Matcha powder is a delicious ingredient with a rich, earthy flavour and a smooth, velvety texture. This ancient Japanese ingredient will elevate your lattes, cold drinks, on-the-go snacks, baked goods, and more. Not only is it versatile, but it is also a good source of antioxidants and other nutrients.
This Japanese drink has a long history, dating back centuries to its origins in Japan. Although it was originally only consumed as part of Japanese tea ceremonies, its popularity has recently grown. Today, this beverage is enjoyed worldwide for its delicious flavour, health benefits, and association with Japanese culture.
We chose these 15 products based on their purpose, use, grade, and flavour profile. We have years of experience with using this ingredient in our recipes. So we know what makes a good matcha powder depending on what you're using it for.
Dive into our comprehensive guide to uncover the best green tea products for every one of your needs.
Jump to:
- Our Favourite Matcha Powders
- Best Ceremonial Grade Matcha
- Best Matcha Powder for Lattes
- Best for Cold Drinks
- Best Budget
- Best organic matcha powder
- For On the Go
- Best for Baking
- Which is the Best Grade of Matcha?
- How do you pick the best matcha powder?
- How to store matcha powder
- How long does matcha powder last?
Our Favourite Matcha Powders
KyotoDew is our preferred matcha powder because of its quality and distinct qualities. It has a rich and powerful flavour profile, a vivid green colour, a silky texture, and a lovely aroma. These characteristics make it a good choice for traditional tea ceremonies.
ClearSpring and Art of Tea are close contenders because they are both affordable, high-quality matcha powders. Clearspring can make traditional green tea lattes, smoothies, and baked goods. Meanwhile, Art of Tea has a more complex flavour profile. This makes it a good choice for traditional matcha lattes and more creative recipes.
| Best Ceremonial Grade | Kyoto Dew, ClearSpring, JadeLeaf (Ceremonial) |
| Best Budget | Pure Chimp, Tenzo |
| For Hot Lattes | Ito En (Sweetened Latte), Encha (Latte), |
| For Ice Drinks | Naoki, Art of Tea (Ceremonial Sachets) |
| Organic | Akira Matcha, Ippodo Tea |
| Best for on the go | Clearspring sachets, JadeLeaf Ceremonial Sachets, Art of Tea (Ceremonial) Sachets |
| For Baking | JadeLeaf (Culinary Grade) |
Best Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Ceremonial grade is the highest grade of green tea powder. Producers create it from the most tender, young tea leaves grown in the shade for several weeks. Afterwards, they process the leaves into a fine powder.
Ceremonial-grade Ocha (green tea) has a vibrant green hue and smooth, creamy texture. It has a pure, earthy fragrance. The powder is ideal for drinking by itself or adding it to smoothies.
Most commonly, people associate this grade of Japanese drink with the Japanese tea ceremony. The ceremony is a centuries-old ritual of preparing and drinking matcha.
Today, this is also a popular option for individuals seeking high-quality matcha powder to consume at home. Ceremonial-grade Japanese tea is ideal for individuals who wish to appreciate Japanese green tea's flavour and benefits fully.
Kyoto Dew
Kyoto Dew is the top option for the best ceremonial grade matcha because it is made from the finest leaves. To produce high-quality green tea, the leaves are shade-grown, hand-picked, air-dried, and stone-ground.
Manufacturers use the term "shade-grown" to describe the process of shading the leaves under massive canopies for a lengthy period of time before harvesting. This process is to boost the chlorophyll content. Moreover, the process also limits the synthesis of catechins, which causes the bitter flavour.
In terms of flavour, Kyoto Dew has a rich, umami flavour with a delicate hint of sweetness. This green tea has a fresh, grassy aroma that is quite appealing. Kyoto Dew, like any other high-quality ceremonial-grade green tea, has a bright, colourful hue. This visually pleasing green colour enhances the drink's entire experience and presentation.
