Matcha Madness has begun. Let me introduce you the the magical world of matcha in my own special way. Buy reviewing a wide selection of brands, surveying them based on color, price, taste and packaging. And I will give my own tips and tricks for enjoying matcha green tea as a part of your healthy, Zenergized lifestyle. Let the matcha madness begin..
Not all matchas are created equal. If you learn anything from this post, let it be that.
Quick List: My Top 5 Picks*, Best Matcha Brands (no order rank here)
1. Encha Organic Matcha - buy on Amazon
2. DoMatcha - buy on Amazon
3. Taste of Kyoto - buy on Amazon
4. Eden - Buy on Amazon
5. American Tea Room - buy online
* Top 5 from brands reviewed in this post
Disclaimer: This review is not scientific by any means and is based on my personal reviews. Matcha reviewing is, like most food-type reviewing, quite subjective. In other words, you might totally disagree with me, and that's ok. However, colors and numbers don't lie, so that helps a bit.
Matcha Authority. Why do I call myself a sort of matcha expert? Well I will admit I have never been to Japan (where most matcha comes from) and I could not describe to you all the intricate details about the production process, history and more. Though I do know a little from research. But what I am an expert in is taste and use of matcha. In other words, I know a good matcha when I see/taste it!!
So yes, I do have a bit of expertise on matcha green tea since I have been drinking it almost every day for a little over a year now. I bought my first tin of matcha at the American Tea Room in Beverly Hills for about fifty bucks (big splurge on tea!!) after the salesman gave me a very long, very passionate spheel about how amazing it is. Among other things, he said it had a Zen-inducing effect that not only energizes you in a non-jittery way, but calms you to a sort of Zenned out feeling that only amazing matcha green tea can provide. It contains about half the caffeine (or a bit less) as standard coffee, though the normal caffeine jitters you may experience with coffee have never effected me with matcha - even after a giant tablespoon-ful scoop into a smoothie! The release of caffeine is said to be at a slow rate and thus jitter-free.
Basics and FAQs:
What is matcha? Matcha is green tea, yes. But it is not like the tea you find in tea bags. Matcha is not steeped. it is dissolved because matcha is a very fine green powder. Matcha powder is the ground up leaves of green tea. The leaves are harvested, dried and eventually ground up into powder after going through an extensive and (I think) magical processing process. Matcha powder is ground up green tea leaves, so you are actually consuming the whole leaf. For this reason it is extremely high in antioxidants, thus having a wide array of healthy living claims and supposed benefits.
Why should I drink matcha? I cannot tell you why you should drink it. But I will tell you why I drink it. It successfully switched me over to green tea from coffee in my daily routine. I now drink coffee about 1-3 times a month, as opposed to 1-3 times a day in my old routine about five years ago. Living in NYC, I was a self-proclaimed coffee addict. I'd hit up my fave spots at least once a day to drown my sorrows (or fatigue) in a cup of Joe. Well soy lattes were my thing actually. I finally switched from coffee to chai, but the sticky-sweetness of most coffee shop chais were not satisfying me, so I still dabbled in the dark coffee bean bevies. But finally! Matcha seriously kicked my coffee cravings to the curb. Now I crave the green stuff, packed with antioxidants. The stuff that makes me feel Zenergized. Yes, I like that word. Plus the bright green color brightens my day!
How to drink it? I rarely make matcha in the traditional sense, which is by very lightly (almost) boiling water, then using a matcha whisk to dissolve the matcha into the water. Then you drink the green matcha tea. Once in a while I will drink it like that, but rarely. I drink my matcha in smoothies or lattes - but mostly smoothies! I add about one teaspoon of matcha to a large vegan protein shake. I also love matcha lattes when I go to coffee shops like Urth Caffe and Peets. Even Starbucks makes a great vegan matcha latte if you ask for soy. Non-vegans: do not drink matcha with dairy. It supposedly ruins the whole antioxidant effect. Soy or almond milk are my preferences. Use the search bar on my site to find all my many matcha-infused recipes. My matcha shake is my fave.
What is good matcha? A high quality matcha will appear bright spring green in color. Color is VERY important when assessing matcha quality. Imagine a bright green bunch of fresh spinach versus a muddy, wilted, army green bunch. Color not only equals better flavor (most times) but it also equals more antioxidant power. I am amazed how poor in quality some matcha is. Muddy brownish matcha is (to be blunt) pretty nasty stuff. So if you have not tried high quality matcha and think you "don't like matcha" -- just find a way to try a high quality variety and then make your true assessment. Not all matchas are created equal!
Organic? I only buy organic matcha, but you can decide for yourself. Organic matchas come in an array of qualities, as you will learn from my review. Organic does not equal high quality, even though organic matcha will be more expensive than a similar non-organic counterpart.
Storage? Keep matcha away from light, moisture and heat. You can store it in a cool dark place along with your tea bags, or in the fridge. You can even store in the freezer if desired. The most important point of fridge storage is to make sure condensation doesn't seep into your matcha (moisture!) or that smells from your fridge are allowed to seep into the matcha .. it easily picks up aromas. I either store it in the "butter" compartment in my fridge, or in a cool dark place. I always consume my matcha within two months, usually one even. The faster you consume it, the fresher the flavor and color will be .. as with most pantry foods. That is why it is actually better to buy matcha NOT in bulk. Smaller amounts will be consumed faster than a huge tub of the stuff.
Price? Matcha is not cheap. And you DO get what you pay for in most cases. Matcha that is super cheap and seems too good to be true, probably is. You can see my guide for price variations. But in general, expect to pay $20-50 for 30g of highest quality matcha. And $20 is pushing it. If $30 for "tea" is out of your budget, think of matcha as a splurge item and buy it once in a while. But buy the good stuff. Nothing is worse than buying a tin of "bad" matcha to save a few bucks, then hating it altogether. If you are going to buy matcha, buy matcha.
Quality? For Americanized shopping purposes, there are two basic words to look for: ceremonial and culinary. Ceremonial matcha is in general (and if labeled honestly) the higher quality of matcha. Culinary is a lesser quality, meaning it may have a more bitter and muddy flavor and less bright green color. However, check out my review for discrepancies. Sometimes brands will also carry a "premium" variety - or something even "better" than ceremonial. This is usually a special origin of tea or has a special preparation. One store I visited has one for over a hundred bucks because it is hand-made by monks (or so the sales guys said). I'm sure it is amazing, but quite a splurge item for matcha lovers!
Origin? I strictly only buy matcha from Japan. I do not buy matcha from China.
Color is an important indicator of quality. Spring green please..
Nice and green..
Not so much..
Bad batch? In my guide I note how many times I have purchased a certain brand. If only one time is listed, you have to keep in mind that I may have received a bad or good batch. Kinda like wine. Sort've. If matcha has been sitting in a storage warehouse for too long or very freshly shipped it may vary in quality once opened. So if I bash one brand that you tried and love, please let us all know in the comments. Or if I love a brand you didn't care for, tell us that also. Comments will be very helpful to gain a full spectrum of opinions in this review! nd to open eyes to other brands to try. Lets chat matcha!
Brands? There are MANY brands of matcha. This is just a small selection. I will try to add more brands as I try them. If you run a matcha brand and would like to be included in this post, please leave a comment so we can get in touch. I am happy to add more brands to this list. But to be honest, this was a very expensive undertaking, so I will not be buying many more brands to try (well, anytime soon that is!) So donations of samples are much appreciated!
How I reviewed: I opened fresh packages, assessed the color by eye, then spread out a sheet of samples. For taste testing I dry-tasted each brand. The colors are quite obvious to see differences, the taste takes a keener sensibility. I did my best to let my palate judge flavor. All prices are based on what I paid, not retail value.
Japan vs China. With the Fukushima radiation disaster, many green tea lovers became worried if green tea production would be effected. Well, to be honest, I do not think anyone has a 100% answer on this issue, but you can research on many green tea producer sites and read their explanations for how everything is indeed ok. The main reason being proximity to the blast. But even still, some China matcha is avaiable for those who want to steer clear. Me? I 100% choose Japan matcha over China. Simply because I have never really tasted a premium China-origin matcha. Japan is where matcha was born and they have perfected the process from leaf to container. So while I agree it is a scary issue to talk about and analyze, right now, I personally have not seen anything to deter me from Japan-origin matcha.
So are you ready to browse these beauties?.. I was! This was fun. And I will NOT be buying more matcha for a while..
Lets begin!
And here is my one sheet guide! - detailed results follow
Kathy's Matcha Brand Review
Number rating scale: 1-5, 5 being the best
In a hurry: skip down to see my list of matchas I would buy again.
Top Shelf Matchas -- From Japan and Organic
Brand 1: Encha
Info: Encha sources from the best organic farms in Japan. "Encha's principle of selecting matcha grades is identifying the natural strength of pure organic matcha and no need to add sugar in your preferred way of drinking matcha! Directly working with the farmer, we select the perfect strength of pure organic matcha that matches the intended pairing ingredient, it being water, vegan non-dairy milk, fruits or baking ingredients."
Reviewed Blends: Latte Matcha Grade, Ceremonial Matcha Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, uplifting, fresh
Container: thick fresh-lock sealed bag/pouches
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: Ceremonial Grade: $24.95/30g or $45.95/60g -- Latte Grade: $30.95/60g
Cost per gram: .83/g or .77/g -- .52/g
Number of times I have purchased it: I have auto-ship set up! (many times)
Bottom line review: I tried the latte variety first and was not expecting much from a "latte grade" but this was off the charts impressive for the price of this matcha. The ceremonial grade was also superb! Top notch. I could not imagine a better matcha. The color was a beautiful, perky spring green. Very impressed with this company and I adore their branding and communication with their customers about the organic farms that they source from. New fave for sure!
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Encha Online Store
Brand 2: DoMatcha
Info: DoMatcha may look familiar to you if you shop at Whole Foods, because it seems to be one of their main matcha brands they carry. DoMatcha comes in both organic and non-organic varieties. This is my go-to matcha when I need to buy one in-store on a grocery shopping trip because I know Whole Foods will always carry it! (may vary by location) DoMatcha has a wide variety of products including matcha to-go packets and even a super high quality "Master's Blend" variety for $50.
Reviewed Blend: DoMatcha Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright and grassy
Container: Tin with an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $29/30g
Cost per gram: $0.96/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 10+
Bottom line review: Love this brand. I have never been disappointed in the quality. I always buy the organic ceremonial variety. Beautiful color and sturdy bright flavor.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: DoMatcha Green Tea, Organic Matcha
Brand 3: Urth Caffe
Info: A popular cafe here in Los Angeles, Urth sells matcha in a variety of grades. I love both the expensive organic variety as well as the less expensive variety (Harayama matcha I think).. Note: when you order a matcha latte at Urth, you by default get the less expensive blend, but you can ask to upgrade to the higher quality variety for an added cost. Highly advised!
Reviewed Blend: Urth blends
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bold, grassy, light bitterness
Container: tins with interior bags
Organic: Yes.
see store for cost
Number of times I have purchased it: 5+
Bottom line review: Love this brand, the matcha is not the best I have ever tried, but very high quality and the brand seems highly dependable. I am excited to splurge on their premium blend at some point.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: in store or matcha gift set online
Brand 4: O-Cha
Info: Direct from Japan matcha! This is not organic, boooo, but quite lovely. The same company does sell an organic matcha that I would love to try in the future. It is only $25 for the same amount so I would guess that the grade is less premium, but I do not know for sure right now.
