Discover Our Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Pure, Authentic, and Delicious

Our ceremonial grade matcha is raw and comes from a small, family-run farm in Japan. We take pride in every step—from handpicking the tea leaves to carefully grinding them into a fine powder. No generic green tea or artificial additives are mixed in. Our matcha has a natural, smooth flavor. It is not bitter or chalky like some other teas, making it the best-tasting matcha on the market.

We spent a year and took many trips around Japan—visiting farms in places like Kyoto, Uji, Kagoshima, and Shizuoka—to find the perfect tea. We believe you deserve the best matcha powder, so we work hard to bring you a high-quality product that is truly unique.

Please remember to keep your matcha refrigerated once it is delivered. This helps keep it fresh and preserves its vibrant green color and natural taste.

100% ceremonial grade matcha powder

Our matcha powder is made with care. The tea leaves are grown under shade, which boosts their chlorophyll and helps create a vibrant green color. These leaves are handpicked from our family farm and carefully processed into powder. We use a traditional stone-grinding method that has been passed down for generations. This slow process ensures that the amino acids, l-theanine, and antioxidants remain intact. The result is a matcha powder that not only tastes great but also supports a healthy lifestyle.

Some important points about our matcha powder:

• Shade-grown: Grown in the shade to enhance flavor and boost chlorophyll.
• Handpicked: Selected by hand to ensure only the best leaves are used.
• Stone-ground: Ground slowly using traditional methods, preserving natural nutrients.

We know that quality matters when it comes to your tea. When you buy our matcha powder, you are getting a product that is as close as possible to the original Japanese tradition.

Why it’s the best matcha powder

Finding the best matcha powder can be a challenge. Many matcha products on the market are a mix of lower-grade teas that can taste bitter. Some are even blended with matcha from China, which does not go through the same careful process as matcha grown in Japan. At times, you might see bright neon green or even a yellowish tint on the package. These are often signs that artificial ingredients or chemical processing were used.

Here’s what makes our best matcha powder stand out:

• Single Source Origin: Our matcha comes from one trusted farm in Japan, not mixed with other green tea powders.
• Authentic Processing: We follow the traditional Japanese method, which includes handpicking and stone-grinding.
• Rich Flavor Profile: The natural taste is grassy and sweet—not bitter or chalky.

When you check out our matcha on Amazon or at your local tea store, look for signs that it is pure and ceremonial grade. Remember, a higher price often means better quality. Cheaper matcha might be a mix of culinary grade powders that are meant for cooking, not drinking.

What it means to be Ceremonial Grade Matcha

Ceremonial grade matcha is the top tier of matcha tea. It is made only from the youngest, most tender tea leaves. These leaves, called tencha, are carefully deveined and destemmed before being steamed and ground into a fine powder. This process keeps the tea’s natural health benefits and smooth flavor.

Ceremonial grade matcha has several special qualities:

• Smooth and Sweet Taste: Due to its careful processing, it has a naturally sweet taste with less bitterness.
• High in Nutrients: This grade of matcha is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, and l-theanine.
• Traditional Production: The tea is grown using old methods that many Japanese tea ceremonies still honor today.

In Japan, matcha is not just a drink; it is a key part of their culture. Japanese tea ceremonies use a matcha whisk, often made of bamboo, to mix the tea. You might even hear about brands like Ippodo or Okumidori when exploring high-quality Japanese matcha. Whether you enjoy matcha in a tea bowl during a formal ceremony or as a simple morning drink, ceremonial grade matcha offers a pure experience that is hard to match.

Organic Ceremonial Matcha meaning

There is a lot of talk about organic ceremonial matcha. In the U.S., many products proudly display an “organic” label. However, true organic matcha is hard to produce. In Japan, very few tea farms use only organic fertilizers. In fact, some studies show that only about 0.4% of food in Japan is certified organic.

So, how do we make sense of “organic ceremonial matcha”? Our approach is simple:

• Natural Process: We focus on traditional, time-tested methods that naturally produce a high-quality tea. The tea plants are cared for in a way that keeps them pure.
• No Artificial Additives: Our matcha is never mixed with chemicals or additives that could hurt the natural flavor and health benefits.
• Strict Standards: Even if the term “organic” is loosely used in the U.S., our process meets very high standards. The tea leaves are grown under strict guidelines that many Japanese farmers follow, which means they are as close to organic as possible.