Kyoto dew is delicate and silky, with a non-grainy texture that whisks easily. It is also effortless to blend. Kyoto Dew’s powder dissolves quickly in hot water or milk and leaves no clumps. This convenience makes it suitable for both experienced tea enthusiasts and those new to drinking green tea in the UK.
Clearspring
Clearspring is another excellent choice in this category, primarily due to its exceptional taste. This brand offers a refreshing and grassy flavour profile that is well-balanced and pleasing to the palate. It exhibits a mild sweetness that enhances the overall experience of drinking ceremonial-grade green tea.
Similar to Kyoto Dew, it has a fresh, grassy smell. The vibrant and vivid green colour of its powder indicates its high quality and ceremonial-grade status. In addition, it has a smooth, refreshing texture. It is easy to drink and does not leave a grainy aftertaste.
Clearspring matcha powder is finely ground, hence resulting in quick foaming foam that delivers a natural creaminess to the blend. The texture is smooth and free from noticeable graininess, allowing easy incorporation and blending into water or other liquids.
Check out our video on how to make matcha tea below.
JadeLeaf (Ceremonial)
JadeLeaf (Ceremonial) has a delicate and refined flavour with a balanced combination of umami and sweetness. It has no bitterness and is ideal for drinking on its own. The aroma includes fresh green tea leaves notes, contributing to the sensory experience.
The rich and vivid green colour of JadeLeaf (Ceremonial) is visually appealing and indicative of its high quality. JadeLeaf (Ceremonial) has a smooth and velvety texture when ingested.
This powder combines nicely with hot water and milk, making it ideal for everyday green tea. It is also the best matcha powder for weight loss because it includes antioxidants and polyphenols that aid in weight loss.
Best Matcha Powder for Lattes
Ito En (Sweetened latte)
Ito En (sweetened latte) is one of the best matcha powders for latte. Their sweetened latte is a popular choice for those who want a quick and easy way to enjoy lattes.
Manufacturers make the latte with a blend of green tea and sugar, and it is available in both hot and cold varieties. The taste of the Ito En sweetened latte is smooth and creamy, with a hint of sweetness.
The harmonious blend of flavours creates a delightful and indulgent experience when you combine it with milk. This sweetened latte is also easy to drink and does not leave a grainy aftertaste.
The colour of the Ito En sweetened latte is bright green. Its powder is fine and smooth, dissolving easily in hot or cold water. Hence, Ito En latte is easy to make and can be prepared in minutes.
Overall, the Ito En sweetened latte is a good choice for those looking for a quick and easy way to enjoy the drink. It is smooth, creamy, and easy to drink.
Encha (Latte)
Encha matcha powder is another great option for making delicious lattes. Encha's latte tastes like a delicate blend of ingredients, with a natural sweetness and a faint vegetal touch.
When preparing the latte, the aroma of Encha's green tea is fresh and green, providing a welcoming atmosphere. When prepared solely with hot water, latte-Grade may taste stronger or more bitter than Ceremonial-Grade. However, the added intensity makes it ideal for pairing with milk in a matcha latte.
Latte-grade Encha produces a significantly greener and smoother cup of green tea latte compared to many other brands. Encha’s green tea powders are prepared from the first harvest of the leaves, which contain the most nutrients. Hence, it has a richer, more brilliant green color as well as a smoother, creamier texture than green tea that producers harvest later.
Moreover, this latte is also suitable to make into a cold shake. Encha's simplicity of blending and preparation leads to a smooth and joyful latte-making procedure, resulting in dependably tasty results.
Best for Cold Drinks
Matcha powders made specifically for iced drinks, such as green tea lemonade, iced matcha latte, or smoothies, may have significantly different properties. People frequently choose them for their ability to retain flavour and scent when blended with cold drinks or ice.
These powders provide a pleasant and sweet flavour profile to offset the drink's cooling effect. They also have a vivid green tint that retains their aesthetic attractiveness even when diluted in cold liquids. Japanese green tea designed for iced drinks generally has a smoother texture, allowing for easier blending and consistency in cold beverages.