Reviewed Blend: Super Premium Matcha, Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 4.8
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy, mellow
Container: tins with iner bag and plastic seal tab
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $29.25/30g
Cost per gram: $1/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Fabulous matcha at an excellent price! Not as spring green as the two matchas above (in direct comparison) but very deep dark green with much lightness.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Hibiki-An Matcha
More resources - online stores that are not on Amazon - matcha shipped directly from Japan:
O-Cha
Hibiki-an
Brand 5: American Tea Room
Info: This premium tea store has a variety of matchas and carries the first ceremonial matcha I ever tried. In the black tin. Amazing. I was hooked at first taste and view of that spring green-mazing color! Well, it better be good for $50, right? 🙂 On the website: "Handcrafted almost entirely from gyokuro leaves, this rare, organic matcha has a gorgeous chartreuse color with a profoundly sweet, fresh aroma and a light iodine note."
Reviewed Blend: Ceremonial Organic Premium Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy
Container: tins with interior bags
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $50/30g
Cost per gram: $1.67/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 3
Bottom line review: Super lovely. If you really want to try amazing matcha without any risk of poor quality, give this brand a try. They often offer sales and coupons if you join their email list.
Would I buy it again? Yes. And if you ever need to buy me a gift, this will surely suffice 🙂
Buy it: ATR
Brand 6: Taste of Kyoto
Info: Taste of Kyoto is another organic brand that I have love. It offers a variety of matcha products including reserve and culinary. I have tried both and will review both below.
Reviewed Blend: Taste of Kyoto Reserve Organic Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright and grassy
Container: Tin with an inner bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $42/60g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: Excellent high quality matcha at a premium price. I wish they had a smaller size than 60g, but the cost per gram is great for this quality.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: TASTE OF KYOTO Matcha Green Tea, Reserve
Reviewed Blend: Taste of Kyoto Culinary Organic Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 3.5
Taste: 4
Tasting notes: bright, mild
Container: Tin with an inner bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $26/60g
Cost per gram: $0.43/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: This is probably my favorite "culinary" variety of matcha. Normally you think the quality will greatly suffer with a culinary blend, but this brand really stands up. Granted it is not as good as the reserve variety, but for the price, it far exceeds my expectations.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Organic Ceremonial Matcha 30 Grams
Brand 7: Dr. Mercola
Info: We all know of Dr. Mercola, health guru and wellness authority, yes? Well now he has a matcha. I am certain he has slapped his label on a high quality matcha supplier, but he found a good one!
Reviewed Blend: Dr. Mercola's Royal Matcha - see it on DrMercola.com
Origin: Japan
Color: 4.9
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright, grassy
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $28/30g
Cost per gram: $0.93/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: High quality matcha, if you are a Mercola online store shopper or Mercola fan, give this one a try.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Royal Matcha Green Tea (Organic)
Brand 8: Pure Matcha
Info: Pure Matcha is a fun brand because they offer high quality organic matcha but they also have a black tea powder and a red tea powder.
Reviewed Blend: Pure Matcha Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 4.9
Tasting notes: bright, light, grassy
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $21/30g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: Great, dependable high quality matcha.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Pure Matcha, Premium Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Brand 9: Eden
Info: Eden is a popular and expansive brand of organic products. Eden is a favorite of mine for everything from canned lentils to tamari. Eden only carries one matcha, but it is quite impressive, not to my surprise.
Reviewed Blend: Eden Organic Stone Ground Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright and grassy with calm flavor
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can, outer box
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $37/30g
Cost per gram: $1.23/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This is a great matcha at a premium price. The quality you expect from Eden products is on display here. Beautiful!
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Eden Organic Matcha Tea, Green Tea Stoned Ground 1 -Ounce Tin
Brand 10: Teavana
Info: Teavana is a well known brand with stores in the United States and beyond. From the brand: "Thoughtfully harvested and handcrafted, our pure, organic Imperial Grade Matcha is made from the highest-quality ingredients available, providing outstanding flavor while promoting feelings of focused vitality."
Reviewed Blend: Teavana Matcha Japanese Green Tea, 40g
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 4.9
Tasting notes: rich flavor and sweet grassiness
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can, screw on/off lid
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $45/80g or $25/40g
Cost per gram: $0.56-0.62/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Great product and very good price - high availability due to store locations where - you do not have to pay shipping if you buy in person. I was not expecting this high quality with this price, but Teavana succeeds!
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: 80g container -- 40g container
Bonus Added Brands: (Updates to post)
Brand A: My Matcha Life
Info: This amazing brand was founded on the principles of the matcha tea drinking ceremony: harmony, purity, respect and tranquility. Love that! The founder has dedicated much time and research and knowledge into this new brand. She has traveled extensively throughout Japan and North America, in the name of matcha.
Reviewed Blend: Tea Lovers' Organic Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright, sweetly grassy, smooth
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $29.99/30g
Cost per gram: $1/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1, donated from the brand
Bottom line review: Gorgeous quality matcha from an amazing, passionate company. New brand to try and love. The variety I tried was super high quality and gives you everything you could want from an organic/Japan origin top grade matcha. The pricing is competitive, but there are a few brands with lower prices. Bonus: great website with helpful matcha info.
Buy it: My Matcha Life
---- End of my top shelf list picks - Below brands may not be organic and from Japan ----
Brand 10: Aiya
Info: Aiya is a brand I recently discovered. They have high quality matchas, and carry a variety of blends. They offer a ceremonial matcha (reviewed) as well as a premium blend which is even more expensive at about $50 for 30g, so I imagine it is amazing. They also offer a less expensive cooking grade blend. Their online store sells a variety of matcha accesories too.
Reviewed Blend: Aiya Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 4
Taste: 4
Tasting notes: bold, grassy, light bitterness
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $24/30g
Cost per gram: $0.80/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Give it a try! Great color and flavor. A sturdy high quality matcha.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Organic Ceremonial Matcha 30 Grams
Brand 11: Hibiki-An
Info: Direct from Japan matcha. This is sadly not organic, but quite lovely. The same company does sell an organic matcha that I would love to try in the future. It is only $25 for the same amount so I would guess that the grade is less premium, but I do not know for sure right now.
Reviewed Blend: Super Premium Matcha, Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy
Container: tins with pull tabs, no bags
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $38/40g
Cost per gram: $1.05/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: Beautiful green tea at an excellent price! If you do not mind not having your matcha organic, this is a great find.
Would I buy it again? No. I would however, try the organic version which is only $25/40g... interested to try that next!
Buy it: Hibiki-An Matcha
Brand 12: Doctor King
Info: Doctor King calls its matcha the "finest organic ceremonial matcha" and lists a variety of health claims in their marketing.
Reviewed Blend: Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 3.5
Taste: 3.5
Tasting notes: muted, a bit grassy, mild bitterness, not very bold
Container: plastic container with an interior silver bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $21/30g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: I had high hopes for this brand but... The UK website is a bit unimpressive with its excessive health claims. This matcha had really great color, but the flavor was not matching the color, which was odd. I am not a fan of the plastic packaging and sloppy labeling either.
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: DOCTOR KING Ceremonial Organic Japanese Matcha Green Tea 
Brand 13: NourishTea
Info: NourishTea is an impressive brand that carries a wide variety of teas. They only offer one matcha variety.
Reviewed Blend: Organic Happy Matcha (no type specified)
Origin: Japan
Color: 2
Taste: 2
Tasting notes: muddy flavor
Container: Tin with an interior bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $23/80g
Cost per gram: $0.29/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: I love this brand and I know for a act that their other teas are impressive - I have tried a few loose tea blends - but this matcha just doesn't measure up. I'm glad they tried to reach out to matcha fans, but maybe they should find a new supplier and up the price if need be to ensure quality.
Would I buy it again? No way
Buy it: Nourishtea happy matcha
Brand 14: Maeda-En
Info: This is another matcha brand you may spot at Whole Foods. It is actually the second brand I tried. I wanted to save a few bucks so I purchased the "cheapest" brand at Whole Foods. It (the Skiki variety) was not impressive. However, for this review, I bought the ceremonial blend and was very impressed. But it is not organic.
Reviewed Blend: Maeda-En Ceremonial Quality Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: creamy and bright, grassy
Container: Tin with an inner bag, plastic lid
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $20/28g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This is such a great ceremonial matcha, however it does not appear from the labeling or website to be organic, which is a huge bummer and deal-breaker for me purchasing it again. However, if you do not mind non-organic, give this a try. Just be SURE to buy the ceremonial quality variety. I have only seen the lesser quality variety at my local Whole Foods stores, so buying online is advised.
Would I buy it again? No because it is not organic.
Buy it: Maeda-En Mtcha Cermonial Quality
Brand 15: Tealux
Info: Tealux is a brand that carries a wide variety of teas and a wide variety of matchas. I clearly bought a lower grade matcha from Tealux, as their website calls this cooking matcha, so I would be excited to try their ceremonial variety, as I am guessing it will far exceed the one I tested here.
Reviewed Blend: Tealux Uji Premium Organic Matcha (not the ceremonial blend)
Origin: Japan
Color: 3
Taste: 3
Tasting notes: muddled, bitter
Container: opaque bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $23/113g
Cost per gram: $0.20/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This is cooking matcha for sure, I would never advise drinking this specific variety. For use in baking, yes. The Tealux brand is obviously an authority on tea, so I am anxious to try the higher quality version.
Would I buy it again? No (But a the reserve variety is worth trying)
Buy it: Premium Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder Uji Kyoto Japan By Tealux (4oz)
*Tealux fans, see the links below this post to buy the ceremonial blend version, which is probably much higher in quality..
Brand 16: Matcha Source
Info: This premium matcha is ceremony grade and comes at a premium price. But it is worth it!
Reviewed Blend: Kama Matcha, Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy
Container: tins with pull tabs, no bags
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $48/30g
Cost per gram: $1.60/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Super lovely. I was all ready to RAVE about the color and flavor of this matcha but then noticed that it is not organic. At this price, I would've expected it to be!
Would I buy it again? No. At this price I can find an organic brand, although if you are not concerned about organic, this is a lovely matcha.
Buy it: Kama Matcha 
-----
Matcha From China -- my personal view: not advised to buy
Brand 17: Kiss Me Organics
Info: Kiss Me Organics appears to only sell one variety of matcha: culinary grade. It is a bulk bag. I was eager to try this brand in hopes that it would be a good value opportunity. This is a Chinese-origin matcha.
Reviewed Blend: Organic Matcha, Culinary Grade
Origin: China
Color: 3
Taste: 2.5
Tasting notes: light grassiness, mellow yet somewhat bright
Container: metallic opaque bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $25/113g
Cost per gram: $0.22/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: I find it a bit misleading that the website does not clearly state that this matcha is from China. You have to read the fine print on the package to find that info. For a culinary matcha, this product was average. However, this was the best China-origin matcha that I reviewed in my selection.
Would I buy it again? Maybe for a bulk matcha baking project
Buy it: Matcha Green Tea Powder - ORGANIC 
Brand 18: Matcha DNA
Info: This is an organic brand from China with individual matcha packets. I was super excited about trying a per-packet brand, but sadly, this brand did not deliver.
Reviewed Blend: MatchaDNA Organic Matcha
Origin: China
Color: 1.5
Taste: 1.6
Tasting notes: muddy, bland
Container: opaque bag with individual packets
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $24/85g
Cost per gram: $0.28/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This was not good matcha.
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: MatchaDNA Certified Organic Matcha Tea 
Brand 19: Swanson
Info: Swanson is an online store with a variety of products like vitamins and suplements. This matcha says it is "Dr. Bob" approved because it refers to Dr. Robert DeMaria, an author of Dr. Bob's Guide to Optimal Health. The brand looks sound and trustworthy, however the matcha doesn't speak to that.
Reviewed Blend: Swanson Organic Matcha
Origin: China
Color: 1.9
Taste: 2.3
Tasting notes: bitter, lightly grassy, a bit bland
Container: plastic container with a scooper included
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $18/50g
Cost per gram: $0.36/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: No very impressive.