The bottom line is that the best ceremonial matcha comes from careful growing and processing methods. When you choose our organic ceremonial matcha, you are getting a product that respects tradition and quality.

The Health Benefits of Our Matcha

Matcha is more than just a delicious drink—it is packed with health benefits. Here are some of the key benefits that make our matcha a standout choice for your daily routine:

• Rich in Antioxidants: Our matcha contains up to 5X the antioxidants found in regular green tea. These antioxidants help fight free radicals, which can damage your cells.
• Supports Immunity: The high levels of EGCG (a powerful antioxidant) in our matcha may help protect against bacterial and viral infections.
• Boosts Energy and Focus: While it has more caffeine than regular green tea, ceremonial grade matcha has only half the caffeine of coffee. This means you get a steady boost in energy without the jitters that coffee can sometimes cause.
• Enhances Relaxation: The amino acid l-theanine in matcha promotes calm alertness, helping you feel relaxed yet focused.
• Detoxifying Properties: The chlorophyll in matcha helps your body remove toxins and heavy metals naturally.

With these benefits, matcha is a great choice for anyone looking to improve their overall health. Some people even add matcha to their smoothies or use it in recipes to boost the nutritional profile of their meals.

How to Prepare Your Matcha Drink

Making a cup of matcha is simple and takes just a few minutes. Here’s a quick guide to help you enjoy the best matcha experience:

What You Need

• Ceremonial grade matcha powder: Use about 5 grams per serving.
• Hot water: Around 1 oz (or adjust to your taste).
• A bamboo whisk or matcha whisk: This helps create a frothy, well-mixed drink.
• A bowl or a tea bowl: For a traditional experience.
• Optional: A small dab of raw honey if you like a sweeter taste.

Steps to Prepare

1. Sift the Matcha: This helps remove any clumps and makes the powder easier to whisk.
2. Add Hot Water: Pour a small amount of hot water (not boiling) into the bowl.
3. Whisk Vigorously: Use your bamboo whisk or matcha whisk to mix the powder with the water. Whisk in a zigzag motion until you see a frothy layer.
4. Adjust Consistency: If you prefer a thinner drink, add more hot water. For a matcha latte, you can use cold water or milk instead.

A simple matcha drink is ready in just 2-3 minutes. You can enjoy it hot or iced. When making an iced matcha latte, add your pre-mixed matcha to a cup with ice water or iced milk. For a fun twist, try adding a little mint or mixing your matcha into a smoothie.

Fun Matcha Pairings and Recipes

Matcha is very versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Matcha Latte: Blend matcha with Oatly milk or another plant-based milk. Use more matcha if you want a stronger flavor.
• Iced Matcha Drink: Mix matcha with ice water or iced milk for a refreshing treat.
• Baked Goods: While ceremonial matcha is best for drinking, culinary grade matcha can be used for recipes like matcha cupcakes, pancakes, muffins, and even matcha French toast.
• Matcha Salt: Mix matcha powder with organic sea salt. Use it to season french fries or other dishes for a unique twist.
• Matcha Ice Cubes: Freeze prepared matcha in an ice cube tray. These cubes can be added to drinks to give them an extra burst of flavor.

Remember, if you use matcha for baking or cooking, make sure to use the culinary grade version. The ceremonial grade matcha is meant for drinking because of its delicate flavor.

The Story Behind Our Matcha

Our journey to find the best matcha powder was not easy. We traveled across Japan, meeting with local farmers and visiting many tea farms. We learned about the deep traditions behind Japanese tea ceremonies and the care that goes into producing high-quality matcha.

In Japan, matcha has been enjoyed for centuries during formal tea ceremonies. These ceremonies often use special tools such as a bamboo whisk, a matcha whisk, and a tea bowl. Even the finest loose leaf green tea used in Japanese tea ceremonies is carefully grown, handpicked, and processed.

