Value Organic Matcha Powder
Rishi Everyday Matcha
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Taste: Balanced bitter and sweetness with a nutty undertone.
Grade: Culinary Grade
Origin: Kirishima Mountain, Kagoshima, Japan
Size: 1.05 oz/30g
Price: $12
Other note: To find unique cultivars of extremely premium matcha that we can specially blend for balance and energy, Rishi has been working with innovative organic tea farmers in the volcanic region of Kirishima, Japan, since 2006. For beginners, the single-origin Ceremonial Matcha ($18 for 30 grams) provides an especially friendly starting point. It is a cross between the Japanese cultivars Saemidori, Okumidori, and Tsuyuhikari from Mount Kirishima. Because of its low astringency, it works well in both lattes and traditional preparations. Even more reasonably priced is Rishi's Everyday Matcha ($12 for 30 grams). It is rare to find such a flavorful blend that is organic.
Best High-Quality Organic Matcha Powder
Kyoto Geisha Matcha "Super Ceremonial" Matcha
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Taste: rich umami and mellow sweetness
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Uji, Kyoto, Japan
Size: Tin - 1.06 oz/30g / Pouch - 3.53 oz/100g
Price: Tin - $31.99 / Pouch - $52.99
Other note: For those looking for the best organic matcha, Kyoto Geisha Matcha's "Super Ceremonial" is the ideal option. The best use of this matcha is just enjoying the matcha itself as a tea.
It makes use of the uncommon cultivar known as "Gokou," which is only cultivated in Kyoto. Because the matcha is hand-picked during the First Harvest (Ichibancha), it produces a deeply nuanced and flavorful tea that is ideal for special occasions.
Although Uji is typically a place name in Kyoto, Uji matcha actually encompasses Nara, Shiga, and Mie, three areas outside of Kyoto. As a result, Kyoto Geisha Matcha's Super Ceremonial, which only uses matcha made in Kyoto, is an extremely rare product.
Savor a cup that captures the essence of Japan's rich customs.
Kettl Shirakawa Uji Hikari Match
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Taste: incredibly creamy texture and deep, rich flavor
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Shirakawa Uji, Japan
Size: 0.7 oz/20g
Price: $52
Other note: After spending some time traveling alone in Japan and tasting fresh tea that was produced and sold hyper-locally, Zach Mangan (along with his wife, Minami) founded Kettl. The brand emphasizes its direct collaborations with Japanese farmers and producers in rural regions. Since its founding, Kettl has assisted Michelin-starred chefs such as Grant Achatz and Thomas Keller in developing thoughtful tea selections for their restaurants. Stories of Japanese Tea: The Regions, the Growers, and the Craft, written by Zach Mangan, dived deep into the cultivation of tea in Japan and was published in 2022.
In particular, Cheng highlights Kettl's house-milled matcha varieties, which are ground on an imported stone mill at Kettl's Brooklyn shop, as a worthy investment. Kettl is one of Cheng's overall favorite matcha suppliers. As of this writing, Kettl is producing the excellent 2022 House Milled Grand Prize Garden Asahi Matcha from the 2022 growing season. This matcha, which has notes of rich umami cocoa, comes from a crop of tencha tea leaves that won the top prize. Additionally, Kettl offers a Mill Club Subscription for $60 per month that includes freshly milled, koicha-worthy teas from leading producers delivered right to your door!
Best Flavorful Organic Matcha Powder
Ippodo Premium Organic Matcha
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Taste: Undertones of sweetness and umami balance out the pleasant bitterness and astringency.
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Kyoto, Japan
Size: 0.7 oz/20g
Price: $40
Other note: Ippodo, a Kyoto-based tea company that has been the industry standard for tea since 1717, produces some of the best matcha. Its Ummon matcha has a vibrant scent, a gorgeous emerald green hue, and a rich umami flavor. It's naturally sweet, so I prefer drinking it as a tea with water instead of combining it with milk. When vigorously whisked, it quickly foams and sifts easily, leaving behind no clumps and creating a silky texture. The shelf life of this one is fairly short—Ippodo advises that you eat it within a month of opening—and it is freshly packaged in Japan. To ensure you can use it all while it's at its freshest, we advise choosing the smaller container—especially since it's more expensive.
Best Less Expensive Organic Matcha Powder
Sugimoto Tea Organic Daily Matcha
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Taste: ー
Grade: Culinary Grade
Origin: Shizuoka, Japan
Size: 2 oz/56g
Price: ＄13
Other note: In 1946, Zenichi Sugimoto founded Sugimoto Tea, which made tea by hand and rode a bicycle to deliver it to customers. This family-run company has been in operation for several generations and produces some of the world's best certified organic matcha. In order to be as sustainable as possible, the team works with farmers and purchases their leaves directly from them. The Organic Daily Matcha, which costs less than $15 and yields a generous 28 servings, is available here along with culinary matcha, blends (such as Hojicha matcha lattes), and ceremonial matcha. It's tasty, efficient, and helps a great small business.