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: 100% Certified Organic Matcha Green Tea 
Brand 20: EatGreenTea.com
Info: An online store with one variety of matcha from China. They also sell edible green tea leaves
Reviewed Blend: Organic Green Tea Powder
Origin: China
Color: 2.5
Taste: 3
Tasting notes: bitter, a bit grassy
Container: metallic opaque bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $25/100g
Cost per gram: $0.25/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Love this brand, the matcha is not the best I have ever tried, but very high quality and the brand seems highly dependable. I am excited to splurge on their premium blend at some point.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Organic Green Tea Powder
Brand 21: UJIDO
Info: From the brand, "In 1832, a humble tea farmer decided to start a tea business in Uji, Kyoto Japan — where our current Japanese Tea production method was first developed. That tea farmer’s name was Tune-emon Takizo, and we, his family, have continued to produce superior Green Tea every generation since.
In 1952, we opened our retail shop in Uji, Kyoto, Japan and it is still open today. We are so honored to carry on an ancient tradition that is also our family heritage for nearly two centuries after our humble beginnings, we enjoy bringing authentic Matcha tea to the world!"
Reviewed Blend: basic offering
Origin: Japan
Color: 3.5
Taste: 3
Tasting notes: mostly bright and grassy, but slightly bitter
Container: large metallic opaque bag
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $6.50/1oz
Cost per gram: $0.21/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 0 (free sample)
Bottom line review: Good sturdy brand as a good value price, but not organic so I personally wouldn't buy it
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: ujido
--
Bottom line review: Here are matchas I rate highest..
(note: I personally buy organic + ceremonial grades)
Encha, DoMatcha, American Tea Room, Taste of Kyoto (any variety), Aiya, Dr Mercola, Eden, Pure Matcha, Maeda-En, Urth Caffe, Matcha Source Kama Matcha, Hibiki-an, O-Cha,
What brands am I missing? What are your faves? Comments section open.
*Amazon links are either products I mentioned above or products I have tried. The quality varies. Please read full reviews to see which products I personally like best. I have not tried vitalife, but plan to because it gets good feedback..
2016 UPDATE: The BizJournals names matcha as a wellness trend for 2016. I am not surprised! Green tea provides an antioxidant-filled boost to your day without the normal jitters that espresso beverages often bring. The article reads..
"Wellness trend: Matcha everything — You’ve probably seen this powder version of green tea at various coffee and tea places, including Starbucks, a lot recently. It's actually been kicking around in wellness circles since the 90s and again as part of the raw food movement in the aughts.."
Not a sponsored post: When first doing this post, I purchased every single matcha in my survey (no freebies!) so you know I have nothing to gain in calling one brand better than another. In the following months a few brands sent me free samples, and some were added to the reviews.
Disclosure: I provide links to Amazon available products from my review, and I am an Amazon affiliate.
This page will occasionally be updated as more matchas are tasted.
Andreliza Pierre says
Hello, I love this detailed analysis you have done with Matcha. It's been very educational. By any chance would you be doing the same for Moringa? I would love to read that article.
Andreliza Pierre says
Hello, I love this detailed analysis you have done with Matcha. It's been very educational. By any chance would you be doing the same for Moringa? I would love to read that article.
vegan_markg says
You're missing my favorite brand. Living Qi matcha. It is my favorite matcha and the tea is grown far away from that big, nuclear meltdown in Japan. It's not super expensive and they farmer tells you on the front page what makes their matcha so special.
https://living-qi.com/
Vicki Stankewitz says
Thank you for the extensive information rating on the vast variety of brands and grades of matcha powder. Very informative but a little overwhelming. I am in the market searching for a high quality matcha and wanting to include it in my daily lifestyle, but I live on a very limited monthly income and I question myself if I can afford to keep this regimen up as I already purchase and include other things in my daily diet like organic produce and other organic products; plant-based protein powders, bone broth, digestive enzymes, various probiotic and prebiotic products, essential oils, chemical free and natural health and beauty products etc, and it sure does get expensive. Thank god that I have Amazon Prime for free shipping.
Brenda says
Thank you, very interesting . Today i bought my first little tin of matcha green tea at booster juice, made a cup of hot tea tonight, sat down and than decided to read about it. Quickly I dumped it out, realizing it's not a bed time drink, I will try it tomorrow morning instead of coffee , hopping it doesn't cause dirrhea ( side effect??)
Kathy Patalsky says
Hi Brenda, no I have never experienced ANY gastrointestinal issues with matcha. However if you are caffeine sensitive I would take it slow with the amount you start with. Start with 1/2 tsp and move up from there.
I drink matcha around 10am and sometimes a second mug around 2-3 (only on very busy days or when I am just craving it) best of luck! Hope u love it!!
Makayla B says
Wow! The most extensive matcha post I have ever seen. Thank you for this. I haven't really understood what the fuss was all about, but then again I've never read something so specific. I find matcha powders pretty expensive, but the benefits probably outweigh the cost. You've helped me with an idea for a new blog post.
eZeelo says
Its very amazing blog this is information is very great thanks for sharing this post..
Parick Cole says
tradition brand from Taiwan new to matcha is this brand any good , bright green color taste pretty good not expensive bought on ebay
Neha Saini says
Matcha green teas is great. Best macha ever, and being that I don't have a traders Joe near me. This is the next best thing.
Lyn says
Hello can you add honey for sweetness?
MatchaTeaZen says
Awesome, one of the best and most detailed matcha reviews I've seen. I've also emailed you and look forward to your reply.
glittergirl1970 says
Thank you for all the info!!! And for being upfront endorsement and affiliations. Your review seems so fair and unbiased! I can't wait to pick one of these and try it!
Susie says
This is a great review of matchas! Have you considered Rishi?
Jennifer says
hi guys
i tried doctor king's finest ceremonial grade organic japanese matcha last month
have to say it was awesome
great matcha in lovely packaging
100% recommend it!
i got my from amazon
i'm going to make some now 🙂
have a nice day 🙂
Jack Fallon says
Hi Kathy, we produce a 100% pure premium grade matcha powder we would love for you to test out. We also have a matcha oatmeal in several flavors that I think you might enjoy. If you would be open to trying some free samples please reach out to me! [email protected]
Thanks,
Jack
Jm says
Hello Kathy, may I ask if there's a way for us to contact or email you directly? We would love your review on our matcha product.
Audra says
Hi. I have never tried matcha but I am interested in using it in my smoothies. I make smoothies in a blender that is not high speed. One day I will get a high performance blender but I can't decide between a vitamix or blendtec. My question is about the grade of the matcha. You said that you rarely drink the tea in hot form and that you like to drink it in smoothies. Do you put ceremony or culinary in the smoothies or do you buy both? I am not planing on cooking with it. I want to use in smoothies and maybe drink the hot form once in a while. I have not decided the brand either. Thanks for your help.
Mariana says
Hi Audra,
I just read your post and since I have been a matcha lover for a long time now, I think I can provide you with an answer. It really is a great idea to start including matcha on your smoothies. Just make sure to put the right amount in them since it also contains a certain level of caffeine. In terms of you culinary vs. ceremonial grade question, I feel very confident saying that it really doesn't matter. They are both made out of the same ingredient: raw matcha leaves. The difference is that the ceremonial grade ones are made up of the best matcha leaves available in the farm, whereas the culinary grade matcha isn't so selective. This is why the ceremonial grade is a little more expensive. People usually buy the ceremonial grade when they will drink pure matcha. Therefore, since you are mixing it in your smoothies, I would recommend the culinary grade one (it will also be a little less expensive)....Concerning brands, there are a great variety of them out there. Just remember that matcha tea is made out of RAW leaves, which means that if the farm uses pesticides, you will also be consuming those. So make sure that you read well the tags on the packaging. Usually the company will highlight the fact that they don't use pesticides (which is very rare). I have been looking into several brands now, and there is a new one that has become my all time favorite. Its called Velvetea and you can find it on amazon. Doesn't matter which grade you buy, both products have an outstanding quality. Hope this helps and good luck!
Ritsuo says
Hi Audra,
My name is Ritsuo from Grace & Green.
In this case, you should not choose culinary grade matcha. If you are interested in hot matcha tea, ceremonial grade is much better but many of ceremonial grade matcha outside Japan are low grade ones.
So, it is better idea to try famous matcha brand in Japan. Many of matcha second sellers do not tell you who is their real matcha production company in Japan. So you might be drinking not popular matcha (less expensive matcha) in Japan. I hope this helps you!
Petit Musaraña says
Hi, thanks for your Matcha Bibble!!
Do you knou Kaoru Organic Matcha?
Have a nice day
Deborah says
Hi.
I have been drinking matcha tea for years and would like to think I can call myself a matcha connoisseur.
I just finished my own taste test of 5 brands of ceremonial grade Japanese organic matcha. I want to share the results of my taste test with everybody.
I prepared matcha tea in the traditional way using one gram of matcha and the same amount of hot (not boiling) water.
Here are the results:
1st = Doctor King - finest ceremonial grade
2nd = Midori Spring - ceremonial grade
3rd = Kiss Me Organics - ceremonial grade
4th = Kenko - ceremonial grade
5th = Aiya - ceremonial grade
The color of Doctor King was clearly the best (10/10). Kenko and Aiya were the worst.
The taste of Doctor king was the best - no bitterness at all!
I want to post some pics. How do I do that?
🙂
Kelvin says
would love it if you checked out our ZENTIFOOD matcha also sold on Amazon. Super green and freshly made in small batches from Kyushu and processed the traditional UJI way in our factory in Japan (Uji)
swagyolopenguin says
Hi, so i moved to the states from Japan, so I really want to buy some decent matcha. Right now I am considering taste of kyoto reserve, midori spring organic cermonial, and pure matcha organic ceremonial. Have you drank all 3 of these? How would you compare them?
Kathy Patalsky says
Taste of Kyoto reserve I have tried and love. Pure I think was pretty good but TOK I think is better. But really my fave is absolutely Organic ENCHA Matcha. It is awesome with such vibrant color and pure flavor. And reasonably priced for its quality .... I rave about it. This why I said yes to being an ENCHA ambassador. So ya, ENCHA, Taste of Kyoto Reserve and also organic DoMatcha ceremonial are all great choices. Hope that helps!
Tiffany says
Definitely going to use this list for some different variety's, Right now I only drink DoMatcha, but they are very pricey, but on the top side they are super fresh and taste exactly like what I use to get in Japan.
Eva says
Hey Kathy, This Is Going To Be My First Time Purchasing Matcha powder, And Your Reviews Were Extremely Helpful, And Showed Me The Matcha I Was About To Purchase Was Not A Good Choice, But I Still Have A Few Questions...
1. Is The Ceremonial Brand The Best For Making Smoothies?
2. Which Brand In Your Opinion Is The Best For Making Smoothies?
Thx For Your Reviews, Plz Get Back To Me As Soon As Possible!
Jm says
Hi eva, I would like you to try our ceremonial grade or premium grade matcha for your smoothies. Our matcha is both organic and high quality direct from our Uji Kyoto producers. (Mix N' Matcha)
Peter Dousek says
Hey Kathy. How come Kenko Tea - Matcha Tea isn't on your list. I understand they are one of the biggest in Aus and offer both organic and non organic high quality premium grade matcha from kyoto Japan. Have you done any reviews on their matcha? Are they in your top shelf matches? they also offer wholesale prices when you spend $300 or more, which equates to massive discounts significantly cheaper then majority of the others comparing to purchasing the same quantity.
David says
What is the price per 1g when you spend $300 plus?
At present its 1.33 AUD per 1g when you buy 30g tin box of ceremonial premium matcha which
isn't cheap
Mildred Jovanovich says
I am new to matcha tea , so thank you for this great review.
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!! Be sure to get my matcha guide for tons of tips and recipes.
Kim Bryant says
Have you ever tried Octavia Tea. My husband and I drink the organic Zen Super Green. We have read that it was recommended for fighting cancer cells. The Octavia Tea does not look exactly like a powder. It looks like little sprigs. Have you seen any matcha teas that aren't completely crushed to a powder? We brew it in a coffee pot and drink the brewed tea. We also put the brewed tea in our smoothies.