Naoki
Naoki is one of the best matcha powders for iced lattes. Naoki Matcha is a type of green tea with a taste profile and quality that is particularly well-suited for cold drinks. It is stone-ground to a fine powder. When prepared as a cold drink, the fine particles of the green leaves dissolve more easily, creating a consistent and enjoyable texture without any clumps or graininess.
Taste-wise, Naoki offers a pleasant and smooth taste with subtle vegetal notes and a hint of sweetness. Meanwhile, the aroma from the packet is grassy, slightly sweet, and very deep. Moreover, it has a deep, dark green colour, and the texture is just as slick and smooth.
Naoki latte is creamy and velvety, creating a luxurious and satisfying mouthfeel. Its fine texture ensures a smooth and consistent blend with milk, resulting in a silky latte without graininess.
Another feature is the ease of blending and preparing drinks with this powder, making it convenient for home enthusiasts and professional baristas.
Art of Tea Ceremonial sachets
Art of Tea (Ceremonial) is an excellent alternative for making delicious iced lattes. When mixed into a latte, the Art of Tea sachets provides a gentle sweetness and a faint umami flavour, producing a nuanced and pleasurable taste experience.
It has a fresh, green aroma that adds to the sensory experience. This bright green Japanese tea powder produces a silky mouthfeel when prepared for a drink. The matcha powder dissolves readily in hot water, leaving no clumps or graininess.
Art of Tea also offers ceremonial-grade powder in the form of handy sachets. Each sachet includes the exact amount of powder for one serving, eliminating the need for measurement or guesswork. Add hot water, stir, and serve.
Art of Tea Ceremonial matcha sachets has a delicate sweetness and a mild umami flavour that works nicely in cold beverages. When combined with other components such as milk or other milk options, the flavour profile remains balanced and pleasant. This results in a nice taste experience and makes this one of the best matcha powders for an iced latte.
Best Budget
Pure Chimp
PureChimp is a brand that has become popular on platforms like Reddit due to its affordability and quality. In fact, we first came across it because a friend recommended it to us.
Similar to other brands on this list, the powder here is made from high-quality Japanese green tea leaves. PureChimp has a nice fresh flavour with no bitterness. It had some pleasant sweet overtones and paired well with a matcha latte.
However, what makes this brand stand out from others is that it is available in a variety of flavour variations, including mint, cinnamon, lemon, and others.
Compared to other high-quality green tea, PureChimp green tea powder has a wonderful, brilliant green colour that looks premium. This brand’s grind is wonderful and blends smoothly in water when mixed with a matcha whisk.
Tenzo
Tenzo is very well-known in the States for its high-quality matcha that is sourced directly from Japanese farmers. They also promote a healthy lifestyle and sustainable practices, which is becoming a trend in the States.
It is one of the best matcha powders on Amazon. The colour is a deep emerald green, indicating top-quality green tea. Tenzo features a creamy green tea flavour with earthy undertones and a grassy finish. It has a delicate flavour with little to no bitterness, just what a fine matcha should taste like.
Best organic matcha powder
Akira Matcha
Akira Matcha is made from 100% organic Camellia sinensis leaves, resulting in a smooth yet rich flavour. The powder is also incredibly pure, made without chemicals or other artificial components. This ensures that every cup is fresh and clean.
The flavour of Akira matcha powder is smooth and quite well-rounded. The sweetness is balanced by a trace of umami. Regarded as one of the best green teas in Japan, Akira has a light, grassy aroma that isn't overbearing. It smells lovely and has a rose perfume, a mild vanilla accent, and cacao.
The powder is a deep green apple colour. It's slightly greener than yellow. Although the colour is not as vibrant as other powders, it is still extremely appealing.
Akira matcha powder’s texture is smooth and creamy. It is also delicate and polished. It whisks easily, although it leaves a slight graininess on the rims of the bowl. The smooth texture makes for an easy-to-drink cup of matcha, allowing the flavour to come through. It’s no wonder that it is one of the best matcha powders in Japan.
