Matcha Madness has begun. Let me introduce you the the magical world of matcha in my own special way. Buy reviewing a wide selection of brands, surveying them based on color, price, taste and packaging. And I will give my own tips and tricks for enjoying matcha green tea as a part of your healthy, Zenergized lifestyle. Let the matcha madness begin..
Not all matchas are created equal. If you learn anything from this post, let it be that.
Quick List: My Top 5 Picks*, Best Matcha Brands (no order rank here)
1. Encha Organic Matcha - buy on Amazon
2. DoMatcha - buy on Amazon
3. Taste of Kyoto - buy on Amazon
4. Eden - Buy on Amazon
5. American Tea Room - buy online
* Top 5 from brands reviewed in this post
Disclaimer: This review is not scientific by any means and is based on my personal reviews. Matcha reviewing is, like most food-type reviewing, quite subjective. In other words, you might totally disagree with me, and that's ok. However, colors and numbers don't lie, so that helps a bit.
Matcha Authority. Why do I call myself a sort of matcha expert? Well I will admit I have never been to Japan (where most matcha comes from) and I could not describe to you all the intricate details about the production process, history and more. Though I do know a little from research. But what I am an expert in is taste and use of matcha. In other words, I know a good matcha when I see/taste it!!
So yes, I do have a bit of expertise on matcha green tea since I have been drinking it almost every day for a little over a year now. I bought my first tin of matcha at the American Tea Room in Beverly Hills for about fifty bucks (big splurge on tea!!) after the salesman gave me a very long, very passionate spheel about how amazing it is. Among other things, he said it had a Zen-inducing effect that not only energizes you in a non-jittery way, but calms you to a sort of Zenned out feeling that only amazing matcha green tea can provide. It contains about half the caffeine (or a bit less) as standard coffee, though the normal caffeine jitters you may experience with coffee have never effected me with matcha - even after a giant tablespoon-ful scoop into a smoothie! The release of caffeine is said to be at a slow rate and thus jitter-free.
Basics and FAQs:
What is matcha? Matcha is green tea, yes. But it is not like the tea you find in tea bags. Matcha is not steeped. it is dissolved because matcha is a very fine green powder. Matcha powder is the ground up leaves of green tea. The leaves are harvested, dried and eventually ground up into powder after going through an extensive and (I think) magical processing process. Matcha powder is ground up green tea leaves, so you are actually consuming the whole leaf. For this reason it is extremely high in antioxidants, thus having a wide array of healthy living claims and supposed benefits.
Why should I drink matcha? I cannot tell you why you should drink it. But I will tell you why I drink it. It successfully switched me over to green tea from coffee in my daily routine. I now drink coffee about 1-3 times a month, as opposed to 1-3 times a day in my old routine about five years ago. Living in NYC, I was a self-proclaimed coffee addict. I'd hit up my fave spots at least once a day to drown my sorrows (or fatigue) in a cup of Joe. Well soy lattes were my thing actually. I finally switched from coffee to chai, but the sticky-sweetness of most coffee shop chais were not satisfying me, so I still dabbled in the dark coffee bean bevies. But finally! Matcha seriously kicked my coffee cravings to the curb. Now I crave the green stuff, packed with antioxidants. The stuff that makes me feel Zenergized. Yes, I like that word. Plus the bright green color brightens my day!
How to drink it? I rarely make matcha in the traditional sense, which is by very lightly (almost) boiling water, then using a matcha whisk to dissolve the matcha into the water. Then you drink the green matcha tea. Once in a while I will drink it like that, but rarely. I drink my matcha in smoothies or lattes - but mostly smoothies! I add about one teaspoon of matcha to a large vegan protein shake. I also love matcha lattes when I go to coffee shops like Urth Caffe and Peets. Even Starbucks makes a great vegan matcha latte if you ask for soy. Non-vegans: do not drink matcha with dairy. It supposedly ruins the whole antioxidant effect. Soy or almond milk are my preferences. Use the search bar on my site to find all my many matcha-infused recipes. My matcha shake is my fave.
What is good matcha? A high quality matcha will appear bright spring green in color. Color is VERY important when assessing matcha quality. Imagine a bright green bunch of fresh spinach versus a muddy, wilted, army green bunch. Color not only equals better flavor (most times) but it also equals more antioxidant power. I am amazed how poor in quality some matcha is. Muddy brownish matcha is (to be blunt) pretty nasty stuff. So if you have not tried high quality matcha and think you "don't like matcha" -- just find a way to try a high quality variety and then make your true assessment. Not all matchas are created equal!