Are you familiar at all with Octavia's Matcha teas?
Thanks
Terri King says
Thanks for this wonderful information. As one who is new to the "matcha green tea" scene, this was very informative. Purchased my tea based on your reviews.
Kathy Patalsky says
So glad I could assist you Terri! Hope you love your matcha.
Lafayette says
Astounding review, so very helpful especially the visual grades of the matcha and your reviews/ratings for each product, thank you so much!
Helena says
Wow. I'm disappointed that after I pointed out the inaccuracy of one of your statements, you not only removed my comment (according to Disqus) but also neglected to correct the statement in question. If people are not even allowed to point out inaccuracies in your writing without being silenced by you, how are we supposed to trust your opinion? If you correct your article or at least acknowledge that you removed my comment I'll gladly retract my statements but until then, respectfully I must say I do not support your blogging practices. I sincerely hope you adopt a more ethical way of dealing with dissent or errors in your writing. Wishing you well.
Gurmukh says
Hi,
I'm looking for a good quality matcha in the UK, do you have any recommendations?
Ricki says
Hi Kathy,
I just heard about Genki matcha and wondered if you've tried it (and what you think if so)? (And I agree this is an awesome post!). 🙂
Rad | The Snobby Foodie says
OMG- this is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for such a thorough review!
Jess Lilleh says
Got Matcha and Harney & Sons matcha reviews please!
Isaiah Davis says
I would like your opinion on imaccha kazuma if you don't mind
Beth Halper says
Totally agree with your review on Nourish Tea's Matcha. I'd say it's pretty pore. Now prior to buying it I'd only used DO Matcha therefore my experience is limited. However it killed me to have spent so $25 bucks on something that didn't give me that matcha focus I need.
Lynn Lukmantara says
Hello, have you tried the organic hibiki-an matcha grade? Let me know your review!
Chris says
Hi Kathy,
I'd love for you to add our matcha to this review if you'd be so kind.
Please email me at [email protected] and I will arrange a sample to be sent.
Melissa says
Hi Kathy! I would like to thank you so much for your extensive research! After reading your review, I purchased my first matcha from Encha. I chatted with the customer service team and raved about how amazing your review is! I am completely new to matcha so I was looking for someone, just like you, who would give me a review of a few different brands. I never thought I would find a comparison of 12, with a checklist no doubt! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am officially a subscriber of your blog!
Katrina says
Hello, Thank you for your awesome review and insight. Do you know anything about the Midori brand, ceremonial grade on Amazon?
Kathy Patalsky says
I do not, but ceremonial grades are always a good sign since that title describes the highest quality matcha
Sol Aldrete says
Thank you so much for your review. I just ordered my first pack of Encha
matcha and I can't believe what a difference it makes to get a good
matcha tea!. It is so good on it's own, no bitterness or aftertaste 🙂
JimboShopper says
Anyone familiar with SerendipiTea Organic Matcha, Culinary Grade? I'm looking at it because it's cheaper than DoMatcha 2nd Harvest and from the same region as DoMatcha.
JimboShopper says
In the Q&A section on their Amazon page, the rep says:
"In October 2014, the home of our Organic Matcha - both Culinary and
Ceremonial - was relocated to Shizuoka, Japan, within a tea region
recognized by the United Nations as a Globally Important Agricultural
Heritage System."
Not familiar enough with matcha to know how close this area is to the "bad" Japanese regions for growing tea.
JimboShopper says
Since Kiss Me Organics has moved its facilities to Japan, do you have a different opinion of their matcha?
Kathy Patalsky says
I tried locating that information on their website and Amazon page and did not see it. I could not find a mention of Japan sourcing and processing.
yuletak says
Apparently, ground tea was started in China and introduced to Japan in the 1100's, though it lost interest in China sometime later. However, i would be way off purchasing any food products coming from China these days due to suspect quality control.
Vigomatcha Tea says
Trying different brands is good. Our vigomatcha is tested for heavy metals residues to confirm its good value that was expected after drinking it.
Jenna Kinzie says
Thank you for this!!! Just ordered the Encha food-grade green tea. I plan on putting it in smoothies - just wondering if the ceremonial-grade/latte-grade and food-grade have different nutritional values. Is food-grade "not as good?" or just have a different taste? Just wondering because of the price difference. I didn't see anything on the site about different qualities nutrition-wise, just taste-wise. Anyway, this post helped a ton. (Esp. seeing the color comparisons! Since the bright green color is such a good sign of quality!) Thanks again!
Integrative Physical Therapy says
Great post! I was searching amazon and trying to figure out which matcha to buy and I came across your blog! I'm so thankful as you did amazing research! Must have been a lot of time but so worth it. You are helping a lot of us out there!! I'm going to try the Encha! Thanks so much!!
Hearty Thought says
That's a great in-depth review!! Love the illustrations! We published a "Iced Matcha Latte" recipe on our website and redirected our readers to your review and buying guide 🙂
Sophia Sweat says
What about KENKO matcha? Is it good quality?
Pam Bashian Tewes says
Thank you so much! This post was the most thorough on matcha I have read anywhere! I know its good for you, but didn't know the first thing about it. You really are my matcha hero! I am going to order some and then search your recipes for exactly what to do with it 🙂 Of course, the green smoothie will be the first thing I try. Thank you!
Cheryl Ann Kensak Wankmueller says
Thank you for this, matcha was such a mystery. Thanks for taking all the time, I really do appreciate it. Keep it updated, I will come back and visit.
Laura Simonson says
Hi Kathy! Great review. I'm a long time matcha lover (9 years) and was originally introduced to it by Calli O'Brien here in Vancouver, BC., who developed the branding, marketing and distribution for DoMatcha. She is now considered a North American matcha expert and has now developed her own brand called, My Matcha Life (www.mymatchalife). I can say with all of my matcha loving heart, it is deliciously amazing. If you plan to do an update of your review, I recommend her and her brand without question. Available online and in many areas of California now too. Laura 🙂 (Founder of VEGAN Vancouver and INDOGO Canine Nutrition - plant-based, researched foods for dogs)
Ricki says
I'd agree--My Matcha Life is awesome!
GreenDream says
I'm a big fan of Matcha. Your review doesn't include Tea Zenji Matcha from Uji or Republic of Tea Matcha. That would be nice. I hope to grow my own leaves as the price is quite high for premium. Thank you for the research!
AvocadoPesto says
Funny enough got a call from my parents today asking if I knew anything about matcha and what brand they should buy. I remembered out of the corner of my eye seeing this post in your sidebar so I knew right where to go to give them a proper list of recommendations! Sending this post over to them now so they can make their first matcha purchase!
Kathy Patalsky says
That is awesome! Glad to help!
arteest103 says
I emailed the folks at Matcha Source to ask if the Kama is organic and was told that in Japan, the standard for this matcha is so high that it is assumed to be organic...something about the grading system in Japan.
Thanks for all your hard(?) work--it was very helpful.
Mafer HK says
do you know the excatly types of existing matchas and which are the best suppliers in japan
Tracy says
I started drinking Encha every day because of this post! Thanks so much for making it easy to find a quality brand. A couple quick questions:
(1) Do you know how it is that matcha caffeine is slow-release and less irritating than coffee caffeine? I'm really happy with not being jittery anymore from coffee! Just curious about the physiology.
(2) Have you tried the matchas from NYC? There are a couple specialty places that get direct from farms in Japan. MatchaBar is in Brooklyn (had it last week and it was really good) and Chalait is in West Village.
xoxo
Kathy Patalsky says
Teavana? Yes! I added it on this page.
Tao Tea Leaf says
Hi Kathy, This is Tao WU from Tao Tea Leaf, i would like send you some of our Japanese Matcha for your to review, if you like to review our Matcha, could you please send your address to [email protected], Thank you. All the best, i enjoy read your blogs, Tao
Martin Lindeskog says
Kathy,
Great post! I found your blog, searching on "matcha latte recipe".
Have you tested Unicity's Matcha products (Chi-oka ceremonial grade, Energy and Focus)? Full disclosure: I am an independent distributor. I have sent you an email with more information.
Heather says
Thank you so much for all the great info! I am just now trying green tea (matcha) and found some a few weeks ago at a local health food store. The Republic of Tea brand is a premium Japanese powder made from tencha leaves (guessing there are different leaf types) I purchased for $18/43g that looks less bright than your brighter ones pictured but not quite as muddy as the muddier looking ones. I added it to a Mango Spinach + Turmeric Smoothie and it was...ok. I might have this a couple times a month. Nothing to get excited about. So once this stuff is gone I will def order some Encha brand! Thanks again for giving such great direction on this!
Kathy Patalsky says
awesome! I truly hope you find a matcha you LOVE! That is a MUST when using matcha as a daily healthy habit. And yes I use Encha almost every day and it always tastes amazing. So happy to be an ambassador for a company I adore!
Jose Berrios says
Hello everyone, I almost traveled to Japan this past summer, but I didn't :(. I was wondering if once you are there, you could find organic high quality matcha at better prices? Can you buy it at grocery stores or specialties stores? O maybe you may need to travel to the farms and buy directly from the farmers. Anyone knows?
G Grewal says
Thank you for this extensive review - it's very helpful and I find myself coming back to this page every couple months. I've tried Encha (Ceremonial 1st Harvest, Latte-grade 1st Harvest, Culinary 2nd Harvest), DoMatcha (2nd Harvest), DavidsTea (Matcha Matsu) and I have to say that Encha Ceremonial & Latte-grade are my favorite based both on taste and value. It's very smooth and produces the nicest froth after whisking. Their staff is very friendly as well. Thanks for helping me find them
Brasilmagic says
How is Rishi? I bought it at MOM's Organic Market. $17 for 20 grams. How do you rate Rishi?
daniellejudith says
I didn't see a tevana rating.
Kathy Patalsky says
Just ordered some to try since a few people have requested that! Thank you for the reminder
daniellejudith says
I enjoyed your greentea reading. I bought greentea from a health store after seeing your reviews. It was cheaper and way more ounces than teavana but the color was not bright like teavana.
daniellejudith says
Welllll have you tried it yet?
daniellejudith says
Have you tried it yet?
Christine says
Appreciated what you shared here!
One thing to point out, like many things, tea is one among them - tea / tea ceremony and matcha were ALL originated from CHinese temples.
With this, Japan is NOT where matcha was born. BUT, I agree that they have perfected the process from leaf to container.
Kathy Patalsky says
Yes I actually just re-read this yesterday and noticed I needed to edit that for accuracy.
Antoine Cameron says
Hi Can I send you a free coupon to try our brand. It is very high-quality organic from japan. I Eat Real Food is the brand. We are on amazon. We sell 50 grams of real ceremonial grade for 29.95. If you like our brand we can work out a deal for your audience. 🙂
MimiDCap says
I would be interested in a coupon to try your brand.
Gloria says
Thanks for all the info! That was great! I must say though I just read an article about how green teas can have levels of lead in them. Especially if grown in China. I noted you specifically drink Japan grown matcha, however, would love it if these companies tested their products for lead. This study listed a couple of " American " companies like Lipton and Bigelow were among some of the teas that had levels of lead in their green teas. The study also said that the tea bags contained most of the lead and so if it was brewed with a tea bag to sift out the lead it was fairly safe. However, with matcha you are consuming the entire product (leaf). Wondering if anyone has any thoughts/info on this?
Kathy Patalsky says
I have info from my fave brand Encha - they contain only 1/10th of the FDA limit for lead content. Which is obviously a very desirable number. I am hoping other brands can share their amounts as well.
Bella says
YAY! Enhca is the best matcha from my experience as well! Thank you for all of the hard work you put into this post. I think a lot of people will appreciate what you have shared here!
