Looking for a beginner friendly guide to matcha? Look no further! In this post, I’ll give a brief overview of what matcha is, how it’s made, how to find good quality matcha, and what tools you need to make matcha at home. Plus, scroll down to the bottom to find some of my best matcha recipes!
Welcome back to my “Ultimate Guide” series. Today’s topic: matcha! I’m going to be very honest with you: I am writing this post as an average tea loving, matcha consumer. I am not certified in any tea ceremonies, nor have I worked in the tea industry. There are people who have spent years studying the craft of tea who could probably give you a much more detailed and in depth guide to matcha, which is why I have decided to call this a “beginner’s” ultimate guide as opposed to just… ultimate. My goal here is just to give you a general overview of matcha and hopefully answer some questions you may have. If that sounds like it’s for you, then I invite you to keep reading! And if you are the type of person who thinks they are an expert because you watched an anime about matcha and went to Japan one time and like to leave condescending comments, I invite you to move on to another blog! Okay! Here we go!
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is green tea that has been ground into a fine powder. Like the green tea leaves it is made from, matcha has an earthy flavor and is bright green! You make matcha into something drinkable by whisking it with hot water. While with regular green tea you steep the leaves in water and then discard them, with matcha you are actually consuming the leaves themselves, which is why the flavor is so much stronger and the quality of matcha is so important!
Different Levels of Matcha Quality
There are lots of different labels on matcha, so determining quality and type of matcha can get kind of confusing. In the US, you will typically see two main levels of matcha: ceremonial grade and culinary grade. Ceremonial grade is much more expensive and supposedly specially crafted for tea ceremonies and drinking without additives like milk and sugar. Culinary grade is allegedly stronger in flavor and therefore better for baking and cooking…
But do you want to know a secret? THEY MEAN NOTHING!
That’s right. Terms like ceremonial grade and culinary grade were invented to market matcha to the west. These terms are not used in Japan. There are also no regulations or standards for determining what makes matcha ceremonial vs. culinary grade. That means companies can take any matcha, mark up the price, and call it ceremonial. Likewise, a culinary matcha may actually be great quality and perfectly fine for tea ceremonies, despite its label. That’s why some matcha brands like Ippodo Tea, from Kyoto, don’t use the “ceremonial” or “culinary” label.
But that’s NOT to say that there aren’t differences in quality in matcha. I’ll get into that in a second. First, let’s answer a few more matcha frequently asked questions.
Matcha FAQ: Do I Really Need Expensive Ceremonial Matcha for Drinks?
So this is a prevalent matcha myth – that you need expensive ceremonial matcha for drinks. Since we know that there are no regulations for earning the ceremonial or culinary label, all that matters is the actual quality of the matcha.
Matcha FAQ: How Do I Know if Matcha is High Quality?
High quality matcha has a bright green color, good flavor, and is ground very fine into a soft powder. Low quality matcha is brown, bitter, and has a gritty, sandy texture. Unfortunately, since we know that “ceremonial” or “culinary” labels don’t mean that much, you can’t really go on just the label alone to tell the quality of a matcha. However, I will say that I’ve never tasted a “ceremonial” grade matcha that I thought was low quality. So is it worth shelling out the extra money to ensure high quality? Or will you take a risk on cheaper matcha and hope it’s equally good? That’s up to you!
Matcha FAQ: Can I Use Ceremonial Matcha in Lattes?
The short answer is YES! It’s another matcha myth that ceremonial matcha is SO fancy and refined that you should only drink it in its pure form, without milk and sweetener. I’ve seen some matcha blogs online say that you should use lower quality, more bitter matcha for lattes because any impurities will be masked by the additional ingredients. What’s funny is that the Ippodo website actually recommends using a sweeter flavor of matcha for lattes so you will have to add less sugar, completely opposite of what many matcha “experts” claim! Plus, now that we know the “ceremonial” label doesn’t actually mean that much, you really have to just go by taste.
Now, that’s not to say that all matchas are equally good in lattes. Different matcha blends have different flavors. The matcha flavor that works best in lattes (vs. other matcha drinks and foods) is completely up to your preferences. A good starting point is to check out the matcha brand’s website to read up on the different flavors of matcha they offer and see which blends they recommend for which uses. Bottom line: use whatever matcha you like in lattes. I’m not the matcha police.
Why is Matcha so Expensive?