Organic? I only buy organic matcha, but you can decide for yourself. Organic matchas come in an array of qualities, as you will learn from my review. Organic does not equal high quality, even though organic matcha will be more expensive than a similar non-organic counterpart.
Storage? Keep matcha away from light, moisture and heat. You can store it in a cool dark place along with your tea bags, or in the fridge. You can even store in the freezer if desired. The most important point of fridge storage is to make sure condensation doesn't seep into your matcha (moisture!) or that smells from your fridge are allowed to seep into the matcha .. it easily picks up aromas. I either store it in the "butter" compartment in my fridge, or in a cool dark place. I always consume my matcha within two months, usually one even. The faster you consume it, the fresher the flavor and color will be .. as with most pantry foods. That is why it is actually better to buy matcha NOT in bulk. Smaller amounts will be consumed faster than a huge tub of the stuff.
Price? Matcha is not cheap. And you DO get what you pay for in most cases. Matcha that is super cheap and seems too good to be true, probably is. You can see my guide for price variations. But in general, expect to pay $20-50 for 30g of highest quality matcha. And $20 is pushing it. If $30 for "tea" is out of your budget, think of matcha as a splurge item and buy it once in a while. But buy the good stuff. Nothing is worse than buying a tin of "bad" matcha to save a few bucks, then hating it altogether. If you are going to buy matcha, buy matcha.
Quality? For Americanized shopping purposes, there are two basic words to look for: ceremonial and culinary. Ceremonial matcha is in general (and if labeled honestly) the higher quality of matcha. Culinary is a lesser quality, meaning it may have a more bitter and muddy flavor and less bright green color. However, check out my review for discrepancies. Sometimes brands will also carry a "premium" variety - or something even "better" than ceremonial. This is usually a special origin of tea or has a special preparation. One store I visited has one for over a hundred bucks because it is hand-made by monks (or so the sales guys said). I'm sure it is amazing, but quite a splurge item for matcha lovers!
Origin? I strictly only buy matcha from Japan. I do not buy matcha from China.
Color is an important indicator of quality. Spring green please..
Nice and green..
Not so much..
Bad batch? In my guide I note how many times I have purchased a certain brand. If only one time is listed, you have to keep in mind that I may have received a bad or good batch. Kinda like wine. Sort've. If matcha has been sitting in a storage warehouse for too long or very freshly shipped it may vary in quality once opened. So if I bash one brand that you tried and love, please let us all know in the comments. Or if I love a brand you didn't care for, tell us that also. Comments will be very helpful to gain a full spectrum of opinions in this review! nd to open eyes to other brands to try. Lets chat matcha!
Brands? There are MANY brands of matcha. This is just a small selection. I will try to add more brands as I try them. If you run a matcha brand and would like to be included in this post, please leave a comment so we can get in touch. I am happy to add more brands to this list. But to be honest, this was a very expensive undertaking, so I will not be buying many more brands to try (well, anytime soon that is!) So donations of samples are much appreciated!
How I reviewed: I opened fresh packages, assessed the color by eye, then spread out a sheet of samples. For taste testing I dry-tasted each brand. The colors are quite obvious to see differences, the taste takes a keener sensibility. I did my best to let my palate judge flavor. All prices are based on what I paid, not retail value.
Japan vs China. With the Fukushima radiation disaster, many green tea lovers became worried if green tea production would be effected. Well, to be honest, I do not think anyone has a 100% answer on this issue, but you can research on many green tea producer sites and read their explanations for how everything is indeed ok. The main reason being proximity to the blast. But even still, some China matcha is avaiable for those who want to steer clear. Me? I 100% choose Japan matcha over China. Simply because I have never really tasted a premium China-origin matcha. Japan is where matcha was born and they have perfected the process from leaf to container. So while I agree it is a scary issue to talk about and analyze, right now, I personally have not seen anything to deter me from Japan-origin matcha.
So are you ready to browse these beauties?.. I was! This was fun. And I will NOT be buying more matcha for a while..
Lets begin!
And here is my one sheet guide! - detailed results follow
Kathy's Matcha Brand Review
Number rating scale: 1-5, 5 being the best
In a hurry: skip down to see my list of matchas I would buy again.