Katie says
Have you tried Enzo? They're a fairly new brand and organic.
nowa monster says
Have you tried takaokaya green breeze?
Beth Butler Barnes says
thank you so much this helped me decide on which brand to buy 🙂
Chelsie DiPaolo says
I normally get the DoMatcha ceremonial grade but am considering trying the 2nd harvest variety because it's still organic but a little less expensive - have you tried it? Encha is sold out of their latte grade...
Hillary Glase Allion says
I just ordered my Encha!! Thank you so much for all of your research and wonderful recipes!
Lynn says
All I can sy is Thank you so much for the research!
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you for saying that!
Tania says
After extensive search I found this review thank you for all the legwork. I purchased Encha latte grade and felt it was OK. Basically I only drank it for the health benefits. Considering ordering ceremonial grade next. Its weird after my pack ran out I figured I would never order again but I find myself missing my not so pleasant drink?? My concern now after revisiting is the concern about radiation seems there is a lot of controversy surrounding this topic.
MatchaManiac says
Matcha fan here! Encha is one of the better matchas. For the flavor/price ratio, it is definitely one of the best. For pure flavor, almost impossible to beat Hekisui from American Tea Room. However, that matchais $165!!
Larry says
Totally agree. Hekisui is one of the best matcha's, but realistically not many people can shell out $165 for matcha on a consistent basis (I buy it as a birthday present to myself!).
For the flavor/price "sweet spot" I find DoMatcha and Encha to be the best. These are the two brands I buy most often.
Princess says
Thank you so much Kathy. Could I ask which is your personal favorite, although you have listed several? I noticed some of the best selling and best reviewed are culinary matcha, and you have to hunt for the origin as you mentioned and sometimes you have to hunt for the size.
Kiss Me was the best-seller with high reviews, but then I read where one reviewer mentioned that she was providing this, "honest," review in return for discounted merchandise, so I assume many of the reviews were like this. Some of these brands may not be aware it is illegal to make unproven medical claims on the package (they can legally do it elsewhere) such as, "fat-burning."
Kathy Patalsky says
Encha is my favorite, and I am happily a brand ambassador for them now. Best price/quality I have found! Before I found Encha I bought DoMatcha most often due to availability at most stores near me and super high quality. Hope that helps!
Princess says
Thanks. I already ordered Eden, but it looks like this is a very good brand too. Amazon does not have Encha, and I suppose I didn't choose DoMatcha, even though it had a lot of good reviews, it had a number of bad ones. I will try the others next time 🙂
ML says
Yes thank you , I have been consuming large quantities of green tea matcha for 5 years. However the place in my town where I would get it sky rocketed the price. It is no longer in my reach $. I am looking for the best price in bulk. Can anyone recommend a location to get a choice of varying qualities in bulk. Thank you. Matcha Lover
CulturEatz says
Amazing post, fell on this through pinterest. I bought one low grade and got one low to as a review product. I was only meh about them. Now I know what to really look for!
Lonni M says
Kathy Have you tried Teavana matcha? I am new to matcha and have only tried 2 varieteies, this one seems pretty good but i dont have much to compare.I bought a small tin of it 1.4oz/40g for about $25 so on the lower side of the price range. I would love to know your thoughts if you have tried it. I too have switched from coffee to matcha and would love to know if i could be drinking a better cup even if the cost is a bit more. Looking forwartd to your reply!
Lonni
David Oland says
if you got it on clearance like I did, it is likely older. Mine tastes bitter, it has a grittiness, there is stuff leftover in the bowl. I gotta add sugar and milk to just get it down. Is like medicine. I go to local stores for bulk to take a few scoops at a time of a brand that I forget the name of this minute!
They had some more spendy I think by Republic of Tea, or Tao of Tea, but it was a bit bitter.
WIN-WIN FOOD says
Love this extensive matcha guide Kathy! Thank you so much! Just linked to it within my matcha chia pudding post - I'm sure my readers will love it too 🙂
Adoring Family . says
Thank you for all of the time, money and effort that went into this review. Valuable, informative and much appreciated. I purchased one from the Amazon links above.
nexusseeking says
Wow!! Take a bow, you've just given newbie Matcha converts a goldmine! What a comprehensive, informative & incredibly helpful analysis you've shared here! I appreciate that you purchased all these yourself and maintained such keen observations for every sampling. I wish every time I Googled ""Best____", I found such in-depth thoughtful advice as this! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! Or better, Arigato!
sun trigg says
Hi, I love Matcha tea from Lalani Co from UK. To me their ceremonial matcha tea is the best after trying lots of other matcha tea. Sun
Rach says
Great guide!
However, I have to point out one particularly strange typo. "Sort've" ????? I'm assuming you meant "sort of," hahaha it's funny because people always mistake "could have" or "could've" and use "could of" but this is the first time I've seen it the other way around.
Nuclear Wessell says
This is a great resource. Thanks for taking the time to share all of this. I don't know if my matcha palette is unrefined or what, but I found that the $11 Kiri no Mori from O-Cha is quite tasty. Have you tried that one?
DB says
I drank a fair amount of various traditionally made Japanese matchas for over a decade. Was in a quandary after Fukushima. Solution: For $30 you can buy a matcha grinder to hand mill any organic, non-nuked green tea of your choice--Dragon Well works. The big plus is the freshness: like any broken down vegetable matter ground tea loses flavor quickly. Of course, it's not the same as premium Uji gyokoro but then I won't be glowing in the dark (I know, I know the Japanese gov't never, ever lies).
DB says
If you must have Japanese tea make sure it's grown waaaaay down south.
Vad says
Thank you SO MUCH for this review!! Extremely helpful. I'm fairly new to matcha and have only purchased and made Teavana's brand. I had a matcha latte at a little coffee bar in Northern California eight months ago when I had NO idea what I was actually ordering. Upon my first sip, I thought, "What is this?" and not in a good way, but by the time I finished it, I was enjoying, what I thought then to be the odd flavor. In the last month, I've become a regular drinker of matcha...straight, no latte. Really enjoy it, but I'm now looking to branch out to some even better brands....and BINGO! Found your fantastic review. I have ordered ATR's matcha and can hardly wait for it to arrive. Thank you, again, for the time and energy you put into this review.
Kathy Patalsky says
You are very welcome Vad!
Noblesse says
I was browsing through eBay for matcha powder. By using the "lowest to highest price" option, I was able to narrow down the cheapest matcha. I immediately squinted my eyes at the tag of $2.99 for a POUND. It was ridiculously too good to be true, honestly. Then I scrolled down to find similar prices such as $4.99 for 2lbs, 99¢ for 50g, etc. To my surprise, most of the items listed are originated from China. That's when I thought to myself, "Oh hell no, I'm not about to consume chemical green crap from China." The quantities sold were even more shocking: "More than 10 available - 1,520 sold." It's crazy how people fall victim to these obvious fake products.
Kathy Patalsky says
Yup. And with so much controversy about matcha from China lately is surprises me that people still buy it. Always buy high quality matcha from Japan!
Kathy Patalsky says
Yup, the bad matcha is pretty much undrinkable in my opinion. HUGE difference between low and high quality!
J. R says
Can you comment on Republic of Tea brand Matcha?
pplschmp says
Thank you Thank you! I have been using Unicity Mactha blend, and have been experiencing muscle cramping from it, any thoughts? Has anyone else experienced any side effects. Wondering if it something in the blend perhaps? Going to try pure Matcha next, so this review was super helpful!
Jeni says
Quick question: Although caffeine content varies, do you think it is comparable to other green teas, black teas, or coffee? (I'm excited to try matcha for the first time, but I monitor caffeine closely due to migraines. I drink 1 cup of jasmine green hot tea each am - never coffee - and only have black tea when I'm treating a headache...)
PS: you have a beautiful & well written blog - and your recipes look delish 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
every matcha is different, but I have read that there is around 70mg of caffeine per cup compared to coffee which has 95mg. Of course every coffee and matcha varies. And it also depends how you are using the matcha .. smoothie, latte, classic with just water.. 70mg is for 8 ounces of classic matcha brewed in water. Hope this helps!
Jeni says
Ok, so I ordered Encha cerimonial but got impatient so I picked up cheap bulk at whole foods (they didn't have ANY of your recommended - boo) and was VERY disappointed (I added lots of creamer & sugar, and I always drink tea plain, and basically choked it down since it's good for me). I'm hoping I can still use in smoothies without ruining them but haven't tried it yet. So my Encha came in the mail & I LOVE it. I gobble it up and would definitely have more than 1 cup (if I wasn't limiting caffeine)! I would never have found it without your blog... thanks!!!
Softshoe Louie says
I was curious if you've tried the DavidsTea matcha selections? Grand Cru and Matcha Matsu? I recently tried them and to my surprise I was disappointed. I expected better.
Kathy Patalsky says
I have not tried those! But there are so many amazing brands out there, if you are unimpressed, move on.
Tony Antoniou says
Does anyone know which matcha contains the least amount of fluoride?
Kathy Patalsky says
not sure! Where have you heard about matcha containing that? I am curious now! 🙂
Calli OBrien says
natural fluoride occurs naturally in the soil. from tests I've seen, Japanese ceremonial grades of matcha contain between .018 mg and .3 mg per gram of fluoride. remember its not an chemically altered fluoride that is often found in civic water supplies. thanks for spending the money on testing all those matcha Kathy! it was great to read your review.
Lara says
Taste of Kyoto matcha - just tried, amazing! Wouldn't have known about it without this review. THANK YOU
Ann Rand says
I have tried the Tealux ceremonial organic grade, it was chalky and a bit bitter and doesn't actually dissolve very well
Zoe Brenner says
Have you tried Panatea? How does it rate? I am a matcha person and have similar experience with some real low quality, high hype matcha.
Laura says
Just wondering if you have any opinion on Do Matcha's Second Harvest. It says it is milder in flavor, which I think would be good for me, but curious about the quality. I says it is harvested later in the season.
JoshandCharity says
Thank you so much for the thorough reviews. I have hesitated to purchase matcha previously, but that is all changing. I now have the tools to find the right match(a). I am off to buy one online. Thanks again!
LoveAWhodunnit says
I've been enjoying imogti matchas. They have a gourmet blend that is fabulous, but premium-priced. The love blend and house blend are great everyday matchas and affordable. They have free shipping from the USA so that's who I've been ordering from.
sonia e says
If you were ever looking for a really nice high quality Japanese matcha teavana has a really good one, its the same thing they use at Starbucks and I swear by it. Its the only matcha I'll use and it is usda organic
Kathy M says
Have you tried breakawaymatcha? They have an organic matcha that is wonderful.
Michael says
Kiss Me has a ceremonial grade (organic), Just so you know. First time I tried matcha so have no idea if it is good, great, or not-so-good? The color looks bright green, but without immediate comparison hard to know. We know by now that a color met look, in this case green, bright...until you place it next to a couple of others. It may be the best or it may be the worst. It would be great if you could test it and give your opinion. Thanks, this was very informative.
Jaclyn says
Oh wow! This has been so informative! I have never tried matcha (gasp!) but am eager to start on one of the ones you recommend. I trust your expertise! Thank you again for doing this!
Midmom58 says
Thanks for doing this comparison. Your green smoothie has become a staple and a jumping off point for my daily quick meal. I did purchase a couple of your recommendations and am waiting to try the one from Japan that I bought on line: Hibiki-an. They have a great and informative website. I am saving it for now until I finish the others. I had been using Teavana. It was a reasonable price, beautiful color and mild teaness to the flavor: slightly bitter but not offensive. The smell is clean. It does make things taste fresh to add the matcha.
Tammy_3DifferentDirections says
I just came across this and recently got some KissMe Organics Ceremonial Grade Matcha. They must have added another product to their line since you wrote this article, because the tin says Product of Japan and mine was a "Kermit" green.
disqus_GB8lUuziuG says
This really needs a review of Booster Juice Matcha, such a huge band name kinda surprising it's not on the list already.