All this talk of matcha grades and quality begs the question: why is matcha so expensive at all??? The answer is in how matcha is made.
High quality matcha is made from 5-8 year old tea plants that have been partially grown in shade. (Shade grown leaves have more chlorophyll, which results in the vibrant green color of matcha.) Some farms handpick their leaves as well. That’s a heck of a lot more labor for your matcha!
On TOP of those growing conditions, the leaves for matcha are also deveined and destemmed. Talk about a laborious process.
Then the leaves are ground (often) in a stone mill, which is a very time consuming process. A complicating factor here is that the leaves cannot get too hot or they will get damaged. You also want to reduce the leaves’ exposure to oxygen or they will oxidize, turning brown and bitter. That means matcha leaves must be packaged well and refrigerated until ready to grind. Matcha also needs to be ground super fine, or it will feel gritty when you drink it. Stone grinding matcha leaves to meet these requirements can take hours for even a small portion. Companies who try to take shortcuts with milling will end up with oxidized, bitter, and sandy textured matcha.
How to Find a Good Matcha Brand
So now you know why matcha is so expensive, and you know in general what makes a matcha high vs. low quality. But besides just trial and error of tasting different matchas, here are some other factors to consider when choosing between matcha companies.
Country of Origin
Most people know that matcha is huge in Japan. However, matcha is made sometimes in other countries as well. If you care about the potential affects of pollutants and growing conditions (e.g. organic vs inorganic) on your food, this could be a big issue, as different countries have different regulations on farming. In general, I tend to trust matcha from Japan, as they have been farming it for many years and consume it so much as well.
Single Origin vs. Blended Matcha
Just like coffee, matcha can have different flavors depending on where and how its grown. That’s why matcha companies may have different blends of matcha. You can look at Ippodo Tea’s website to see how they describe their different matcha flavors.
When matcha is single origin, that means it comes from one location. A blend means that the matcha is sourced from a variety of farms. Sometimes a company may choose a specific blend in order to achieve a certain flavor. Other times, single origin matcha is preferred to show off the unique flavor profile of a particular location. For example, matcha from Kagoshima is well renowned due to the nutrient-rich soil from Kagoshima’s active volcano! In addition, single origin matcha makes it easier to look up information about farming practices and sustainability.
Small Farm vs. Big Farm Matcha
Another factor to consider related to the origin of matcha is whether it comes from a small or big farm. I’m by no means an expert on agriculture and economy, particularly in other countries. But I figure that if supporting small farms locally is beneficial for the food system, biodiversity, and local communities, similar can probably be said for Japan’s small farms. That said, it can sometimes be hard to find out exact farms that grow the matcha plants. At the very least, most reputable matcha companies will say on their website the general locations their matcha is sourced from.
Japanese Owned vs. Non-Japanese Owned
For some of you, whether or not a matcha company is Japanese owned may not make a big difference. Some of my Japanese American friends, however, feel that some matcha companies in the US have been taking advantage of the “trendiness” of matcha without paying homage to matcha’s cultural heritage. If that’s your feeling as well, you may want to take note of the owners of matcha companies. Here is some information about some of the matcha companies popular in the US:
- Ippodo Tea is a company based in Kyoto, owned by the Watanabe family.
- Maeda-en was founded in the US by a Japanese businessman who immigrated to the US and wanted to spread Japanese tea to the Western world.
- Matcha Love is owned by parent company Ito-en, which is based in Japan and Japanese owned. Ito-en is a huge global company.
- Naoki Matcha is Asian owned (from Singapore), but not Japanese owned. They partner with farms in Japan to source their matcha.
- Jade Leaf is a US company that partners with the Kizuna Matcha collective of tea farms in Japan, but is not Asian owned.
- Matcha Bloom is a small US company owned by a Japanese American family who sources their single origin matcha from a small farm in Kagoshima.
I want to be clear that I am not advocating for one way or the other in terms of company ownership. There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing a company to buy from. As you can see, some matcha companies are huge corporations in Japan who may or may not have sustainable farming practices. Other companies may not be Japanese owned, but they partner with small farms in Japan. In the end, it’s up to you to decide what’s important for you in a matcha company and to do the appropriate research.
