Understanding the Grades of Matcha
Judith Smit
November 2025
Understanding the Grades of Matcha: Ceremonial, Premium (Latte Grade), Culinary
Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Ceremonial Grade Matcha is the highest quality available, traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies. It’s made from the youngest leaves and stone-ground into a fine, vibrant green powder.
Flavor Profile: Smooth, sweet, and umami-rich with no bitterness.
Color: Bright, luminous emerald green.
Best For: Drinking straight. Ideal for luxury brands, wellness retailers, or premium product lines where purity and presentation matter most.
Applications: High-end tea offerings, ceremonial kits, premium matcha capsules, and luxury retail packaging.
Why choose it: Ceremonial matcha is all about refinement. It’s perfect for brands emphasizing authenticity, tradition, and superior sensory experience.
Premium Matcha
Also known as barista or latte grade, premium matcha is crafted for versatility. It’s slightly stronger in flavor than ceremonial matcha, designed to shine in mixed beverages without losing its vibrant color or delicate taste.
Flavor Profile: Creamy, vegetal, and subtly sweet with a gentle bitterness that pairs beautifully with milk or plant-based alternatives.
Color: Vivid green, slightly deeper than ceremonial.
Best For: Beverages like matcha lattes, iced drinks, smoothies, or RTD (ready-to-drink) formulations.
Applications: Cafés, beverage manufacturers, health food brands, and distributors seeking consistent, high-quality matcha for drinks.
Why choose it: Latte-grade matcha retains both flavor and color when blended, making it the go-to choice for large-scale beverage production and café service.
Culinary Grade Matcha
Culinary matcha is ideal for large-scale food production where matcha is used as an ingredient rather than a standalone drink. It’s made from later-harvest tea leaves, offering a stronger and more astringent flavor profile that holds up well in recipes.
Flavor Profile: Earthy and robust, perfect for blending with other flavors.
Color: Deep green.
Best For: Baking, confectionery, snacks, sauces, and dairy or plant-based desserts.
Applications: Food manufacturers, bakeries, ice cream producers, and brands developing matcha-flavored products.
Why choose it: Culinary-grade matcha is formulated to withstand both heat and cold and processing without losing its distinctive taste and aroma. It’s cost-effective and ideal for large-scale production.
Match(a)making: which matcha grade fits your needs?
Whether you’re formulating a new product, expanding your tea range, or distributing to cafés and retailers, choosing the right grade ensures quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction
Ceremonial Grade Matcha is the highest quality available, traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies. It’s made from the youngest leaves and stone-ground into a fine, vibrant green powder.
Flavor Profile: Smooth, sweet, and umami-rich with no bitterness.
Color: Bright, luminous emerald green.
Best For: Drinking straight. Ideal for luxury brands, wellness retailers, or premium product lines where purity and presentation matter most.
Applications: High-end tea offerings, ceremonial kits, premium matcha capsules, and luxury retail packaging.
Why choose it: Ceremonial matcha is all about refinement. It’s perfect for brands emphasizing authenticity, tradition, and superior sensory experience.
Premium Matcha
Also known as barista or latte grade, premium matcha is crafted for versatility. It’s slightly stronger in flavor than ceremonial matcha, designed to shine in mixed beverages without losing its vibrant color or delicate taste.
Flavor Profile: Creamy, vegetal, and subtly sweet with a gentle bitterness that pairs beautifully with milk or plant-based alternatives.
Color: Vivid green, slightly deeper than ceremonial.
Best For: Beverages like matcha lattes, iced drinks, smoothies, or RTD (ready-to-drink) formulations.
Applications: Cafés, beverage manufacturers, health food brands, and distributors seeking consistent, high-quality matcha for drinks.
Why choose it: Latte-grade matcha retains both flavor and color when blended, making it the go-to choice for large-scale beverage production and café service.
Culinary Grade Matcha
Culinary matcha is ideal for large-scale food production where matcha is used as an ingredient rather than a standalone drink. It’s made from later-harvest tea leaves, offering a stronger and more astringent flavor profile that holds up well in recipes.
Flavor Profile: Earthy and robust, perfect for blending with other flavors.
Color: Deep green.
Best For: Baking, confectionery, snacks, sauces, and dairy or plant-based desserts.
Applications: Food manufacturers, bakeries, ice cream producers, and brands developing matcha-flavored products.
Why choose it: Culinary-grade matcha is formulated to withstand both heat and cold and processing without losing its distinctive taste and aroma. It’s cost-effective and ideal for large-scale production.
Match(a)making: which matcha grade fits your needs?
Whether you’re formulating a new product, expanding your tea range, or distributing to cafés and retailers, choosing the right grade ensures quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction
Partner with us
At Pure Matcha Partners, we supply authentic, sustainably sourced Japanese matcha in every grade from ceremonial to culinary. Our direct relationships with growers allow us to guarantee freshness, consistency, and traceable quality across all grades.Whether you’re a manufacturer, distributor, or brand, we’ll help you select the right matcha for your product or market and ensure a smooth supply chain to your production line.Contact us today to discuss your matcha needs or request samples.
At Pure Matcha Partners, we supply authentic, sustainably sourced Japanese matcha in every grade from ceremonial to culinary. Our direct relationships with growers allow us to guarantee freshness, consistency, and traceable quality across all grades.Whether you’re a manufacturer, distributor, or brand, we’ll help you select the right matcha for your product or market and ensure a smooth supply chain to your production line.Contact us today to discuss your matcha needs or request samples.
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