Kathy Patalsky says
I would be happy to try it if they contacted me or I found the brand in a local store, to be honest I have never seen it!
iDShadow says
Awesome page. Wish you would/could update with new matcha.
I've tried DoMatcha - have no prior experience to compare it against though.
I have Taste of Kyoto Reserve on the way in like 3 weeks (got it 50% off on Amazon Subscribe & Save).
Been looking at locating Ito En Organic Matcha (seems to be hard to find online except directly from their site and the shipping is a tad bit high).
Anyone know how the Ito En Organic Matcha and Ippodo ones are? Seems a lot of people hold the Ippodo in high regards - both the affordable Sayaka and the more expensive Ummon.
Liz says
Have you ever tried Ryu Mei matcha?
Megan says
I am curious about this too because I just ordered some of this based on a recommendation. It doesn't cost near as much as the matchas in this review so I hope its still delicious!!!
Nicole - Tea for Me Please says
Fantastic post! The quality of matcha available, especially here in the states, varies greatly. I definitely agree with you that Chinese origin matcha just isn't up to snuff. IMOH, it should even really be called matcha. The region where a tea is grown has a major affect on the taste so it's important that it comes from Japan. Two more brands worth checking out are Think Matcha and Mizuba Tea Co.
TheRussianVegan says
Hi there. I just learned about the effects of coffee and I am forever leaving that indulgence of mine behind. I just found out about matcha and being a strict vegan for 3 years now, I am intrigued and want in on the fun! The reason I am writing is first, to thank you for putting in your time and money into giving us this amazing post. Second, I know that green tea in general and its ECGC content has A LOT of benefits for the body, but, I read that a lot of the green teas out there and teas in general contain chemicals and fluoride. Do you know if the company Flavia puts such chemicals into their teas? Thank you so much to you or anyone else that might be able to offer me some knowledge.
tiyamaris says
Thank you for this information 🙂 I'm wondering if you could include the Tealand Matcha?
Jposey says
Thank you for taking the time to test these! I've been hesitatant to purchase Matcha due to the price but your reviews helped me take the plunge.
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!
Nikki says
Thanks so much for this! I have tried only a couple matcha brands, and do matcha is my favorite so far. I just recently bought matcha DNA off Amazon due to the great reviews and good price, and was super unhappy with it. I wasn't sure if it was just me that noticed it was weird tasting, but thanks to your review I know I'm not the only one! I'm not sure what to do with the whole bag now, I guess just use it for smoothies?
Kathy Patalsky says
yup MANY of the matchas on Amazon are pretty horrible, to be bluntly honest. High quality matcha vs average matcha is kinda like $3 wine vs $100 bottle. The cost does note a huge difference in quality. DoMatcha is fabulous. Their ceremonial organic blend always comes through for me! And they are always available at Whole Foods in LA so I know I can buy it in person instead of ordering online, if needed. 🙂
Dominique Meah says
Hello! Thank you very much for the effort you put into this multi brand review. I've been consuming matcha for a couple of years, but the only brand I've purchased was Teavana. I am now branching out to other sources of matcha and your review provided a great start. Your photos are amazing, I love how vibrant and clear the colors are. Again, your effort is much appreciated!
Ellen says
Actually if you do your research you should know that Matcha origin from China not Japan... Get the fact right or your whole article will seem a lot less credible.
keekebug says
The origin of Matcha is Japan. It may behoove you to participate in some kind of research before leaving an ignorant post on someone's factual opinion. That way, you will not look like an uneducated moron who is incapable of doing a simple Google search when you post a reply. It truly amazes me how quickly you made, and posted, your ridiculous comment.
Ellen says
Verbal attack does not make you look smarter, it make you look uneducated so feel free to insult yourself. And if you actually did any research, you would know that Matcha is origin from China. Oh, the history section of matcha in Wikipedia has some basic facts you can read, if you can actually read at all.
keekebug says
Oh....Wikipedia....I see. Well, when you decide to look into reputable history you will understand. But I will explain the best I can without crayon (obviously you need illustrations). Green tea originated in China. The process of Matcha whole leaf shade grown, green tea (tencha) that has been ground and whisked originated in Japan. Try something other than Wikipedia sweetheart. You might learn something
Ellen says
Well Wiki is the "easy" source, I don't really want to find a library book to quote a thousand words. some "Way of tea" Books I read mention how the ceremony of drinking power green tea was bought to Japan. (If you read Japanese there are plenty) Sure the name "Matcha" is Japanese and and they made it popular around the world, but it does not change the fact that product itself was origin in China.
keekebug says
If you weren't willing to do the appropriate research on the topic of Matcha then you should not have made such a nasty comment on this thread. The woman who wrote this used her money, time and energy to give people who enjoy, and understand, Matcha a terrific reference for buying. The origins of Matcha is Japan. No matter how many ways you try and justify your original comment....it is and will always be...wrong. No need to be able to read Japanese to understand that simple fact. Maybe you should just delete your comment and move on.
Ellen says
Facts are facts. You keep saying I am not willing to do research but you haven't provide any source to back up your claim. Maybe you should delete your comment instead?
keekebug says
You must be young, stupid or both. I feel like I have already lost IQ points even having this discussion with you. Think whatever you want. Feel empowered to know more than everyone because you researched Wikipedia. You have more than proven your true ignorance all on your own. Good luck with all of your intelligence. You will need luck since you have absolutely no common sense. I am done with this thread with you. And thank the woman who spent her time and energy writing the article. I will also apologize to her for engaging in a completely ridiculous standoff with you because you are a sad, lonely and nasty individual who felt better insulting her hard work with your foolishness. Enjoy your life my dear.
Ellen says
Wow exactly as I expected. More attack, no proof. Feel free to disgrace yourself, it is entertaining.
Desire Rae Daniel says
Did you even read what the tea company posted for you??? "green tea powder" comes from China, Matcha, which is shade-grown and has a more refined process to creating it, is cultivated in Japan. And really? "I read it on wikipedia". Anyone can post anything on wikipedia. And you said yourself, the tea book you "flipped through" said "tea powder comes from China, matcha comes from Japan". Again, just to get my point across, there is a much more in-depth process to making matcha. Green tea powder may have been the inspiration for matcha, but it's like matcha's neanderthal ancestor. Not only have I done extensive research on my own, but I am a former barista for Teavana, and have had extensive talks with my former manager, who made two trips to Japan, JUST to learn the history and traditions behind matcha. If you're going to try to spit on this woman's work, do your research properly, and perhaps try not to sound like such a nasty individual. I only hope that this sort of behavior was a one-off, and isn't a daily, every-moment occurence in your life, or you may be keeping people close to you that wish to be oceans away, but are too timid to speak out against your behavior, due to knowing that it will be like talking to a prickly brick wall. I hope that someday you realize how your behavior may be alienating you, and you turn towards a more loving, peaceful, and accepting way of life. Perhaps along with learning to do proper research before posting nasty things to hurt someone who never did anything to you.
1digger says
Ellen has made her bed so now she's lying in it playing the part of the fool to a 'T' so it's best not to feed her.
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” ― Mark Twain
AOI Tea Company says
Ellen, it is true that powdered green tea originated in China. However, not all green tea powder is considered “matcha”, which refers to tea leaves that have been carefully shaded prior to harvest that are ground into fine powder form by stone mill. The shading process was developed and refined in Japan while the stone mill grinding process was perfected over the years in Japan, whereas the art of making high quality powder tea faded in China. Sen no Rikyu developed the traditional tea ceremony associated with matcha, making matcha more of a tradition and cultural phenomenon rather than simply for health purposes.
To answer your question, yes, technically speaking the origins of matcha stem from China, just as the very first Japanese people migrated from China and the first non-native Americans came from Europe at one point. However, there is a much richer culture, history and tradition behind matcha that makes it truly Japanese, and it is the refinement of the shading and grinding process that makes it “matcha” and not any other green tea powder.
Bottom line: Green tea powder was developed in China; Matcha was developed in Japan.
Calli OBrien says
its true that matcha originated in China, Very few people know that, so you must be well informed Ellen. For those that don't know. At that time, 8th century ish...it was known as 'whipped tea', they used it medicinally and also put salt and garlic into it! They stopped using whipped tea in China by the 13th century. But for the Matcha (Japanese meaning 'ready to grind tea') we know today, it was developed by the Japanese. Shade growing, an extremely important part of the 'matcha' process, only began in the 16th century. So the matcha we know today is very unlike the whipped tea of China.
Grace says
I can't even tell you how glad I am that you did this! Because of the high cost of matcha, it seemed reasonable to assume I'd never see any large-scale comparative review like this, much less one that wasn't done using companies' "gifts." Thank you! As a longtime vegan, I'm also quite glad to discover a new blog with others' interesting recipe ideas. Good on you!
Dreamy C says
Hi Kathy! I was wondering if Matcha is healthier or Sencha (tea bags) is healthier or Sencha (powder) is healthier. I'm currently drinking Sencha (tea bags) and was wondering which type really is better for health. Many thanks for your input!
Kathy Patalsky says
To be honest I do not know that much about sencha! I will research though as I am curious as well!
tom says
Hi Kathy-
Thanks for doing this review; it was very helpful. I'm a matcha beginner, looking to start with a more modestly priced brand.
You speak favorably of the (Chinese) EatGreenTea brand, and seem lukewarm on Kiss Me Organics, but in the KissMe review you say "However, this was the best China-origin matcha that I reviewed in my selection."
Could you tell me which you would choose between these two?
Thank you!
Nicole says
what do you think of The Tao of Tea matcha?
Alyssa Pederson says
Such an awesome post! Thanks a lot for all of this information. I love Matcha 🙂 Sadly, the Starbucks matcha powder is infused with a ton sugar and flavoring (20g-60g of sugar depending on the size drink!). I used to think "wow, this is way too good!". Considering matcha is pricey, my guess is they blend it with lots of sugar so it lasts longer :-/ Matcha should be one ingredient...ground matcha green tea leaves. None of that artificial stuff is necessary. It really has our body craving the sugar, not the real stuff.
Guest says
Thanks for the great post! I love seeing the different colors. I saw a tea ceremony a couple years ago and tasted the matcha (which was amazing) and so I've started drinking matcha these past couple weeks. I bought the Domatcha 2nd harvest 2.82 ounce from Amazon because it seemed reputable and decent. I love it and drink several cups a day.
Since I've been going through my Domatcha so quickly, I thought I might want to try a cheaper brand just to see what it's like. I bought the Vitalife matcha from Amazon, and I would advise you to stay away from it. The color is off and the matcha itself tastes strongly of grass. I could only drink half of the cup even after adding rice milk to it. I ended up quickly making a cup of Domatcha just to get the taste of Vitalife out of my mouth. Yuck! I'm going to keep it since I want to try baking with green tea, but I can't drink it. I thought it would be decent because it's from Taiwan (Japan colonized Taiwan for a couple decades and the Taiwanese still view Japan fondly due to the improvements the Japanese brought with them) but this was god awful!
Kelsey Lange says
I've never tried matcha! I didn't really have a good idea of what it was before reading this post. Very informative and now I'm looking forward to trying it!
Laurie A. says
Wow, what an informative and in-depth post. Thanks Kathy! I've only tried matcha once before in a smoothie. I'd love to try some more. Your recipe for the Mint-Matcha Pudding looks so tempting!
Matyldakr says
I have never tried it, but I have matcha for about two servings at home, so I have to tried it soon! 🙂
Nirel says
Excellent review!! I've just gotten into matcha and I love it in lattes with almond milk. (: I am a barista and so happy that we have it at our coffee shop -- free matcha for days! <3
gnarlylove says
This is an indispensable review of matcha! Though organic is not a priority for me, I had my eyes set on the Organic MatchDNA for its price. Boy am I glad I saw the vivid pictures and descriptive reviews here! I ended up buying Aiya Culinary grade thanks to this review. I also splurged on the Hibiki-An "Super Premium" grade. Cannot wait till I am in Matcha Heaven with bright green cakes, muffins and teas! If I remember I will offer my own review when they arrive. Thanks again!