We discovered that even in famous tea-growing regions like Uji, Kyoto, and Shizuoka, there is a big difference between the types of matcha available. The highest grade matcha—often called ceremonial grade matcha—is made only from the best tea leaves. These leaves, known as tencha, are carefully selected, deveined, and steamed. In contrast, matcha powders that are less expensive and cheaper in price may mix lower-quality tea leaves or even include green tea from China. Such products often show a neon green or diluted yellow-green color and can taste bitter.

Our matcha is different because it is single-sourced from a trusted family farm in Japan. We work directly with our farmers to ensure that each batch meets our strict standards. This matcha is not only a favorite among tea lovers but also a true example of Japanese matcha tradition.

Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle with True Matcha

Switching to matcha from coffee can be a big change, but many of our customers have shared their success stories. One person said that their morning coffee and cigarette habit was harming their health. When they switched to matcha, their energy levels improved, and they felt more relaxed and focused throughout the day. The steady boost from ceremonial grade matcha helps avoid the jitters and crash that often come with coffee.

Not only does matcha give you a smooth burst of energy, but it also supports a healthy immune system. The EGCG in our matcha powder works to protect your cells, while the amino acids and l-theanine help transport nutrients throughout your body. Many studies suggest that regular consumption of green tea, especially matcha, may aid in digestion, regulate blood pressure, and even slow the aging process.

Matcha is often seen as a “green gift from nature.” With its natural antioxidants and detoxifying chlorophyll, it can be a powerful ally in fighting stress and supporting overall wellness. This is one reason why many Japanese people, known for their long lifespans and healthy diets, include matcha as a daily ritual.

Tools and Traditions in Matcha Preparation

When preparing matcha, using the right tools can make a big difference. Here are some of the traditional items you might encounter:

• Bamboo Whisk: A must-have for creating a frothy matcha drink. The traditional bamboo whisk (or matcha whisk) is key to mixing the powder well.
• Tea Bowl: In Japanese tea ceremonies, a special tea bowl is used to serve the matcha. It adds to the whole experience.
• Matcha Whisk: Sometimes called a “usucha” whisk, this tool helps blend the matcha powder and water together.
• Hot Water: Use water that is hot but not boiling, so you do not burn the delicate matcha powder.

These tools are not only practical but also carry cultural significance. Brands like Ippodo and Okumidori are well-known in Japan for producing high-quality matcha and tea utensils. When you enjoy your matcha at home, you are taking part in a tradition that has been celebrated for hundreds of years.

Bringing It All Together

When you buy our matcha, you are getting more than just a cup of tea. You are investing in a rich tradition that values quality, care, and authenticity. From the shade-grown green tea leaves to the traditional stone-grinding process, every step is designed to give you a matcha that is both delicious and healthy.

Our matcha powder, best matcha powder, ceremonial grade matcha, and organic ceremonial matcha are all part of our promise to bring you the purest and most flavorful matcha available. Whether you enjoy it as a simple drink, a matcha latte, or even in creative recipes like matcha pancakes or matcha salt, you can be sure that every sip is full of natural health benefits.

If you are ready to try a change in your daily routine, consider switching from your regular cup of coffee to a cup of our high-quality matcha. With each serving, you’ll experience a balanced energy boost, fewer jitters, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re drinking something made with true care and tradition.

So, grab a bamboo whisk, a tea bowl, and a cup of hot water. Enjoy the process of whisking up your matcha just like in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. It takes just a few minutes to prepare, but the benefits can last all day.

Final Thoughts

Our matcha is more than a beverage—it is a way to bring a moment of calm, focus, and health into your daily life. Enjoy the rich flavor, natural sweetness, and smooth texture of our ceremonial grade matcha. Experience the difference of a product that is made with tradition and care, and see how it can transform your mornings and your overall well-being.

In every serving of our matcha, you are tasting the best of Japan’s tea traditions—from the first harvest of handpicked green tea leaves to the final, frothy cup prepared with a matcha whisk. It’s a pure, authentic drink that fits perfectly into a modern lifestyle, helping you stay alert and healthy without relying on harsh stimulants.

