Here at the Matcha Connection we get tons of emails asking many different questions. Today I found this email in my inbox with the subject line - Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder?. The writer wanted to know where is the best place to buy matcha, so i decided to put together a comprehensive buying guide on where to buy matcha powder.
Do a quick internet search for matcha, and you will soon be bombarded with a copious amount of online matcha retailers.
Which one do you pick?
How do you know you're buying the real thing?
What is matcha?
Matcha is a super concentrated version of green tea that has been increasing in popularity in the recent past, when in reality, the use of matcha dates back thousands of years. The process entails cultivating green tea plants, shade growing the plants during the last weeks before harvest, hand selecting the youngest leaves, then a drying process, and finally, grinding the leaves into a powder.
Matcha's antioxidant content is at least 137 times greater than brewed green tea! Green tea is immensely healthy on it's own, research studies have even found that green tea can benefit individuals in a myriad of ways, such as with weight loss, immunity, diabetes, and even cancer!
For more in depth information visit the Ultimate Guide to the Best Matcha Green Tea Powder.
As matcha becomes more and more popular, users of this green tea are looking for the best place to buy the ground tea leaves known as matcha. There are basically two categories of places that you can buy matcha and they are online and offline. Let’s take a look at each of them.
Best Place to Buy Matcha
Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder
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
Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder Offline?
Unless you live in a large, culturally diverse city, your options for buying matcha locally are going to be pretty slim. Here are some of the more well known retail locations that you may find in your area that carry matcha.
- Whole Foods
- Trader Joes
- Walmart
- Asian Markets
The important thing to remember when you are buying matcha is that you want to make sure that you know what you are getting. That is very difficult in the offline world. This is why I believe that the best place to buy matcha green tea powder is online where you can view thousands of reviews to take advantage of other people’s experiences.
Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder Online
Online shopping can be overwhelming. It seems these days just about anybody can create a website and start selling products. With numerous online stores to choose from, how do you know you are going to get what you paid for? This is especially concerning when purchasing items in an effort to improve your health, such as matcha green tea powder.
In response to the surge of consumer interest in matcha, a plethora of matcha retailer websites have popped up, most of them being untrustworthy for various reasons.
There are however, some very good places to buy matcha online whether you are looking for ceremonial grade matcha or culinary grade matcha. We have been very fortunate to find some of the best retailers that you can trust.
You can see those retailers below.
Another one of our favorite places to buy matcha is on Amazon, and we even compiled a list of the best matcha powders on Amazon!
Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder
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
Here are the Do's and Don'ts of buying matcha online:
The "Do's" of where to buy matcha green tea powder online:
- Buy from a retailer that you know and trust! As I have said before, anyone can start a website and put there name on a product and make any claims that they want. After all, if it’s on the internet, it must be true. This is why we recommend the best place to buy matcha green tea is amazon.com, or buying matcha direct from a company that you trust. Amazon is the world’s largest retailer. They have a reputation to uphold and best of all, the matcha that you want to buy has been reviewed by hundreds, if not thousands of different matcha drinkers.
- Do buy from websites that make shipping and returns easy. For example, at Hibiki-An, the return and shipping policy is strict and complicated. They claim to ship directly from Japan, where the best matcha is produced. While the latter is true, customers don't need to pay the extra taxes, customs fees and international shipping fees when buying from big name companies, such as Amazon. Furthermore, Amazon Prime members get free, 2-day shipping, on all prime eligible purchases, which includes most of the matcha for sale on Amazon. Not to mention that all returns include free shipping! The bottom line is customers can buy matcha that is from Japan, at Amazon, without paying tons of extra money, and waiting several extra weeks for their matcha to be delivered.
- Do buy from websites that have a detailed product description. At this matcha retailer, Matcha Outlet , their product descriptions are immensely vague. I would never buy matcha from them and you shouldn’t either. It's all well and good to provide a nice, aesthetic description, but consumers must also have the item specifics. For example, the exact weight of the product, and dimensions if applicable, the precise ingredients, any necessary allergy warnings. Without this information, customers cannot make an informed decision to purchase, which is why Amazon products always have a detailed item description.
- Do buy matcha from websites that offer a satisfaction guarantee. It is imperative that the website you are planning to buy matcha from has a satisfaction guarantee. Such a guarantee lets customers know that if they aren't happy with their purchase, they can always return it for a refund. Unfortunately, unless the guarantee is honored as stated, it is meaningless. Amazon has a guarantee called, "The A-Z Guarantee Program", in which they allow customers to file claims when dissatisfied with a purchase in order to quickly resolve the issue.
The "Don'ts" of where to buy matcha green tea powder online:
1. Don't buy from a website that has no verified customer reviews. Most respectable online businesses have verified customer reviews, both positive and negative, to provide their customers with well rounded information on their products. Doing so helps customers make an informed decision about a product before they buy it. On the flip side of that, watch out for websites that only have positive reviews. While it's not a bad sign to have happy customers, it is usually too good to be true for a retailer to have a 100% satisfaction rating. It is, however, important to look for online stores that have a majority of positive reviews and/or ratings listed with the product information. Almost every single product available via Amazon has a long list of verified purchase reviews.