Michaela says
When I was in Tokyo several years ago, my Japanese friend took me to buy matcha at one of these incredible high-end food markets. All the packaging is in Japanese and she paid for it, so I'm savoring it slowly since i don't know if I'll be able to get it again.
Crystal Marcos says
I have never tried it. I had bought your smoothie book which we are enjoying. I started checking matcha out online because of some of your recipes. I had heard of matcha before but I really wasn't sure what to buy. I finally said I would come check out your site and see if you had any info on it. I was pleasantly surprised to find this recent post! Thank you! Now I feel confident in choosing the right brand for me.
vegyogini says
I have tried matcha, but I don't have a favorite brand. Thanks for the giveaway!
Jennie says
thanks for the post and info!
Harmony says
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH for this post! I have been wanting to try matcha for a long time now but was always so hesitant due to its price and not knowing which brands were better than others. Really appreciate all your effort in this review, Kathy!!!
fabiana says
I drink the Aiya but I'm thinking the Eden looks better. Thank you for the review its spectacular.
Joey Meyers says
Awesome post , Thank you! I have been using Imperial Matcha from Tea
vana, which is a Starbucks owned tea shop. It was 34.95 for 80gm/2.8oz, ceremonial, organic, kosher, from Japan. The color doesn't seem so bright green measuring it up to your post, however I have really been enjoying it and feel that it tastes bright and grassy. I'm anxious now to try one of the brands you've recommended to see the difference. Would love to hear your opinion on this Teavana, Imperial brand.
Kayla Kindig says
I enjoy matcha a lot. I was actually drinking it when I clicked on the link to your review. I've only ever tried the kind sold at Adagio teas website.
Mara says
Never tried it. Eager to.
Nicole says
I've only tried matcha at a friend's so I'm super excited to dip my toes in with any matcha.
Morena says
I've had match a in ice cream but never on its own. I'd love to try the DoMatcha brand.
Jobo says
I have the Maeda-En and it's lovely. I would love to try the American Tea Room since it's highly recommended.
Thanks for the review.
Lauren Rochelle Danson says
P.s. - love Urth.
Chris says
I haven't tried matcha yet, but now I'm interested in trying some. I think I've seen Eden at my local store. Thanks for the review!
Kathy Patalsky says
OOH lucky you! It is hard to find in store I have found and it is one of my new favorites!!! I looooove it. Great quality
Jasmin Harris says
Yes, I've tried matcha before, and I absolutely love it. I love any brand with a creamy, delicate finish, with a bright, vibrant matcha taste and ever so slight bitterness. (I'm weird like that.) I'd love to try the Eden or American Tea Room brands, they sound right up my alley! Thanks for the guides and the recipes!
Kathy Patalsky says
You are very welcome! Very happy to review matcha. It is now coming out my ears in my pantry 🙂 #ThatsOkWiTHmE
zeldaskitten says
I recently bought matcha from the brand "green foods." do NOT recommend.
Kathy Patalsky says
haha. I am so sorry!!! I know how it feels to BUY bad matcha. Thanks for the heads up. I should start a blacklist of bad matcha brands. Buyer beware! (Hope your next brand buy is amaze!)
Kathie Grace Ricard says
I haven't tried it but I bought a brand not mentioned before I read this review. I will try it and see how I like it.
Kathy Patalsky says
Let us know!
Andy Tang says
Have you tried Aoi matcha? Saw them at Natural Products Expo and got to try their Matcha Supreme.
Kathy Patalsky says
Hmmm I do not think so! Let us know if it is good!
Andy Tang says
The Matcha Supreme that I had was really good. No bitterness to it at all. Also got to try a blend of matcha and raspberry that they were sampling which was very sweet but I think there was sugar added. Didn't get to try the other matcha that they had.
Charise Wernicke says
I love Matcha, I sip it cool during the day. I would like to try out new brands because the one I have been buying has been getting lax in the quality control area.
Kathy Patalsky says
Hope you find one on this list!
Amanda Clark says
I have tried some matcha before, it's been a while. I have found this review very helpful!
Kathy Patalsky says
Great! very glad!
Rachel Kirby says
I've tried matcha and I love it. I'm excited to try one of the ones you reviewed. Your matcha recipes are the best 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks Rachel!! 🙂
Diane Miller says
I have major issues with caffeine and was leery to try matcha. I found some @ Whole Foods, it was mixed with green tea (Republic of Tea). Thought it would be a good way to start, because I didn't want to spend lots of $$ and find I could not tolerate the caffeine. So far, I've had 3 cups and doing well with it. Now to experiment with other brands. I did not find DoMatcha @ Whole Foods, have to look for it next time.~ thanks for a very informative article.
Kathy Patalsky says
Hm that is interesting that DoMatcha wasn't in your store. I guess that means it is regional. Did you like ROT? I have to say I tried it a looong time ago and did not like it... It wasn't BAD, but just very moderate in quality. I hope you give a ceremonial matcha a try so you can compare!
Diane Miller says
I'm not sure how good the ROT matcha was, since I had nothing to compare it to.
I might just order from Amazon.
The Vegan Cookie Fairy says
Do you have a recipe for a matcha latte?
Kathy Patalsky says
YES! 🙂 I did a mint matcha latte post in my recipe index. But basically...
1 cup nondairy milk
3/4 - 1 tsp matcha
1-3 tsp liquid sweetener - agave or maple
I like to add in a few drops of either peppermint or vanilla extract
The trick is to make sure the matcha blends and doesn't clump. So I warm the milk to hot in the microwave or stove, pour it into my blender and soft in the matcha using a small sifter, while the blender is blending the liquid on lowest setting. Then blend in the sweetener and any add-ins. Blend from low to medium to create some frothy foam. Pour and serve. Easy!
Kathy Patalsky says
oh and if you want the latte on the thin side, less creamy, substitute water for 1/3 - 1/2 of the non-dairy milk.
The Vegan Cookie Fairy says
Thank you!
E K says
I have tried the matcha latte at Urth and can't seem to get past that to order anything else there!
Kathy Patalsky says
haha me too! I have sipped my husband's soy lattes and hot cocoas before and they are amazing, but I always always get the mint matcha latte. I love their sprout sandwich (no cheese, vegan style) too!
janet @ the taste space says
I have tried Do Matcha based on your review and liked it well enough. Gotta use it up fast before it loses its charm 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
true! I find that chilling my matcha in the "butter drawer" in my fridge keeps it green a bit longer than at room temperature. But my kitchen is usually on the warmer side too..
elleve2300 . says
DoMatcha is fabby! 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
yes it is!
Cricket Desmarais says
just tried matcha for the first time a few weeks ago at our local coffee shop. i LOVE LOVE LOVE it. will have to see what they use. I am a total convert, & appreciate the info detailing it in this post. THANK YOU! xo
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!! 🙂
Sara Hohn says
Kathy, Thank you for this unbelievably awesome resource! I have wanted to dig deeper into matcha and I will reference this again and again.
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome! Trust me, this was MY pleasure to do! #MatchaLover
suzanne jenkins says
My DoMatcha arrived via Fed Ex today; thank you Amazon Prime. I immediately made a paste of a little warm almond milk and a half tsp of the beautiful powder. I added it to 12 ounces of hot almond milk and a tsp of Stevia, used my little hand held frother to mix and tasted. Delish! I am having a wonderful psychological buzz. Thank you for a great blog.
Kathy Patalsky says
Oh good!! So happy to hear that!
Jackie says
Yum! I have u-matcha from The Republic of Tea, but it's pretty dull. Will have to splurge on some good stuff!
Kathy Patalsky says
Yup... I almost put Republic of tea in my review but to be honest, I didn't want to buy it again because I tried it once and did not like it very much... So yes, my unofficial review of ROT is that it is a sub-par matcha... not very green in color and a bit bland in flavor. Not too great :/ Hope you can splurge!
Julie L says
I'm embarrassed to admit ~ the only "matcha" I've tried was years ago at Jamba Juice (it probably wasn't very high quality matcha) - in a smoothie. I loved it, but Jamba has too much sugar for me. I would love to try it again! Thanks for the info - I'm going to have to go to Peet's and try a latte. 🙂
Natalie G says
I actually work at Jamba Juice and we carry ceremonial grade matcha from Japan. It's where I first tried matcha and I'm so glad its the real deal! The smoothie itself does contain a bit of sugar but you can always substitute the sorbet and frozen yogurt for more ice! It gives a better texture in my opinion. When I make it for myself I just get it over ice with soymilk as I am vegan. Hope that helps ease your mind Julie! :]]
Kathy Patalsky says
Awesome info! Thanks! I have never tried the jj matcha smoothie but I will try it now!
Julie L says
Thanks Natalie! That's a great piece of advice! I just may have to try it again. The last one I had was before being diagnosed as diabetic. And Kathy~I tried the Peet's latte (with soy milk) and it was fantastic! Unsweetened, of course. 😉
Kathy Patalsky says
Yes I like peets matcha latte a lot too!
Laura Olson says
I've had a great matcha and I don't know what brand! It was about $40 for a tin. I bought it at a local place in NYC. Even though they say to use "culinary" for lattes, I didn't like the culinary versions I tried. Ceremonial is the way to go!
Kathy Patalsky says
Right? I think the only use for culinary matcha is for baking. For anything in a beverage, go with the good stuff!
Laura Olson says
So, now, I need some new match. If I haven't had the organic stuff (that I know of) and wanted to try just one, which one???? There are so many that you like here!
Renard Moreau says
[ Smiles ] Shame on me. I am a tea person and I only learned about matcha via your post.
This goes to show that we can learn something new everyday.
Lovely article!
Kathy Patalsky says
wow so happy to enlighten you! Don't feel bad, I JUST discovered matcha about two years ago too!! I knew about "green tea ice cream" from sushi places (using matcha) but I never really knew anything until I dove into a jar of my own!
Emily A. says
i actually have some of vitacost's matcha lying around that i've been meaning to try, and this post inspired me to do so!
Kathy Patalsky says
let us know how it is!
Dee says
I've always loved Matcha, but it's pretty pricey to purchase on a regular basis. I found one on sale at London Drugs, just purchased Two Hills Organic Matcha and so far I love it!
Kathy Patalsky says
It is. it is. For those on a matcha budget, I do advsie buying the good stuff once in a while as opposed to buying the cheap stuff at any time. I am glad you found a good one on sale! Stock up on those great good matcha salaes!
Nikki says
I haven't tried, but I really want to try eden organics!
Kathy Patalsky says
yes yes Eden rocks my world. It is a fave now!
ZAP FIT says
What are you gonna do with all these matcha powders ? :))
Kathy Patalsky says
hahahaha. I am being VERY indulgent in my matcha bevies lately as you can imagine. The "good" matchas I am storing in my fridge and adding to daily smoothies and lattes. With extra large scoops according to my husband who is laughing at all the matcha we have right now. The "bad stuff" I have been using in baking. I will admit though ONE brand, I threw away because it was that horrible. Matcha that is literally pale green, tinging on yellow-brown should not be called green tea matcha. 🙂
ZAP FIT says
So Kathy, which one would be your all time favourite ? Would it be DoMatch since you bought it more than 10 times ?
I love your blog by the way 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
I have bought DoMatcha a lot only because it is the only high quality matcha at my local whole foods. It is a very very very great matcha. Personally, I adore Eden brand (everything) so I like buying matcha from them. But I also like to buy from brands that offer coupon codes, seasonal sales and such too. American Tea Room has sales once in a while. You know, after doing this review I realized that I really DON'T have a fave brand. There are just too many great matchas out there to choose one! 🙂
And thank you!! <3
christine says
I've tried matcha flavored items mostly, delicious! I've also bought a 1 oz sample of matcha powder from a local tea shop that I really like. It's ginger matcha, though I'm unsure what the flavor is. I'm excited to test different matcha flavors now, I had no idea there was such variations! Thanks for the informative post!