Ippodo Tea
The flavour of Ippodo matcha powder is slightly sweet, with a trace of bitterness. Moreover, the smooth texture makes for an easy-to-drink cup, allowing the flavour to come through. This Japanese beverage gives off a light green aroma that is not overbearing while exuding a vivid green colour.
Ippodo Tea is also popular for offering a range of organic green tea options. They have obtained certifications, such as JAS (Japan Agricultural Standard) and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). This assures consumers that their leaves and powders are produced using organic farming methods without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. This commitment to organic farming practices appeals to those seeking pure and natural matcha.
As one of the best matcha powders in Japan, it has a delicate and polished texture that makes it blend easily. The fine texture ensures no clumps or graininess in the green powder, resulting in a smooth cup. The powder dissolves easily in hot water and produces no clumps or graininess. It is also straightforward to whisk, resulting in a smooth cup of matcha.
For On the Go
Clearspring sachets
Clearspring Sachets is notable for its dedication to using high-quality organic ingredients. This brand has a pleasantly smooth texture with a delicate, earthy flavour that isn't too strong. The prepared drink's bright, deep green colour indicates its high quality. Aroma-wise, its green tea radiates pleasant and fresh.
Clearspring matcha has a silky, velvety smoothness that provides a nice mouthfeel when drunk. The matcha powder is finely ground, giving each sip a refined quality. Furthermore, Clearspring sachets are extremely simple to blend, guaranteeing a quick and easy matcha-making experience for those on the go.
Jadeleaf ceremonial sachets
With a rich and umami flavour profile, the taste of Jadeleaf green tea represents the essence of a traditional ceremonial experience. The aroma is reminiscent of freshly cut grass and transports you to a tranquil Japanese garden. The drink is a vivid emerald green, indicating ceremonial-grade quality.
Regarding texture, Jadeleaf has a velvety smoothness that coats the palette smoothly. The powder is finely ground and silky in texture, resulting in a refined drinking experience.
Jadeleaf’s ceremonial sachets are one of the best matcha powder on Amazon. This is because they are high quality, have a delicious flavour, and are very easy to use. This makes it an excellent choice for people looking for convenience without sacrificing authenticity. Although they are also more expensive than Clearspring sachets, we think they are worth the extra cost.
Art of Tea (Ceremonial) Sachets
Art of Tea matcha has a deep and subtle flavour profile with a balanced blend of sweetness and moderate bitterness. With touches of fresh greens and honey, the smell is captivating.
When sipped, Art of Tea matcha powder has a smooth and creamy texture that coats the taste with a wonderful sensation. The green tea has a delicate and refined texture due to its thorough grinding. Art of Tea sachets, intended for easy mixing, allow matcha enthusiasts to enjoy a lovely cup of tea wherever they go.
Best for Baking
The main difference between ceremonial and culinary-grade green tea is the quality of the leaves used.
Producers prepare ceremonial grade green tea from the best leaves. They harvest the leaves early in the spring. Then, they shade the leaves for many weeks before processing them into powder. This technique yields an extremely fine leaf powder with a deep, umami flavour.
On the other hand, producers manufacture culinary-grade powder from lower-quality leaves. They have not been darkened and are processed into a coarser powder. While it is generally more bitter than ceremonial-grade matcha, this green tea lacks the earthy umami flavour and is not as smooth.
Ceremonial-grade green tea is often consumed as lattes and other beverages. It can also be used in sweets. However, its strong flavour can be too much in some dishes.
Most people frequently use culinary-grade green tea in baking, cooking, and other preparations where the earthy flavour is secondary. You can also use this green tea for smoothies and other drinks. However, its coarser texture might make blending harder.
For us, we love using culinary grade to make matcha green tea ice cream.