Top Shelf Matchas -- From Japan and Organic
Brand 1: Encha
Info: Encha sources from the best organic farms in Japan. "Encha's principle of selecting matcha grades is identifying the natural strength of pure organic matcha and no need to add sugar in your preferred way of drinking matcha! Directly working with the farmer, we select the perfect strength of pure organic matcha that matches the intended pairing ingredient, it being water, vegan non-dairy milk, fruits or baking ingredients."
Reviewed Blends: Latte Matcha Grade, Ceremonial Matcha Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, uplifting, fresh
Container: thick fresh-lock sealed bag/pouches
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: Ceremonial Grade: $24.95/30g or $45.95/60g -- Latte Grade: $30.95/60g
Cost per gram: .83/g or .77/g -- .52/g
Number of times I have purchased it: I have auto-ship set up! (many times)
Bottom line review: I tried the latte variety first and was not expecting much from a "latte grade" but this was off the charts impressive for the price of this matcha. The ceremonial grade was also superb! Top notch. I could not imagine a better matcha. The color was a beautiful, perky spring green. Very impressed with this company and I adore their branding and communication with their customers about the organic farms that they source from. New fave for sure!
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Encha Online Store
Brand 2: DoMatcha
Info: DoMatcha may look familiar to you if you shop at Whole Foods, because it seems to be one of their main matcha brands they carry. DoMatcha comes in both organic and non-organic varieties. This is my go-to matcha when I need to buy one in-store on a grocery shopping trip because I know Whole Foods will always carry it! (may vary by location) DoMatcha has a wide variety of products including matcha to-go packets and even a super high quality "Master's Blend" variety for $50.
Reviewed Blend: DoMatcha Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright and grassy
Container: Tin with an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $29/30g
Cost per gram: $0.96/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 10+
Bottom line review: Love this brand. I have never been disappointed in the quality. I always buy the organic ceremonial variety. Beautiful color and sturdy bright flavor.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: DoMatcha Green Tea, Organic Matcha
Brand 3: Urth Caffe
Info: A popular cafe here in Los Angeles, Urth sells matcha in a variety of grades. I love both the expensive organic variety as well as the less expensive variety (Harayama matcha I think).. Note: when you order a matcha latte at Urth, you by default get the less expensive blend, but you can ask to upgrade to the higher quality variety for an added cost. Highly advised!
Reviewed Blend: Urth blends
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bold, grassy, light bitterness
Container: tins with interior bags
Organic: Yes.
see store for cost
Number of times I have purchased it: 5+
Bottom line review: Love this brand, the matcha is not the best I have ever tried, but very high quality and the brand seems highly dependable. I am excited to splurge on their premium blend at some point.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: in store or matcha gift set online
Brand 4: O-Cha
Info: Direct from Japan matcha! This is not organic, boooo, but quite lovely. The same company does sell an organic matcha that I would love to try in the future. It is only $25 for the same amount so I would guess that the grade is less premium, but I do not know for sure right now.
Reviewed Blend: Super Premium Matcha, Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 4.8
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy, mellow
Container: tins with iner bag and plastic seal tab
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $29.25/30g
Cost per gram: $1/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Fabulous matcha at an excellent price! Not as spring green as the two matchas above (in direct comparison) but very deep dark green with much lightness.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Hibiki-An Matcha
More resources - online stores that are not on Amazon - matcha shipped directly from Japan:
O-Cha
Hibiki-an
Brand 5: American Tea Room
Info: This premium tea store has a variety of matchas and carries the first ceremonial matcha I ever tried. In the black tin. Amazing. I was hooked at first taste and view of that spring green-mazing color! Well, it better be good for $50, right? 🙂 On the website: "Handcrafted almost entirely from gyokuro leaves, this rare, organic matcha has a gorgeous chartreuse color with a profoundly sweet, fresh aroma and a light iodine note."
Reviewed Blend: Ceremonial Organic Premium Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy
Container: tins with interior bags
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $50/30g
Cost per gram: $1.67/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 3
Bottom line review: Super lovely. If you really want to try amazing matcha without any risk of poor quality, give this brand a try. They often offer sales and coupons if you join their email list.
Would I buy it again? Yes. And if you ever need to buy me a gift, this will surely suffice 🙂
Buy it: ATR
Brand 6: Taste of Kyoto
Info: Taste of Kyoto is another organic brand that I have love. It offers a variety of matcha products including reserve and culinary. I have tried both and will review both below.