2. Don't shop at a website that looks suspicious. If you click on a website to shop for items and a slew of pop up ads take over your computer or cell phone screen, then it's likely that shopping there would be an unwise decision. Additionally, the website format may seem a little off, for example, misspelled words, low readability, difficult to navigate, or it just doesn't look right. That isn't to say that all sites that have popups or bad web design aren't legitimate; nonetheless, the above are red flags to watch out for.
3. Don't buy matcha from auction sites like eBay. Getting a bargain on eBay is great for various types of products, but not for food or medicines. Why is that? The reason is that it's very easy for random people to misrepresent items when selling on eBay. This is all the more concerning when buying foods of medicines because it has the potential to be very dangerous. Becoming a seller is easy with eBay in general. This is not the case with Amazon. While eBay has guidelines for sellers, Amazon has much stricter guidelines. Especially in regards to new sellers, which is what makes Amazon a more reliable place to shop online.
Buying Matcha Powder Online
In today's digital age, the convenience of online shopping has opened up a world of possibilities for matcha enthusiasts. Online retailers offer a diverse selection of matcha powders ranging from ceremonial to culinary matcha, from various regions, making it easy for you to explore and find the perfect matcha for your preferences. Here's why online retailers are a fantastic option for purchasing matcha powder:
- Variety and Accessibility: Online platforms like Amazon, Teavana, and Adagio Teas provide an extensive range of matcha options, including different grades and brands. This variety ensures that you can find precisely what you're looking for, whether it's ceremonial grade matcha for traditional tea ceremonies or culinary grade for baking and cooking.
- Convenience: Shopping for matcha online allows you to browse, compare, and make purchases from the comfort of your own home. This convenience is especially valuable if you don't have access to local specialty stores or Japanese markets.
- Customer Reviews: One of the significant advantages of online shopping is the availability of customer reviews. You can benefit from the experiences of others by reading their feedback on specific matcha products. This can help you make an informed decision and select a matcha powder that suits your taste and requirements.
- Product Information: Online retailers typically provide detailed product information, including the origin of the matcha, grade, and flavor profile. You can easily compare different options and learn more about each product before making a purchase.
- Delivery to Your Doorstep: Most online retailers offer home delivery services, ensuring that your chosen matcha powder is conveniently delivered right to your doorstep. This saves you the time and effort of physically visiting multiple stores.
- Special Offers and Discounts: Keep an eye out for special promotions and discounts on online platforms. Many retailers offer competitive pricing, bundle deals, and seasonal discounts that can help you save on high-quality matcha.
We partner with several specialty matcha brands that offer the highest quality matcha powder and often run special offers and discounts for our readers. If you are someone that likes the convenience, accessibility, and information of buying your premium matcha online, we recommend buying on Amazon, or taking advantage of promotions directly from the brands. Here are the three brands that we run discounts with through their website: Encha, Tenzo, Jade Leaf Matcha
Final Thoughts on Where To Buy Matcha
It goes without saying that consumers want to be sure they are spending their money on a quality product, from a trusted source.
The same goes for matcha.
I believe that Amazon is one of the best places to buy matcha green tea powder, hands down, for a long list of reasons.
Mainly due to the fact there is a great deal of variety in regards to brands and grades. In addition, purchasing from Amazon is safe. Amazon is the largest internet-based retailer in the United States, and can be counted on to do right by their customers.
Here at the Matcha Connection, we actually prefer to buy direct from Matcha suppliers that we trust and have developed a relationship with.
You can see those suppliers below. If you are a first time matcha buyer, we recommend starting with a matcha kit which includes a traditional matcha whisk, matcha bowl, and delicious matcha powder sample. Some kits can also contain recipes to get you started with making matcha lattes, smoothies, or matcha baked goods.
Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder
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
What does matcha taste like?
The best matcha powders have a very complex flavor profile, often times with grassy, vegetal undertones and hints of nuttiness followed by a pleasant savory taste known as "Umami". Some matchas can be describes as bitter, however, in our expert opinion, we find that most high-quality ceremonial matchas rarely have any bitterness. Often times the lower quality matcha grades such as culinary have a more bitter flavor making them less suitable to drink as a tea, and better for cooking and baking.
Does matcha have caffeine?
Matcha has a high concentration of caffeine, almost double the amount of a traditional brewed green tea. This is due to the fact that matcha tea leaves are shade grown and the entire leaf is consumed when drinking, giving matcha much higher levels of caffeine, antioxidants, and l-theanine. One serving of matcha contains approximately 50-70 grams of caffeine, slightly lower than in a cup of coffee.