Matcha Marketing Practices
One last factor to consider are the marketing practices of matcha companies. Like I mentioned before, Ippodo mentions on their website that they purposefully don’t use “ceremonial” labels on their matcha because it’s not a label that exists in Japan. Naoki Matcha similarly talks about the “ceremonial” and “culinary” grade meanings on their website and has other transparent blog posts on how matcha is made. (Also remember that Naoki is not Japanese owned, so just because a brand is Japanese owned doesn’t mean they market like they do in Japan and vice versa.) Maeda-en and Matcha Bloom (both Japanese American owned companies) use the western “ceremonial” label on their matcha. This may or may not mean anything to you, but it’s just something to consider!
Some matcha companies also market their teas as a “wellness” product. While it’s undeniable that matcha has got a lot of antioxidants and can be considered healthy, I generally am not a fan of wellness marketing. In the end, this may not bother you, and you may decide that ultimately it’s the taste of the matcha that matters most. To each his/her own!
Recommended Brands of Matcha
Like I mentioned above, it’s up to you to do the research into matcha brands to see what you like. I personally have enjoyed Ippodo and Naoki Matcha in lattes. I’ve never had a drink with Matcha Love, but I’ve had MANY ice creams made from their matcha and loved it.
Another brand with surprisingly good matcha? TRADER JOE’S! I’m not joking! I tried the Trader Joe’s single serve matcha packets on a whim, and they were NOT BAD. I did a taste test of Trader Joe’s matcha vs. Ippodo vs Maeda-en, and Trader Joe’s was actually my second favorite (Ippodo was my first). Besides, at $1 per serving, it’s a STEAL. Seriously, go give it a try.
Where to Buy Matcha
I can find Matcha Love and Maeda-en at my local Japanese market. If you have tea shops near you, like Matcha Cafe Maiko, you may be able to buy matcha powder directly from them as well. If you’re looking online, most matcha companies will sell matcha from their websites. Amazon also sells quite a few matcha brands. If you’re looking at Amazon, feel free to check out my storefront! My “Asian Grocery” list has links to my some of my favorite matcha products.
Tools You (May) Need to Make Matcha
- Chasen (Matcha whisk)
- Chawan or Katakuchi (Matcha bowls or bowls with spout)
- Chashaku (Wooden scoop for matcha)
- Chakoshi (Tea Strainer)
Matcha making uses some specific tools. First, you use a bamboo scoop to sieve your matcha through a tea strainer and into a bowl. A chawan is a standard bowl used for matcha; a katakuchi is a bowl with a spout that you can use to pour your matcha into another cup. Next, you add hot water (not quite boiling) and whisk the matcha in a zigzag pattern using your bamboo whisk, or chasen. At this point you would add more water or other liquids, depending on what recipe you’re making.
Now with that said… when I’m making a casual matcha latte at home for myself (which is, in all honesty, the only matcha I ever really make), I never follow all of these exact steps. I usually just use a standard measuring spoon for my matcha and dump it in a mug. I do use the chasen, though, because I feel that it does whisk the matcha the best. But I know some people use milk frothers to whisk their matcha instead. Once, in a tight pinch, I used a fork. *shrug*
Again, whether or not you use all these tools is up to you. Some of my friends go through all the steps and tools because they enjoy the ritual of it.
Where to Buy Matcha Teaware and Tools
Like with any kitchen wares, matcha tools and teaware can range from very cheap to very expensive. My local Japanese market has some pretty affordable matcha wares. Amazon also has very budget friendly matcha tools as well.
As we move to more quality pieces, Hojicha Co. has really affordable katakuchi (bowls with spouts). Miya Company has great chawan and some matcha tool sets that are very affordable. Tezumi has a range of teawares from budget to luxury, and they were really responsive in their customer support.
On the high end, Musubi Kiln has GORGEOUS chawan, teapots, cups, and sets. Expect to pay upwards of $100, but you can use my affiliate code MOCHIMOMMY for a 5% discount.
Easy Matcha Recipes to Try
Are you finally ready to try some matcha recipes at home? These are some of my favorites! You can also input “matcha” on the search bar to scroll through any of my matcha recipes. If you give any a try, let me know how it went!
- My Perfect Vegan Matcha Latte
- Matcha Horchata Latte
- Matcha Shortbread with White Chocolate
- Matcha Butter Mochi
- Matcha Mochi Waffles
More Ultimate Guides to Asian Foods
Was this “ultimate” guide to matcha helpful? Check out my other posts in my Ultimate Guide series!