We invite you to explore our range of products and discover why our matcha is a favorite among tea lovers. Whether you are new to matcha or a longtime enthusiast, our carefully crafted ceremonial grade matcha is sure to impress.

Enjoy your matcha journey—sip by sip, cup by cup—and join a long tradition of healthy, mindful living. Your body, mind, and taste buds will thank you!

How To Get The Best Tasting Ceremonial Grade Matcha

As someone whose morning ritual used to be coffee and cigarettes (yes I know) it got to the point where this nasty habit was starting to affect my health, giving me massive anxiety, stress, and other issues throughout the day.

I was looking for an alternative but I couldn’t really find anything that gave me the kick of coffee until my friend Claire turned me into a matcha fan. Every time we would meet each other to write together, she would order matcha, this was way before matcha green tea powder became a craze here. Initially, I thought that it was just a thicker green tea, but in fact, matcha green tea powder has 5x the antioxidants of regular green tea and is naturally caffeinated. Matcha powder is also one of the most powerful immune boosters and antiviral drinks you can have specifically because of its high concentration of EGCG which is known to help prevent cell damage.

Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha

I started trying different packaged matcha green tea powder from Amazon but wasn’t really a fan of the taste which was bitter and almost felt like I was drinking green dirt water and not like the matcha tea I had at the shop with Claire. She told me that the matcha green tea powder I was ordering online or that is prominent on Amazon is actually culinary grade matcha, and is supposed to be used in baking powder-not for drinking. I don’t know why anyone would try to sell culinary grade matcha to people, which is when she told me that the good matcha powder we had in the shop was produced by a company called Man Eating Tiger and was “ceremonial grade matcha”. This Man Eating Tiger organic matcha or “ceremonial grade matcha” had a much more vibrant green than the matcha powder I had been tasting. This ceremonial grade matcha was thinner and had a natural grassy, yet sweet taste, which is because the ceremonial matcha they use is all handpicked and hand-ground from one of the oldest small family farms in Japan they work with.

The Myth of Matcha Green Tea Powder

Most green tea originates from China, but in and around the 12th Century, Buddhist Monks brought matcha to Kyoto, Japan as the region had the perfect terrain and climate for harvesting matcha. While green tea has to be grown under the sun, matcha green tea is shade grown which increases the chlorophyll. This is why before buying matcha, keep in mind the difference between green tea, matcha green tea, and ceremonial grade matcha powder-so when you see a label that says “Matcha green tea powder” or “Matcha with green tea”, I eventually learned that’s actually not pure or raw matcha. Green tea-grown in the sun. Matcha-grown in the shade. Most green tea powder is grown and processed in China. The truest ceremonial grade matcha is from Japan using tencha leaves* which are the highest quality green tea leaves. Ceremonial matcha involves using the top leaves of the plant, which are deveined, destemmed, and steamed.

The reason most matcha green tea powder on the American market tastes super bitter is that they are actually mixing it with matcha green tea powder from China not tencha from Japan. There is also a misconception about an organic ceremonial grade, which we’ll get to in a little bit.

When Matcha is mixed with other types of green tea and machine ground, this is usually called culinary grade matcha. While some people may balk at slightly expensive matcha, it actually makes sense. Matcha green tea that is too cheap or where the color looks bright green (like neon) or completely diluted-like a yellow-ish, mint color or brown colored matcha, is probably guaranteed to be using artificial ingredients or other types of green tea and processed with chemicals from China. I trust Man Eating Tiger ceremonial matcha because they are using matcha from a single source origin farm in Japan, which is something you should look for when trying to find the best ceremonial grade matcha.

In America, they came up with the name “Premium matcha” which would qualify as second-grade matcha green tea powder and is a mix of culinary grade matcha green tea powder and ceremonial grade matcha. The reason you really want ceremonial grade matcha is that it is using the highest quality green tea leaves or tencha and hand-ground/stone ground. Because of the duration of the shade-grown length and stone-ground process, ceremonial grade matcha is by far the healthiest and purest matcha on the market.

