Ceremonial vs. Culinary Grade Matcha

What's the difference?

Matcha, the vibrant green powdered tea, has gained immense popularity worldwide for its unique flavor and health benefits. However, not all matcha is created equal. Commonly offered are two main varieties: ceremonial grade and culinary grade matcha.

These two classifications cater to different purposes and palates, and understanding their differences is essential to make an informed choice when selecting the perfect matcha for your needs.

Source and Cultivation

Ceremonial Grade Matcha: This premium variety is sourced from the youngest, most tender tea leaves, harvested from the top of the tea plant. The leaves are handpicked with meticulous care to ensure only the finest quality makes it into the final product. Ceremonial grade matcha typically originates from shaded tea fields, which allows the tea leaves to develop a rich green color and enhance their natural sweetness.

Culinary Grade Matcha: In contrast, culinary grade matcha is made from leaves further down the tea plant, including the older, more mature leaves. The cultivation process may involve a mix of shaded and unshaded fields, resulting in a slightly less vibrant green color and more astringent flavor compared to its ceremonial counterpart.

Flavor and Aroma

Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Renowned for its delicate, refined flavor profile, ceremonial grade matcha exudes a smooth, umami-rich taste with subtle hints of sweetness and a pleasantly grassy aroma. The tea provides a harmonious balance that is best enjoyed in its pure form with hot water.

Culinary Grade Matcha: While still possessing a distinct green tea flavor, culinary grade matcha is more robust and has a stronger vegetal taste. The astringency is more pronounced, making it ideal for blending into recipes where the matcha will be combined with other ingredients to create various culinary delights like matcha lattes, smoothies, baked goods, and savory dishes.

Color and Texture

Ceremonial Grade Matcha: This grade of matcha showcases a vibrant, bright green color, indicating the high chlorophyll content and careful processing of the young leaves. Its texture is incredibly fine and velvety, ensuring a smooth and creamy consistency when whisked with water.

Culinary Grade Matcha: The color of culinary grade matcha can range from a vibrant green to a slightly duller shade due to the presence of older leaves. The texture tends to be coarser compared to ceremonial grade, making it more suitable for blending into recipes.

Quality and Cost

Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Due to its meticulous harvesting process and superior quality, ceremonial grade matcha commands a higher price point. It is best reserved for traditional tea ceremonies and enjoyed on its own to savor the pure, unadulterated essence of matcha.

Culinary Grade Matcha: More readily available and affordable, culinary grade matcha offers a cost-effective option for incorporating matcha into various recipes and beverages. It provides an excellent introduction to matcha for those seeking to explore its versatility in the culinary world.

With less than 1% of tea farms in Japan being certified organic, our matcha is a rare find that has been carefully selected to ensure the highest quality and purity.

Health Benefits

Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Ceremonial grade matcha will have higher levels of caffeine and L-theanine which would promote energy and focus. It also contains higher levels of chlorophyll a potent blood detoxifier thus providing its vibrant green color.

Culinary Grade Matcha: Culinary grade matcha will have slightly higher levels of the antioxidant catechin due to the more mature leaves.

The differences between ceremonial and culinary grade are apparent and significant. Ceremonial grade matcha, with its exceptional taste, vibrant green color, and fine texture, is the epitome of matcha tea, best appreciated through traditional preparation methods. On the other hand, culinary grade matcha, while still offering a delightful green tea flavor, caters to those seeking to experiment with matcha in a myriad of culinary creations.

The choice between ceremonial and culinary grade matcha ultimately depends on your preferences and intended use. Some drink culinary matcha tea while others will only use ceremonial no matter what the recipe. Whether you desire a pure and meditative tea-drinking experience or wish to explore the countless culinary possibilities of matcha, both varieties offer a fascinating journey into the world of this captivating green elixir.