Reviewed Blend: Taste of Kyoto Reserve Organic Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright and grassy
Container: Tin with an inner bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $42/60g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: Excellent high quality matcha at a premium price. I wish they had a smaller size than 60g, but the cost per gram is great for this quality.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: TASTE OF KYOTO Matcha Green Tea, Reserve
Reviewed Blend: Taste of Kyoto Culinary Organic Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 3.5
Taste: 4
Tasting notes: bright, mild
Container: Tin with an inner bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $26/60g
Cost per gram: $0.43/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: This is probably my favorite "culinary" variety of matcha. Normally you think the quality will greatly suffer with a culinary blend, but this brand really stands up. Granted it is not as good as the reserve variety, but for the price, it far exceeds my expectations.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Organic Ceremonial Matcha 30 Grams
Brand 7: Dr. Mercola
Info: We all know of Dr. Mercola, health guru and wellness authority, yes? Well now he has a matcha. I am certain he has slapped his label on a high quality matcha supplier, but he found a good one!
Reviewed Blend: Dr. Mercola's Royal Matcha - see it on DrMercola.com
Origin: Japan
Color: 4.9
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright, grassy
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $28/30g
Cost per gram: $0.93/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: High quality matcha, if you are a Mercola online store shopper or Mercola fan, give this one a try.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Royal Matcha Green Tea (Organic)
Brand 8: Pure Matcha
Info: Pure Matcha is a fun brand because they offer high quality organic matcha but they also have a black tea powder and a red tea powder.
Reviewed Blend: Pure Matcha Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 4.9
Tasting notes: bright, light, grassy
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $21/30g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: Great, dependable high quality matcha.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Pure Matcha, Premium Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Brand 9: Eden
Info: Eden is a popular and expansive brand of organic products. Eden is a favorite of mine for everything from canned lentils to tamari. Eden only carries one matcha, but it is quite impressive, not to my surprise.
Reviewed Blend: Eden Organic Stone Ground Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright and grassy with calm flavor
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can, outer box
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $37/30g
Cost per gram: $1.23/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This is a great matcha at a premium price. The quality you expect from Eden products is on display here. Beautiful!
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Eden Organic Matcha Tea, Green Tea Stoned Ground 1 -Ounce Tin
Brand 10: Teavana
Info: Teavana is a well known brand with stores in the United States and beyond. From the brand: "Thoughtfully harvested and handcrafted, our pure, organic Imperial Grade Matcha is made from the highest-quality ingredients available, providing outstanding flavor while promoting feelings of focused vitality."
Reviewed Blend: Teavana Matcha Japanese Green Tea, 40g
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 4.9
Tasting notes: rich flavor and sweet grassiness
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can, screw on/off lid
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $45/80g or $25/40g
Cost per gram: $0.56-0.62/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Great product and very good price - high availability due to store locations where - you do not have to pay shipping if you buy in person. I was not expecting this high quality with this price, but Teavana succeeds!
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: 80g container -- 40g container
Bonus Added Brands: (Updates to post)
Brand A: My Matcha Life
Info: This amazing brand was founded on the principles of the matcha tea drinking ceremony: harmony, purity, respect and tranquility. Love that! The founder has dedicated much time and research and knowledge into this new brand. She has traveled extensively throughout Japan and North America, in the name of matcha.
Reviewed Blend: Tea Lovers' Organic Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: bright, sweetly grassy, smooth
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $29.99/30g
Cost per gram: $1/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1, donated from the brand
Bottom line review: Gorgeous quality matcha from an amazing, passionate company. New brand to try and love. The variety I tried was super high quality and gives you everything you could want from an organic/Japan origin top grade matcha. The pricing is competitive, but there are a few brands with lower prices. Bonus: great website with helpful matcha info.
Buy it: My Matcha Life
---- End of my top shelf list picks - Below brands may not be organic and from Japan ----
Brand 10: Aiya
Info: Aiya is a brand I recently discovered. They have high quality matchas, and carry a variety of blends. They offer a ceremonial matcha (reviewed) as well as a premium blend which is even more expensive at about $50 for 30g, so I imagine it is amazing. They also offer a less expensive cooking grade blend. Their online store sells a variety of matcha accesories too.