Kathy Patalsky says
hm, I would be wary of any flavored matchas. Ginger and matcha are yummy together but give a pure matcha brand a try and I am curious if the quality is even better for you!
You are welcome 🙂
Aimee says
I've never tried matcha. I would love to though. Thank you for putting together this helpful guide to matcha.
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!
Celina says
My favorite matcha so far has been the DoMatcha Organic Ceremonial matcha...It's perfect!! The latest matcha I purchased was the Kiss Me Organics matcha, but it just doesn't compare to the DoMatcha! It's best for smoothies and baking, but not for lattes. The matcha taste is not strong enough for me, but it will do for now, until I can afford to buy DoMatcha or even Pure Matcha. Thank you so much for this guide! It's super helpful.
Kathy Patalsky says
Sounds like we agree! Good! 🙂
Christine Oppenheim says
Great post! You made an excellent point above about a low price usually being to good to be true. I tend to buy DoMatcha regularly and drink it daily as a medicinal practice. I ran out once and picked up a different organic matcha from a company called green foods that was a fraction of the cost. I was excited to find a seemingly good value and new alternative. Once I got it home and opened, I unveiled a dull, muddy green and then noticed in the nutrition label "other ingredients: brown rice solids". I was so disappointed. I'd love to try some of the alternatives you mentioned and feel with your passion for Do that I'll likely agree with your opinions. Thanks again!
Kathy Patalsky says
ooh yes great point! Those matchas that include brown rice should be avoided for sure! #fillers Thanks Christine!
Chelsie DiPaolo says
Wow - thanks for this! I will be in NYC next week... any coffee shops in the Chelsea area that serve delicious Matcha Lattes??
Kathy Patalsky says
hmmmm sorry I didn't reply in time. I feel so sadly out of the loop for NYC things. Boo. Hope you found one though - let me know if you did for next time I visit!
Chelsie DiPaolo says
🙂 We ended up wandering into Argo Tea and I tried their Vanilla Matcha Latte with Almond Milk... It was a little sweet but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't so full from everything else we had been eating that weekend 😉
Kelly Mastros says
I have Stash Tea's matcha. It is bright green! $18/1.06 oz. can. You are right-it does have a zen like quality. I know green tea contains Theanine, a mood elevator, so maybe that is where it comes from, but either way, I am going to have some now because of this awesome post! 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
🙂 Thanks for the brand info! Great price, will have to keep my eyes out for it
saniel says
I went to our local farmers market and saw Matcha in plastic containers and was discouraged by the price $6-8, but now after this whole discussion I am second guessing it. It was a bright green color not organic and smelled wonderful. Should I go back to purchase? I have heard the benefits and have some recipes I want to try - even if it isn't the best quality. Suggestions
Kathy Patalsky says
Hm very interesting. How much did you get for six bucks?! That sounds amazing. I would give it a try (at that price!) but maybe try and compare it side to side with an expensive brand if the flavor is average. Those "green" colors can be deceiving sometimes. But I hope it is amazing and you have yourself an awesome matcha find!
saniel says
Thanks, will give it a try.
Jess Nadel says
Such a timely post! I tried the most amazing vegan matcha tiramisu at a potluck last night and am dying to recreate it. 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
that sounds super yummy 🙂
Anna Hawkes says
I love matcha, but haven't been totally impressed by what I have found recently. Thank you for your review! I am looking forward to trying a few other brands.
Kathy Patalsky says
I hope you find one you love!
Terri Jones Cole says
I have never tried matcha. Thanks for such an extensive review!
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!
Kiyoko says
I've never tried matcha so I'm glad that I know more about what kinds to try!
Kathy Patalsky says
Me too! Glad to help!
Julia Ralston says
Thanks Kathy for all your research, whew! I've never had matcha, but definitely will buy some this weekend; looking forward to the pudding. 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Hope you like it!
Elizabeth Hudson says
I haven't yet tried matcha because of the price, but it's the most beautiful color. I look forward to the days when I'll be able to start the morning with pistachio-colored matcha lattes.
Kathy Patalsky says
yes yes yes. Green lattes are just so pretty 🙂
suzanne jenkins says
I just bought DoMatcha and looking forward to trying as soon as it ships.
Kathy Patalsky says
oh good! It is a great great brand
Monica Gao says
I've tried matcha - sadly, it's not the best color or taste (got it from Amazon - Vita Life brand Matcha), but it was very cheap, and I went through a period of time where I had matcha lattés every day 😀 The DoMatcha & Pure Matcha seem like better options though - I might buy them when I'm no longer such a cash-strapped college student 😀
Kathy Patalsky says
Oh please please try the good stuff when you can splurge. You deserve it after buying "bad" matcha!! 🙂 I hope you can and can have some awesome matcha Zen time!
Kymm Wills says
This could not have come at a better time! I have been slowly researching matcha and am ready to take the plunge...and look at all the work you just did for me! Pick me! Pick me!! 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
haha 🙂
Taylor Cawley says
I've never tried match a because I've never known what to buy! I now feel confident in making a purchase, this guide is an invaluable resource, thanks so much Kathy!
Kathy Patalsky says
oh good! So glad to help
Amanda says
I've never tried matcha but I'd love to
BabyJune says
This is one awesome giveaway! 🙂 The only time I ever tried matcha was when I ordered a green tea latte from Starbucks. Not the most authentic experience, but you could definitely taste the difference. I'd love to try more of this tea!
Kathy Patalsky says
Not terribly authentic, and I have found that Starbucks matcha lattes GREATLY vary based on who makes them, how "fresh" the matcha is and what location you are at. But that being said, I have had a few super awesome matcha lattes at Starbucks! So not a bad place to give it a try. Hope you can branch out at try more!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Thank you SO much for this post, Kathy! I just got a package of the Kiss Organics matcha to review and am planning to make you lucky charm-less granola on the weekend with it! It'll be my first trial and I'm excited to see how it goes. I'll definitely link up to your recipe when I post my review of the product!
Kathy Patalsky says
Awesome! Hope you love it! You have to tell me if I am nuts about the "Lucky Charms" thing 🙂
Tracy says
I have recently just tried matcha (because you rave about it) and I love it. However, I had to laugh because the brand I bought was poorly rated by you in this post, so now I'm even more excited to see how much better it is when I try some of these other brands that you've spoken so highly of. 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
haha oh no! Well now you HAVE to try one of my highly rated brands and tell me if I am crazy. But maybe you bought a better batch than me! You never know! Very glad you liked it though! 🙂
Olivia Welte says
I've only bought Matcha once and it was of the wilted-spinach variety. I didn't really enjoy it because I'd read up on how it should look and taste. Even so, I enjoyed your Mint Matcha Latte a lot! I love green tea so I've been looking all over for better brands but Matcha isn't widely available in South Africa. I've been nervous about buying online because it's hard to know how high the quality is of the product. I'm so excited about this - I've been trying to find a Matcha review like this for a while - thank you!
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!
Anushka Wickramaratne says
I've never tried matcha but I'm excited to do so!
Kathy Patalsky says
oh good!
Kristy says
I have tried DoMatcha and LOVE it. I'm excited to try Aiya
Kathy Patalsky says
Aiya is a winner too 🙂
marlies says
I love matcha! I've only bought it once, and I don't know what brand it was, but I got it from a local tea shop called Ma-cha (perfect, right?). My favorite way to enjoy it is in an almond milk matcha latte. Last summer I ordered one at a cafe in Munich and the barista was convinced I didn't know what it was and wouldn't like it, and he tried for five minutes to talk me out of getting it, but I prevailed! And it was amazing 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
haha I always get asked about matcha when I order it in cafes and such. One lady was SOOO excited that I ordered it because she was a matcha addict and we bonded for about three minutes raving about our matcha recipes. 🙂 I like that barista!! 🙂
danarsab says
do matcha sounds good!
Hailey says
I have never tried matcha, but would love to! I would absolutely try your smoothies with matcha and have seen several baking recipes using matcha that look delicious. And matcha lattes with almond milk? Sounds yum! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!
Gabby says
I used to live in Ireland and I worked at a tea store called Le Palais des Thes. They sold an amazing ceremonial and regular grade matcha. It was a little pricier but I had a discount so I drank it everyday! I so miss affordable good quality matcha! I'm intrigued by Pure because it seems to be a good balance between the 2!
Kathy Patalsky says
That sounds awesome! Drinking matcha everyday... ah perfect. Pure is a great brand!
Gabbie says
I loooove matcha but haven't been able to try many brands yet. DoMatcha and Eden sound great. I'll be looking for them in stores now 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
great!
Lacey says
I absolutely love matcha!! The only type I've tried is an organic matcha from a little vegan cafe called Baagan. It's fairly reasonably priced and it's a lovely bright green color-absolutely delicious!! But I've been looking at other brands, as I'm moving away within the year and still want my matcha fix. This was an awesome post!!
Kathy Patalsky says
Those matcha finds are the BEST! Hope you can find a new way to get your matcha fix when you move! (Glad you liked the post!)
Amy says
Such a pretty post! So springy, and I could use that right about now. 🙂 I've only had a matcha soy latte from Starbucks, but have been interested in buying some for a while. Have you tried the Rishi brand? I'm not much of a tea drinker, but I like everything I've tried from them.
Kathy Patalsky says
I love Rishi tea bags, but I tried the matcha packets and they were not very good. It is odd because like you, I LOVE all their bagged and loose teas!
Ashley Lakin says
I've always been super curious about matcha, but I've been hesitant to spend that kind of money. Thanks for this post, though, because now I know which brands won't be a waste of money!
Kathy Patalsky says
You are welcome!
Liz U @Living Liz says
I loved this post, and I've been looking for a review like this for a while! I really love matcha, but was so disappointed to learn that the Starbucks matcha latte has tons of sugar. I would use matcha to make my own lattes (and smoothies)!
Kathy Patalsky says
You can get the starbucks latte without added sugar if that helps! I never order it sweetened, always unsweetened!
juliannef says
I've only had matcha freddos and lattes from peet's (which i love), and matcha in tea bags from the republic of tea. i'd love to try american tea room and eden 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Peets is great 🙂
Breanna Anderson says
I was so excited when I heard this post was on its way! Usually I buy "the republic of tea" brand matcha, as that is one of the few I actually find in stores in my area. I really like it, but have yet to try another brand, and always end up purchasing that one. After reading this, I may look into buying one of your recommendations online next time, as well as make sure to remember "you get what you pay for!" It'll be interesting to see the taste differences 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Yes yes try another brand when you can splurge! If you like ROT, you will swoon over one of my picks!
Herbivore Triathlete says
I love matcha in smoothies! I currently have Rishi's brand match and it is decent, good green color.
Kathy Patalsky says
I am not a big fan of Rishi's matcha, though I adore their loose and bagged teas! I am curious to see how you'd compare it to another brand! I only tried the rishi matcha packets once and was not too impressed.
Heather Davis says
I've had matcha at starbucks and various boba tea places (and in desserts!), but I would love to make it at home with smoothies!
Kathy Patalsky says
I hope you do!
Katie @ Produce on Parade says
This was an awesome post! I buy the Maeda-En brand mostly because that is all that is available at our little alternative grocery store 50 miles from my home! 😉 I really do enjoy it though! I'm very happy it's a good one 😀
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks! Glad you have a matcha you love!
Dana V @ Vanishing Veggie says
I was looking online for some the other day, but since I have never tried it, I was a bit lost. This post came at the PERFECT time <3
Kathy Patalsky says
So glad!