Is ceremonial matcha a regulated grade?

No. Ceremonial and culinary are sellers’ terms with no official definition, and Japan does not use them in the same way, so one brand’s ceremonial can taste like another’s culinary. We show the grade as the brand labels it, beside origin and ingredients.

What should I check on a matcha label?

Look for matcha as the only ingredient in plain powders, a named origin such as Uji, Nishio or Shizuoka, and, where it is stated, the cultivar. Products sold as “green tea powder” with no origin are a different thing.

Why does a flavoured latte blend need a closer look?

Blends can contain sugar, milk powders or other added ingredients, so the matcha per serving is lower than in a plain powder. Compare the full ingredient list and the serving size, not the front of the pack.

When do you show a score or a verdict?

Only after we have assessed the product against our published method. Until then a profile says so, and does not show a score.

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Matcha

Matcha, reviewed

Matcha is sold by grade, origin and blend, and the labels do not always mean the same thing from one brand to the next. We compare them on the facts on the label, then on how they taste.

Publication status. These are retailer listings taken from the brand’s affiliate product feed. We have not reviewed them yet, so there are no scores or recommendations, and we do not show prices or stock. Origin, cultivar and certification are as stated by the brand.

Choose by use

What will you use your matcha for?

Matcha is sold in different grades, and each is made for a different job. Pick what you plan to do with it and we will show you the grade that suits it, then you can compare the listings and buy.

Whisk it

Drink it plain

A calm, simple cup, made with just hot water, where you can taste the tea itself.

Ceremonial gradeSee ceremonial matcha

Mix it with milk

Make lattes

Hot or iced drinks with milk, from plain latte matcha to flavoured blends.

Latte gradeSee latte matcha

Cook and blend

Bake or blend

Smoothies, café drinks and baking, usually bought in larger sizes.

Barista gradeSee barista matcha

Not sure yet

I am new to matcha

Learn what matcha is and what the grades mean before you choose.

Start with the guideRead the matcha guide

Not sure which grade you need? Compare the grades side by side, or go straight to every listing.

Understand the grades

What do ceremonial, latte and barista mean?

The grade tells you what a matcha was made for, so it is the quickest way to avoid buying the wrong one. These names are sellers’ terms, not regulated ones, and Japan does not use them in the same way, so use the cards below as a general pattern and check each product’s own label.

Grade

Ceremonial

Made from: The youngest leaves, from the first harvest
Tastes: Sweeter, smoother, more umami
Best for: Whisked with water and nothing else

See ceremonial listings

Grade

Latte

Made from: A blend chosen to stand up to milk
Tastes: Fuller, a little more bitter
Best for: Lattes, iced drinks and smoothies

See latte listings

Grade

Barista and culinary

Made from: Later harvests
Tastes: Bolder, grassier
Best for: Café drinks and baking

See barista listings

See the three grades side by side in a table

Grade	Typically made from	Typical flavour	Usually used for
Ceremonial	Youngest leaves, first harvest	Sweeter, smoother, more umami	Whisked with water
Latte	A blend chosen to stand up to milk	Fuller, a little more bitter	Lattes and smoothies
Barista and culinary	Later harvests	Bolder, grassier	Café drinks and baking

The products

Matcha listings

Filter by grade, use or the country you are in, then buy from the retailer or read the details first.

Flag button the country we show delivery for. It starts as yours; change it any time.
Green tick the retailer confirms delivery there, and the Buy button opens its page in a new tab.
Red cross delivery there is not confirmed, so there is no Buy button.
Details opens our page for the product: its facts, photos and how we have reviewed it.

Learn more

Read, compare or see how we work

Three short ways to get more confident before you buy.

Read

The matcha guide

What matcha is, how it is made and prepared, and what the words on a label mean.

Read the matcha guide

Compare

Compare like with like

Why we set the same facts side by side on every product: grade, origin, cultivar and sizes.

See how we compare

Method

How we review

What we check, what we leave out, and who stands behind what we publish.

See our method

How we review matcha

What we check, and what we do not claim yet

Every listing here is taken from the brand’s product feed and has not been reviewed yet. This is what we will check, and what you can rely on in the meantime.

On the label

Facts we check

Grade as the brand labels it
Origin, and cultivar where stated
Full ingredient list and serving size
Sizes and net weight

Until we have checked a fact, the page says “Not yet verified” and does not guess.

In the bowl

Hands-on assessment

Colour, aroma, texture and flavour, scored only after we have prepared the product the same way each time. Until then a page says it has not been assessed and shows no score. We make no health claims for a product, and we do not show prices or stock.

Read the full method

Questions

Matcha, answered

Something we have not covered? Ask the editorial team or go back to the listings.