Reviewed Blend: Aiya Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 4
Taste: 4
Tasting notes: bold, grassy, light bitterness
Container: Tin without an inner bag, pull-tab can
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $24/30g
Cost per gram: $0.80/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Give it a try! Great color and flavor. A sturdy high quality matcha.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Organic Ceremonial Matcha 30 Grams
Brand 11: Hibiki-An
Info: Direct from Japan matcha. This is sadly not organic, but quite lovely. The same company does sell an organic matcha that I would love to try in the future. It is only $25 for the same amount so I would guess that the grade is less premium, but I do not know for sure right now.
Reviewed Blend: Super Premium Matcha, Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy
Container: tins with pull tabs, no bags
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $38/40g
Cost per gram: $1.05/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 2
Bottom line review: Beautiful green tea at an excellent price! If you do not mind not having your matcha organic, this is a great find.
Would I buy it again? No. I would however, try the organic version which is only $25/40g... interested to try that next!
Buy it: Hibiki-An Matcha
Brand 12: Doctor King
Info: Doctor King calls its matcha the "finest organic ceremonial matcha" and lists a variety of health claims in their marketing.
Reviewed Blend: Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 3.5
Taste: 3.5
Tasting notes: muted, a bit grassy, mild bitterness, not very bold
Container: plastic container with an interior silver bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $21/30g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: I had high hopes for this brand but... The UK website is a bit unimpressive with its excessive health claims. This matcha had really great color, but the flavor was not matching the color, which was odd. I am not a fan of the plastic packaging and sloppy labeling either.
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: DOCTOR KING Ceremonial Organic Japanese Matcha Green Tea 
Brand 13: NourishTea
Info: NourishTea is an impressive brand that carries a wide variety of teas. They only offer one matcha variety.
Reviewed Blend: Organic Happy Matcha (no type specified)
Origin: Japan
Color: 2
Taste: 2
Tasting notes: muddy flavor
Container: Tin with an interior bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $23/80g
Cost per gram: $0.29/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: I love this brand and I know for a act that their other teas are impressive - I have tried a few loose tea blends - but this matcha just doesn't measure up. I'm glad they tried to reach out to matcha fans, but maybe they should find a new supplier and up the price if need be to ensure quality.
Would I buy it again? No way
Buy it: Nourishtea happy matcha
Brand 14: Maeda-En
Info: This is another matcha brand you may spot at Whole Foods. It is actually the second brand I tried. I wanted to save a few bucks so I purchased the "cheapest" brand at Whole Foods. It (the Skiki variety) was not impressive. However, for this review, I bought the ceremonial blend and was very impressed. But it is not organic.
Reviewed Blend: Maeda-En Ceremonial Quality Matcha
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: creamy and bright, grassy
Container: Tin with an inner bag, plastic lid
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $20/28g
Cost per gram: $0.70/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This is such a great ceremonial matcha, however it does not appear from the labeling or website to be organic, which is a huge bummer and deal-breaker for me purchasing it again. However, if you do not mind non-organic, give this a try. Just be SURE to buy the ceremonial quality variety. I have only seen the lesser quality variety at my local Whole Foods stores, so buying online is advised.
Would I buy it again? No because it is not organic.
Buy it: Maeda-En Mtcha Cermonial Quality
Brand 15: Tealux
Info: Tealux is a brand that carries a wide variety of teas and a wide variety of matchas. I clearly bought a lower grade matcha from Tealux, as their website calls this cooking matcha, so I would be excited to try their ceremonial variety, as I am guessing it will far exceed the one I tested here.
Reviewed Blend: Tealux Uji Premium Organic Matcha (not the ceremonial blend)
Origin: Japan
Color: 3
Taste: 3
Tasting notes: muddled, bitter
Container: opaque bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $23/113g
Cost per gram: $0.20/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This is cooking matcha for sure, I would never advise drinking this specific variety. For use in baking, yes. The Tealux brand is obviously an authority on tea, so I am anxious to try the higher quality version.
Would I buy it again? No (But a the reserve variety is worth trying)
Buy it: Premium Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder Uji Kyoto Japan By Tealux (4oz)
*Tealux fans, see the links below this post to buy the ceremonial blend version, which is probably much higher in quality..
Brand 16: Matcha Source
Info: This premium matcha is ceremony grade and comes at a premium price. But it is worth it!
Reviewed Blend: Kama Matcha, Ceremonial Grade
Origin: Japan
Color: 5
Taste: 5
Tasting notes: grassy, bright, creamy
Container: tins with pull tabs, no bags
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $48/30g
Cost per gram: $1.60/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Super lovely. I was all ready to RAVE about the color and flavor of this matcha but then noticed that it is not organic. At this price, I would've expected it to be!
