Buying Guides

How to choose and where to buy.

Best matcha for beginners

Start with a culinary/latte grade from a reputable seller — around $15-25 for 30g. This lets you learn whether you like matcha before spending more on ceremonial grade.
Best matcha for lattes

Use culinary or latte grade matcha — not ceremonial. You want a matcha that's affordable, has strong flavor that comes through milk, and is still good quality. Budget $15-25 for 30g.
How to tell if matcha is good quality

Good matcha is vibrant green, smells fresh and grassy, feels silky-fine when rubbed between fingers, and tastes smooth without harsh bitterness. Dull color, coarse texture, or a stale smell are warning signs.
Uji vs Nishio vs Kagoshima: Which matcha region should you buy?

Uji (Kyoto) offers rich, complex, ceremonial-quality matcha with the highest prestige and price. Nishio (Aichi) produces balanced, versatile matcha at moderate prices — good for daily use. Kagoshima provides fresh, approachable matcha at the best value — ideal for lattes and beginners.
What grade matcha should I buy?

Culinary/latte grade for lattes and baking ($15-25). Ceremonial grade for drinking straight ($25-50+). The grade names aren't standardized, so focus on reputable sellers and intended use.
Why is matcha so expensive?

Quality matcha costs $25-50+ per 30g because production is genuinely labor-intensive: 20-30+ days of shade cultivation, hand-picking first-harvest leaves only, slow stone grinding that produces just 30g per hour, and limited supply from specific Japanese regions. Cheap matcha exists but tastes harsh — the price reflects real quality differences.