How to Identify Excellent Quality Matcha Powder!

Knowing what Matcha to buy and differentiating excellent from poor quality Matcha can be overwhelming and frankly a little intimidating when you're first getting started. This article aims to help you figure out how to get started on your Matcha journey, and avoid any of those common mistakes made when buying Matcha for the first time.

We don’t want to bore you with a long article, so we will make this short and sweet. Please note that this article is referring to Matcha powder for the purpose of drinking or sipping.

Let us get started!

You first need to make sure you are buying a “Ceremonial Grade” or a "Tea Ceremony grade" powder. You must also pay attention to the origin of the Matcha powder, as the best quality “Ceremonial” Matcha comes from Japan. Just like wine, the taste and flavor of Matcha is greatly influenced by the climate and soil of where it was produced. Another factor you might want to take into consideration is the distance of the producing region from Fukushima (site of the nuclear disaster in 2011) - Click here to learn more about radiation and Matcha.

Next is to pay attention to price. Excellent quality “Ceremonial” Matcha is by no means cheap, and typically comes with a price tag between $20-$35 for a 30g tin. Growing and producing high quality Matcha, particularly when it is organic, is a delicate and labor intensive art that is also time consuming. Anything below or above that price range is questionable, and you should do more research before you purchase. It is also helpful to take the time and research the seller; you should look for a company that truly cares about providing the highest quality Matcha. Don't be fooled by “fancy” packaging.

After your purchase, the most fun part is the first time you pull back that seal and experience your new Matcha powder. It's truly a magical experience when Matcha produces a faint green cloud, or a wisp of powder, and bring you an immediate sense of excitement. Additionally, excellent quality Matcha will have a subtle sweet aroma that is noticeable immediately after opening.

Preparing your first bowl!

Now as you prepare your cup/bowl of Matcha, pay attention to the following features:

Color
Excellent quality Matcha should have a vibrant jade green color. Lesser quality Matcha will have a dull green color, sometimes with a yellowish tint, that is likely due to the insufficient shading prior to harvest, or improper de-stemming of the dried leaves prior to grounding.

Whisk
Low quality Matcha will not froth as beautifully as excellent quality Matcha. You must be able to create a dreamy layer of frothiness without any lumps.

Taste
Excellent quality Matcha has a natural sweet taste with only subtle bitterness that is comparable to that of dark chocolate. Inferior quality Matcha will have a harsh bitter taste that can sometimes be even muddy and grass-like.

Finish
Unlike lower quality Matcha, high quality powder will have a long delicious finish that must literally make you crave the next sip.

Thank you for reading!

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Practical Guide