High Quality Matcha of Japan

Even the high-quality matcha green tea in Uji Japan such as grade ceremonial has a top, middle, and lower level. Uji, Japan is a city just south of Kyoto, Japan where there are dozens of farms specializing in making the best matcha green tea. Sometimes neighboring matcha farms will partner up so if one has a production problem they can help each other out. In order to produce good matcha, they need to shade the matcha for 3-4 weeks.

As far as pricing is concerned, the best matcha green tea is going to be and should be expensive. By best matcha green tea, I mean grade A ceremonial. The best matcha green tea has to go through a seasonal harvest where the plants have to survive the shade-grown environment, then they have to be handpicked and stone ground and shipped to America. If you’re seeing matcha that looks like it’s a great deal, think about the shipping rates one would have to pay to get a bulk product to America from Japan. Unlike Japan, China has a sneaky deal with the USPS to easily ship goods into the US for massive shipping discounts. If your matcha is super cheap, well that’s a good hint of where your matcha is actually coming from. And it’s another reason to be vigilant when purchasing your Japanese matcha green tea or ceremonial matcha.

Organic Matcha Differentiation

Let’s now talk about organic matcha. As far as the term “organic ceremonial matcha” or people demanding “organic matcha” in general, this is a little bit of a tricky subject, especially here in the US where we have a skewed idea of what healthy means. The FDA or any food administration run by the US government is catering to the interests of large corporations like Coca-Cola, etc. who add a ton of sugar and an amalgamation of mysterious chemicals into their products. Most of the products in your supermarket are really owned by 5-10 brands that need to produce giant volumes of beverages to the market to turn a profit. For example, have you ever watched a commercial about a new healthy drink that promises tons of health benefits, and then you look at the ingredients in the store and there’s literally 0% of anything healthy? The same thing goes with vitamins that say “Made in the USA”… with foreign ingredients or sourced from foreign ingredients. For 2500 dollars many products can get certified with an organic label. This is applicable to these “organic ceremonial matcha powders” that you would see in a major chain store or on Amazon, but unfortunately, these matcha powders aren’t really organic- in fact, most matcha can’t really be organic given the process required to produce quality ceremonial matcha.

How could that be?! You might be shouting into the void. Why would something be labeled organic if it really isn’t? According to www.japantoday.com organic products in Japan accounted for .4% of the domestic food market. In order to grow matcha, remember the green tea leaves have to make it through the shading process. The only way to do this effectively is by using inorganic fertilizer. The green tea leaves that don’t fully survive the shading process don’t have as many nutrients like the ones that do. This is another way of distinguishing the pure matcha from the lesser quality matcha or culinary grade matcha. Matcha that makes it through the shading process, where the best leaves are handpicked, have a vibrant green color, a sweeter* taste, and a more abundant and healthy concentration of amino acids and L-theanine. Japan has extremely strict rules and regulations on pesticides and the Japanese people have some of the highest standards for their food production, where compared to US standards, the way food is grown in Japan is more “organic” than many of the foods found in the US market with this organic label. This goes back to what I was saying earlier about buying cheap when it comes to health products. If you’re cheap with your health, your health will be cheap with you. This is why it’s actually more important that your ceremonial matcha is of single source origin. Single source origin ceremonial matcha powders from Japan will be more “organic” than other products on your food shelf.

So what does all this mean then? Japan has consistently ranked at the top of the oldest demographic populations in the world and #1 in terms of the longest-living population. There are several factors for this. In Japan, they eat lighter meals and they eat slower. From an early age, they are taught to have a healthy diet that consists of foods that are omega-rich including fish, rice, grains, miso, and assorted vegetables. Only 4% of Japan’s population is considered overweight compared to here which is 36%-and that’s being conservative. Oh! And one more reason people in Japan live longer and are among the healthiest populations-green tea…Specifically matcha tea! According to trafalgar.com matcha powder “helps with digestion, energy levels and regulating blood pressure. The matcha tea even helps to preserve membrane cells and slow cell aging.” Another thing consuming matcha powder does that makes it literally one of the healthiest drinks known to man, is that ceremonial grade matcha tea, and even green tea in general, open up cell inhibitors, so it is easier for zinc to get in, making taking zinc more effective for your body.