JadeLeaf (Culinary Grade)
Jadeleaf has a delicate and mellow flavour profile that is well-regarded in the culinary world. It has a lovely umami flavour with a mildly sweet and somewhat grassy undertone that makes it suitable for various culinary preparations.
Jadeleaf has a well-balanced taste that is not excessively bitter, allowing it to enhance the flavours of other ingredients without overpowering them. It has a lively and fresh aroma described as vegetal and slightly floral.
Its vibrant green colour not only adds to the visual attractiveness of foods but also implies their freshness and high chlorophyll content. Made as a tea, it has a lighter body than other kinds.
Jadeleaf culinary-grade matcha powder is finely milled, resulting in a smooth and refined texture. The culinary-grade green tea from Jadeleaf is well-known for its blendability. It blends easily into various dishes, whether combined with other ingredients or used as a stand-alone flavouring agent.
Its fine texture guarantees that it combines evenly, eliminating clumps and giving consistent flavour and colour distribution throughout the meal.
Which is the Best Grade of Matcha?
Culinary-grade matcha is a type of powdered green tea that is less expensive and of lower quality than ceremonial-grade. Producers make it from older leaves that are exposed to more sunlight. This results in a stronger, more bitter flavour.
Culinary-grade powder is mainly used for cooking and baking. While it is not as high quality as the ceremonial grade, the culinary grade is still a good source of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.
Meanwhile, ceremonial-grade matcha is the highest quality form available. Producers carefully harvest the youngest tea leaves and stone-grind them to produce a vibrant green powder. Tea drinkers traditionally use it in Japanese tea ceremonies, where they prepare it with meticulous attention to detail.
Premium matcha generally refers to high-quality powder. While less refined than a ceremonial grade, premium grade is suitable for making green tea lattes, smoothies, and culinary creations.
Producers make the first harvest, also known as shisha, from the very first plucking of the year. People highly seek first-harvest matcha for its freshness and often use it for ceremonial purposes or enjoy it on its own. They make the second harvest from leaves harvested later in the season. It is generally a low-grade powder. However, it can still offer a pleasant taste and be used for various culinary applications.
There are a few reasons why good matcha is so expensive. First, producers grow tea leaves in specific conditions. Second, the processing of green tea powder is very labour-intensive. The leaves must be carefully ground into a fine powder, which is time-consuming. Finally, the demand for matcha is high, increasing the price.
How do you pick the best matcha powder?
To get the best matcha powder, look for a brilliant green shade. A high-quality Matcha should have a delicate, silky texture, similar to eye shadow or baby powder.
Low-quality green tea generally has a dark green, yellowish or brownish colour. This means that the product was not shaded enough or was made from old leaves.
A good green tea powder smells fresh and grassy and tastes vegetal and somewhat sweet. Much of the flavour comes from the aforementioned amino acid, L-theanine. Poor quality ones have less L-theanine, and so taste significantly harsher.
You can often find matcha with labels like premium, ceremonial, or gourmet. Producers frequently link higher grades, such as ceremonial grade, with superior quality because of the precise cultivation and processing involved. Once you pick the best green tea powder, you should also learn how to make matcha.
How to store matcha powder
Store green tea powder in an airtight container to prevent exposure to air and moisture, which can degrade its flavour and aroma. Keep the powder away from direct sunlight and store it in a cool, dark place to preserve its vibrant colour and prevent oxidation.
Japanese green tea is sensitive to heat and humidity, so avoid storing it near the stove, oven, or humid areas.
You need to enjoy matcha while it is fresh for the best flavour. Ideally, consume it within 3-6 months of opening the package to experience its optimal flavour and quality.
Remember, proper storage ensures your green tea powder retains its delicate flavour and vibrant green colour.
How long does matcha powder last?
Japanese green tea has a storage life of around a year. However, consuming it within a month of opening is preferable because exposure to air, odours, heat, and humidity will quickly destroy the powder's flavour and health benefits.
We recommend replacing the matcha powder if you notice it has lost flavour or power.
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