Most Versatile Organic Matcha Powder
Encha Ceremonial Grade Matcha Powder
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Taste: balanced flavor, earthy sweetness, smoothness, and velvetiness
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Uji, Japan
Size: 1.06 oz/30g
Price: $ 21.99
Other note: While matcha latte mixes are widely available, Encha claims to be the only business "offering a latte grade using first harvest pure and organic matcha powder." This mix is full of the good stuff, while other latte mixes tend to contain later-season matcha made from tougher, more bitter leaves, which results in an earthier taste. Most reviewers describe it as smooth, naturally sweet, and very easy to blend, though some detect hints of bitterness. Encha is so sure of its matcha that it offers a 100% money-back guarantee on the blend.
Most Ethical Organic Matcha Powder
Matchaful Hikari Single Origin Ceremonial Matcha
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Taste: Gentle, flowery sweetness
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Shizuoka, Japan
Size: 1.06 oz/30g
Price: $35
Other note: Hannah Habes established Matchaful with the intention of bringing premium, sustainable matcha straight from Japan. As part of its Farm-to-Whisk initiative, Matchaful collaborates with a fourth-generation farm that uses solar panels to shade its pesticide-free tea plants, which generates electricity for neighboring towns. This brand excels in its single-origin collection, even though it also offers ceremonial and culinary blends. The Hikari Single Origin Matcha powder comes solely from the sun-shaded estate in Shizuoka, Japan, and has a "creamy palette with tasting notes of walnut, lemon, and butter." The Farm-to-Whisk estate also produces Kiwami Single Cultivar Matcha, which is made from the Okumidori tea variety and is for those who prefer to try a single cultivar. It is renowned for having a gentle, flowery sweetness.
Best Organic Matcha Powder for Beginners
Naoki Matcha
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Taste: Balanced and slightly, and a bit on the sweeter side.
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Kyoto, Japan
Size:1.4 oz/40g
Price: $25
Other note: Naoki ceremonial grade matcha has a mild, smooth flavor with little bitterness. Additionally, it can be made with more water to create "thin matcha tea," as the company suggests, and is a good choice for use in lattes. It is produced using leaves from the first harvest, which are prized for their strong flavor and quality, and is cultivated in the well-known matcha region of Uji, Japan. The well-rounded flavor profile made this one of our nutrition experts' top choices. The company claims that every tea crop is examined for a "different source of contamination (including radiation and heavy metals)" and that independent purity tests are also carried out by the Japanese government.
Best Organic Matcha Powder for Baking
Baking Matcha By Paragon Tea Room
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Taste: -
Grade: Culinary Grade
Origin: Shizuoka, Japan
Size: 1.76 oz/50g
Price: $20.95
Other note: Hong Kong, a vibrant metropolis where East and West coexist, is where the founders of Paragon are originally from. Old and new, traditional and modern, combine to form a unique culture in which Paragon values the variety of all people, points of view, and ways of being. Paragon's matcha is strong enough to withstand the addition of butter, sugar, and other flavors. This might be used when making cookies, cakes, and other treats!
Best Organic Matcha Powder for Lattes
Pure Matcha
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Taste: smooth and mellow green tea flavors
Grade: Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Uji, Japan
Size: 1.4 oz/40g
Price: $28.00
Other note: Golde's organic ceremonial-grade matcha powder blends well with any kind of milk and makes a fantastic base for a hot or cold morning latte. Because it doesn't have a strong flavor, it's a great addition to breakfast foods like chia pudding or yogurt. Additionally, the matcha froths nicely for a silky drink. The matcha comes in a bright green canister that looks good enough to display on your counter, just like all of Golde's superfood products.
FAQ
Is it appropriate to purchase a different type of matcha for baking than for drinking?
Although only matcha powders of a high enough quality to drink and versatile enough to use in baking are listed above, it might be worthwhile to purchase a second culinary-grade matcha powder if you plan to use it frequently in your baking. Since culinary-grade matcha is produced from more mature leaves that are picked later in the growing season, it tends to have a simpler flavor profile and a hint of bitterness. However, because this grade of matcha is typically priced lower, there is less hesitation when using it in recipes that call for large quantities. While ceremonial matcha may have a more impressive flavor, culinary-grade matcha's potent "matcha" flavor shines through in baked goods, where any potential bitterness is frequently overshadowed by the dessert's sweetness or other flavors.
Is matcha caffeine-richer than coffee?
In general, matcha and coffee don't contain more caffeine. Caffeine content ranges from 40 to 180 mg per serving, depending on how much powder is added. In contrast, a cup of coffee contains 100–140 mg. Therefore, even though you will probably consume less caffeine from matcha than from coffee, their levels could theoretically be similar. It's crucial to remember that matcha powder's caffeine is digested differently than coffee's. To put it briefly, matcha's caffeine releases gradually over time, so you shouldn't get jitters or caffeine crashes but rather long-lasting energy.
Written by Admin Irasshai