Matcha tea is really the green gift from the Gods, or nature, that everyone has easy access to if they want to make a health turn around in their lives like me. With the current state of this Coronavirus crisis, it is truly unfortunate why a virus with a 99% survival rate has killed so many people here. Most deaths can be directly corroborated with pre-existing conditions in the older population and the American diet. There is almost no school food education or healthy alternatives being offered in the public school system. Access to affordable healthy foods in poor neighborhoods is almost nonexistent. Most chains offering chemically induced foods are the easy go-to for many, and as a result, instead of tackling the broader issue of the American immune system, the lack of regulations over the food we eat or what goes into that food, we’ve decided that these new vaccines are just the cure-all, not taking into account future viruses, almost guaranteed to be derived from the horrid conditions animals are put through during food processing. To put it more simply, none of what we’re doing is addressing the root cause of the health crises we face as a country, not just for Coronavirus, but for the chronic diseases that have consistently killed people at the level of if not more than Covid-19 year after year.

The Natural Health Benefits of EGCG in Matcha

Nature.com reports “EGCG is the main polyphenol in green tea has numerous reported activities, with compelling potential” having been shown in previous studies to “inhibit cell growth, induce apoptosis, increase sensitivity to other cytotoxic agents, and mitigate drug resistance, as well as in applications against various neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, immune, inflammatory, metabolic, microbial, and viral diseases”. So even spreading the word on these green tea benefits or offering green tea in schools, at nursing homes, etc., and making it a regimented part of the American diet, I believe would greatly help in the fight of Americans living longer and having stronger immune systems.

• Matcha naturally Contains 5X the antioxidants of regular green tea.
• Pure matcha* contains EGCg which helps protect the body against bacterial and viral infections
• Chlorophyll helps the body naturally eliminate toxins and heavy metals

A cup of Matcha vs Cup of Coffee

Once I found the best matcha powder, I’ll be honest it was still a little difficult for me to give up that cup of coffee. After a couple of days of my new morning matcha tea ritual though, I started feeling great, more alert and focused…Most importantly my morning ceremonial grade matcha tea made me feel healthy. Ceremonial grade matcha tea has more caffeine than green tea or black tea, but half the caffeine of a cup of coffee. While having green tea throughout the day is very beneficial, with ceremonial grade matcha tea, in particular, keep in mind this caffeine content, so you might want to space out your matcha tea throughout the day.

Before fully quitting my bad habits, I made an appointment with a hypnotist and had to spend two weeks listening to Hypno meditations to help me quit. During this process, even just switching from coffee to gree n tea and then to ceremonial grade matcha tea, made me less inclined to have the cigarette with it. Every morning now I take a long walk around the neighborhood while drinking my daily matcha tea. While most people enjoy a daily matcha latte, I actually prefer to make matcha straight. Don’t get me wrong, matcha latte with Oatly milk is delicious, but because I am trying to be on a health kick, I will make matcha- the pure matcha the traditional way, either hot or iced. When you have quality matcha straight you can really taste the true flavors of the high quality tencha green tea leaves.

If you want to make quality matcha yourself I would suggest buying a bamboo whisk. Ceremonial grade matcha is finer than other matcha, so I use about five grams of matcha in a bowl. I add a tiny dab of raw honey to the high-quality matcha, as I like the sweeter taste, and then I add about 1oz of hot water to the ceremonial matcha powder and whisk it with the bamboo whisk until it gets frothy. That’s when it’s ready. If you’re a matcha drinker who uses whole milk for a matcha latte, specifically with a ceremonial matcha brand, I would suggest using more grams of matcha and cold water* to bind the matcha.

Quick Recipe for Iced Matcha and Matcha Lattes

For iced matcha or iced matcha latte, you’ll take a cup of ice water or iced milk and then just add the bound matcha powder into it. I prefer hot drinks to add the matcha powder mix before pouring in the water or milk. In Japan, they do all kinds of crazy stuff with matcha powders and will use a matcha latte powder that already has condensed milk in it, if you’re trying to have your matcha tea as a type of super sweet dessert drink.

What goes well with Matcha?

