So what do you have to look out for when choosing Matcha?

LOCATION
It is very important to know where your Matcha actually comes from. The best Matcha is cultivated in Japan, not China or anywhere else for that matter. Buyers should be aware of some online shops selling matcha without revealing the place of origination. Even within Japan, there are certain provinces that produce higher quality Matcha and we at Mikamatcha have chosen one of the best provinces to get our tea from. All of our Matcha comes from Kagoshima which is in the Kyushu province of Japan.

The way it is grown and cultivated is another way to choose Matcha. The best Matcha is shade grown in organic soil that is nutrient rich and dense.

TASTE
Another way to determine the quality of your Matcha green tea powder is taste. So what flavour determines the quality of matcha? In the highest quality grade matcha powders, you will notice a significant sweet taste depending if premium, ceremonial or everyday grade matcha. But generally despite the grades, quality matcha will have distinct lack of astringent bitterness, nutty and smooth.

A less quality matcha brand will taste more earthy, bitter, harsh on the stomach and can even give feeling of nausea. So choosing a quality brand such as Mikamatcha is paramount whilst choosing matcha.

UMAMI
A good quality matcha tea will be apparent in appearance. Low quality matcha, be it an alleged premium grade, ceremonial grade or food grade, can be a lesser green colour, murky brown, less vibrant. Some sellers online claim the premium label, some are but some are definitely not. Our premium and everyday grade matcha are very vibrant green and umami with a superior smell. Even our culinary food grade matcha is a yellowish-green colour which shows that even in our lower grade matcha we have kept consistency in choosing the best of the best. Lower quality culinary grade matcha will be murky and brown in colour.

SOLUBILITY
Quality matcha particles should be around 5 microns in size, similar to baby powder. This is achieved my good mechanical means and top quality stone mills that grind the baby green tea leaves in the production plant. Your matcha should be able to dissolve easily in the water without clumping up in to blotches. A lower quality matcha will blotch up. The reason for that is, the producers will grind down veins and stems as well as the leaves. That is one of the worst matcha teas you can purchase. Of course at first glance whilst buying online no seller would claim that. But that would be apparent with pricing. Lower quality matcha will be much more lower in cost. As with everything, you get what you pay for!

GRADE & LACK OF INFORMATION
It is really easy to tell a quality brand from a non quality brand. Most sellers who do not give much information on their matcha tea are definitely hiding something. A good brand will always tell you and be informative about the product. There are tonnes of suppliers online and in stores who supply matcha tea from China. China is not known for its quality matcha produce. Japan is at the forefront of matcha tea production. We at Mikamatcha have spared no cost on securing the best of the best matcha from Kagoshima province in Japan.

Grading is also very important. Some sellers use different names for premium grades they may say ceremonial or superior or supreme. A superior, premium or ceremonial grade matcha tea should be the highest quality product on a sellers site. So if you are looking for the best then look out for those terms. On our site it is called ‘Premium grade’. Everyday grade is lesser than premium grade but is affordable to most and delicious. Culinary grade is for cooking and can be used for lattes, baking etc. Culinary grade is not for drinking as tea because it will have some bitterness and is specific to cooking and food.

PACKAGING
Packaging is another important aspect of choosing a quality matcha brand. Matcha powder is very sensetive to sunlight and heat can change the flavour, colour and aroma of the tea. Even if a quality matcha tea is packed in a low quality container or packaging, it can effect all the things mentioned. For example some shops or online sellers use glass. Glass jars are prone to attracting heat and light which will change the colour and quality of the matcha. Although it may be delivered in a jar, you do not know how long it is stored in a warehouse, attracting heat or light. Carton packaging is also not advised when packing matcha or storing. Because it is not air tight. Matcha tea is always better in an air tight can that can help for storing even longer than the expiry date has passed. At Mikamatcha we use thick aluminium cans and spare no cost on the storage of our products. Our culinary grade matcha is supplied in ziplock plastic bags that are light proof and are freshly packed before delivered. We never store our product in the bags for lengthy periods. Rest assured, our matcha is sealed with freshness.