For this MatchaDNA review we tested Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder which is the highest grade available from Matcha DNA.
MatchDNA Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder is a premium matcha green tea powder made from finest young leaves from organic tea farms in the pristine mountains of Fujian province in China.
When we review a matcha brand, we always like to choose their highest-quality matcha (often times ceremonial-grade matcha), and we grade the matcha powder based on color and grind, aroma, taste, price, and overall experience.
The first thing that you may notice about this matcha is that it comes from China and not Japan.
We generally prefer Japanese matcha, but we felt that this Chinese matcha deserved our attention because of all of the favorable Amazon Reviews.
There have been concerns of high lead levels in matcha from China, but Match DNA lead protocols ensure a safe lead free product.
MatchaDNA is lab tested for lead and heavy metals to ensure a lead free product.
It is also USDA certified Organic, Kosher and Parve.
It is also certified to the highest standards of the NOP, and EU.
I should also add that MatchaDNA offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can be assured of receiving your money back if you do not like the product.
Now that we are aware of the Matcha DNA lead facts, let's move on to the MatchaDNA Review
MatchaDNA USDA Certified Organic Review Of Color and Grind
For this MatchaDNA review we probably should have split up the color and grind review, so we will review them separately here.
First the Good:
The grind of the MatchaDNA Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder was very fine and high quality. This is exactly what we are looking for in a high grade ceremonial tea powder.
The Bad:
The color of the of the MatchaDNA Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder was one of the worst that we have seen.
It was a very dull almost muddy green color. Not the vibrant green color that we are used to in super premium quality ceremonial matcha.
You can see the poor color in the photo below.
The aroma of the MatchaDNA Organic Green Tea Powder was quite pungent. It was very strong and earthy, almost barnyard like.
I know that doesn't sound good, but if you buy it and smell it, you will understand what I mean.
Next Step for the MatchaDNA Review is to prepare the matcha green tea and rate it on taste.
MatchaDNA Review - Taste
This was the big surprise in the Matcha DNA review!
We were expecting a strong, pungent taste from this matcha green tea, because of the smell of the powder, but the matcha tea was surprisingly mild and mellow.
In fact, it wasn’t too bad of a matcha green tea to drink.
It certainly did not taste like a ceremonial grade matcha (we weren’t expecting it to), and it lacked the full-bodied umami flavor that we love. Once you get past the initial slightly bitter taste of the matcha powder, the aftertaste, although having a bitter taste, was much better than we expected, without leaving an astringent aftertaste.
Is it a high quality, ceremonial grade taste?
Absolutely not. However, for a more budget-friendly organic matcha, it is not a bad choice.
MatchaDNA Review - Overall Experience
MatchaDNA is a lower-tier matcha powder, which comes from China and is packaged in a cheap- looking tin can. Although it has relatively good reviews on Amazon, the color is quite dark, the smell of the matcha powder is not pleasant, and the taste is nowhere near a premium matcha brand. You would think that the price of the product would be lower than high-quality ceremonial-grade matcha powders, however, it is very similar. Our overall experience of MatchaDNA matcha powder is not a bad one, but, it is not on par with many of our favorite matcha brands.
MatchaDNA Review - Our Verdict
Would I recommend MatchaDNA Organic Green Tea Powder?
Probably not.
There are way too many really good matchas out there today that I would recommend long before Matcha DNA, but if you are adventurous, give it a try! Due to the color and taste, I would think MatchaDNA is a little closer to sencha than matcha. Sencha is essentially a much lower quality matcha that is cultivated in the sun rather than the shade, the flavor can still be pleasing, however the smell and color are very different. If you want the true "matcha experience" I always recommend sticking with the highest quality ceremonial grade matchas such as Encha.
Visit the Best Matcha Green Tea Powder page for our top picks!
There are a lot of positive reviews on Amazon for this matcha, so some people truly enjoy it.
Best Matcha Green Tea Powders
Encha Matcha
- Encha Ceremonial Grade Matcha
- Hand-picked from organic farm in Uji, Japan
- First Harvest Matcha - Vibrant green color
- Highest quality matcha, never bitter
- Our Rating: 4.9 of 5 stars
Tenzo Matcha
- Tenzo Organic Ceremonial Matcha Green Tea Powder
- Authentic Japanese Matcha
- Rich in antioxidants, helps boost metabolism
- Ceremonial Grade - Vibrant Green Color
Pique Matcha
- Pique Matcha - Organic Japanese Matcha Green Tea Powder
- Harvested from a family-owned organic tea farm in Japan
- Increases energy and focus
- Highest-quality, shade grown ceremonial-grade
- Our Rating: 4.8 of 5 stars
Kenko Matcha
- Kenko Matcha Organic Ceremonial Matcha
- Gold Class Ceremonial Grade Matcha
- Country of Origin: Japan
- First Harvest Matcha - Vibrant Green in Color
- Our Rating: 4.8 of 5 stars
FAQ's
Is MatchaDNA Japanese matcha?
MatchaDNA is grown and and ground in the Yunan Province in China. Matcha originated in China, however, it was later adopted in Japan in the 12th Century, and many experts believe that the best matcha in the world currently comes from Japan
Is MatchaDNA good?
MatchaDNA is a very popular matcha on Amazon, and its most popular product is the 1oz tin of organic matcha green tea powder with 4.5/5 stars on over 11,000 reviews. Many people love the taste of MatchaDNA matcha and it is also rather affordable, making it a good matcha choice for those looking for culinary grade matcha suitable for smoothies, lattes, baking, and food preparation. However, after our un-biased, in-depth review of the color, taste, and aroma, we at Matcha Connection would not recommend MatchaDNA for those seeking the refined qualities necessary for traditional tea ceremonies, as it doesn’t live up to the quality of many other ceremonial grade matcha brands.