Over the years of drinking quality ceremonial grade matcha tea, I’ve also discovered some fun matcha combinations you can use. Mint and matcha tea for example works great together. You can actually use mint tea bags, or mint leaves and stir those into the matcha which tastes refreshing. One bakery I know of in Brooklyn uses the matcha powder along with freshly made rhubarb adding the matcha tea on top as a matcha rhubarb soda. If you decide to bake with matcha, then you can actually use the culinary grade matcha for breakfast in matcha cupcakes, matcha pancakes, matcha muffins, and matcha french toast, just don’t use the culinary grade matcha powder on its own as a drink* as a tea. I personally have tried to make a matcha seltzer, but the taste doesn’t really work well together unless you sweeten it. One interesting matcha powder combination you can do is to mix matcha in with organic sea salt and have yourself a quality matcha salt. You can use this matcha salt in baking or as an addition to french fries or as a seasoning on certain types of foods.

Matcha powder can also be super concentrated inside an ice cube. If you don’t feel like making matcha every morning, just measure out the matcha powder at 5 grams per cup and put the powder mix into an ice cube tray adding a tiny amount of water in each cube. Freeze it overnight and if you have a large tray, that should give you enough matcha powder bombs for the next 2 weeks. By concentrating the matcha I’ve found you actually might get a more flavorful matcha drink.

My initial search for the best matcha powders was a little tough because most shops I went here were carrying the same 2-3 green tea brands and Amazon has an excessive amount of these companies claiming to be organic ceremonial matcha. It concerns me when some people tell me they tried matcha but didn’t like the taste and gave up. There is a lot of false advertising by brands saying they’re offering the best matcha powders or organic ceremonial matcha. I personally go with the Man Eating Tiger matcha brand which I know brings in their supply from the farm in Kyoto, Japan they work with, fresh every 1-2 months.

Matcha drinkers should not be fooled by thinking bitter matcha is the more authentic matcha, because like I mentioned before, pure Japanese matcha is shade-grown and stone ground, and the longer the matcha makes it through the shading process means that this Japanese matcha should have a naturally sweeter taste* and contain L-theanine. L-theanine is another amino acid with many health benefits found in the tea leaves. The amino acid is important in transporting nutrients throughout your body to maintain your immune system.

The shorter time matcha or tencha tea leaves are shade-grown the less quality the matcha and the more bitter the taste.

The best matcha powders out there will need to be refrigerated, so don’t let it sit out on a shelf. This is another difference between regular green tea powders and high-quality matcha. If you leave ceremonial matcha unrefrigerated it will start to get bitter after about a month. I’d also recommend if you’re going to make matcha, don’t be deterred by the process. It literally takes 2-3 minutes to whisk up your drink. When buying quality matcha, I go with the 16oz matcha bag that Man Eating Tiger offers. It is more expensive matcha, but funny enough when you break it down per serving, you’re actually getting about 90 cups worth of matcha powder. If you’re just starting the matcha journey, then you can go with Man Eating Tiger 60g tin, which sells for about $40 and is a great deal for the high-quality product they’re offering. They both come with free shipping too.

Most of the so-called “organic matcha green tea” grade powder on the market is less expensive, but if you want to make pure matcha tea at your home, think about what I’ve said earlier in regards to the shade-grown process of making matcha and what goes into it and the number of additional nutrients you’re getting. Funny enough this “organic matcha green tea” you’re buying in a 30g tin or 8oz bag, sizing wise works out to almost the same price as buying better grade matcha, that you can purchase from a quality company like Man Eating Tiger in a 40g tin and 16oz bag (450 grams) respectively. The quality you get from buying matcha direct from a trusted quality matcha brand is worth the price difference to me as a matcha drinker.

Okay so now that we’ve talked about what makes a high-quality good matcha tea and which grade matcha powder is the best, the additional concentration of health benefits you get from ceremonial matcha, what organic matcha is really about, and how raw grade ceremonial matcha tea that has a single source origin from Japan is the most important factor when qualifying organic matcha vs the US label that you can pay to stick on there. It’s time to grab a whisk, stir up some matcha and drink it daily!