Would I buy it again? No. At this price I can find an organic brand, although if you are not concerned about organic, this is a lovely matcha.
Buy it: Kama Matcha 
-----
Matcha From China -- my personal view: not advised to buy
Brand 17: Kiss Me Organics
Info: Kiss Me Organics appears to only sell one variety of matcha: culinary grade. It is a bulk bag. I was eager to try this brand in hopes that it would be a good value opportunity. This is a Chinese-origin matcha.
Reviewed Blend: Organic Matcha, Culinary Grade
Origin: China
Color: 3
Taste: 2.5
Tasting notes: light grassiness, mellow yet somewhat bright
Container: metallic opaque bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $25/113g
Cost per gram: $0.22/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: I find it a bit misleading that the website does not clearly state that this matcha is from China. You have to read the fine print on the package to find that info. For a culinary matcha, this product was average. However, this was the best China-origin matcha that I reviewed in my selection.
Would I buy it again? Maybe for a bulk matcha baking project
Buy it: Matcha Green Tea Powder - ORGANIC 
Brand 18: Matcha DNA
Info: This is an organic brand from China with individual matcha packets. I was super excited about trying a per-packet brand, but sadly, this brand did not deliver.
Reviewed Blend: MatchaDNA Organic Matcha
Origin: China
Color: 1.5
Taste: 1.6
Tasting notes: muddy, bland
Container: opaque bag with individual packets
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $24/85g
Cost per gram: $0.28/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: This was not good matcha.
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: MatchaDNA Certified Organic Matcha Tea 
Brand 19: Swanson
Info: Swanson is an online store with a variety of products like vitamins and suplements. This matcha says it is "Dr. Bob" approved because it refers to Dr. Robert DeMaria, an author of Dr. Bob's Guide to Optimal Health. The brand looks sound and trustworthy, however the matcha doesn't speak to that.
Reviewed Blend: Swanson Organic Matcha
Origin: China
Color: 1.9
Taste: 2.3
Tasting notes: bitter, lightly grassy, a bit bland
Container: plastic container with a scooper included
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $18/50g
Cost per gram: $0.36/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: No very impressive.
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: 100% Certified Organic Matcha Green Tea 
Brand 20: EatGreenTea.com
Info: An online store with one variety of matcha from China. They also sell edible green tea leaves
Reviewed Blend: Organic Green Tea Powder
Origin: China
Color: 2.5
Taste: 3
Tasting notes: bitter, a bit grassy
Container: metallic opaque bag
Organic on label: yes
Cost/Weight: $25/100g
Cost per gram: $0.25/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 1
Bottom line review: Love this brand, the matcha is not the best I have ever tried, but very high quality and the brand seems highly dependable. I am excited to splurge on their premium blend at some point.
Would I buy it again? Yes
Buy it: Organic Green Tea Powder
Brand 21: UJIDO
Info: From the brand, "In 1832, a humble tea farmer decided to start a tea business in Uji, Kyoto Japan — where our current Japanese Tea production method was first developed. That tea farmer’s name was Tune-emon Takizo, and we, his family, have continued to produce superior Green Tea every generation since.
In 1952, we opened our retail shop in Uji, Kyoto, Japan and it is still open today. We are so honored to carry on an ancient tradition that is also our family heritage for nearly two centuries after our humble beginnings, we enjoy bringing authentic Matcha tea to the world!"
Reviewed Blend: basic offering
Origin: Japan
Color: 3.5
Taste: 3
Tasting notes: mostly bright and grassy, but slightly bitter
Container: large metallic opaque bag
Organic on label: no
Cost/Weight: $6.50/1oz
Cost per gram: $0.21/g
Number of times I have purchased it: 0 (free sample)
Bottom line review: Good sturdy brand as a good value price, but not organic so I personally wouldn't buy it
Would I buy it again? No
Buy it: ujido
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Bottom line review: Here are matchas I rate highest..
(note: I personally buy organic + ceremonial grades)
Encha, DoMatcha, American Tea Room, Taste of Kyoto (any variety), Aiya, Dr Mercola, Eden, Pure Matcha, Maeda-En, Urth Caffe, Matcha Source Kama Matcha, Hibiki-an, O-Cha,
What brands am I missing? What are your faves? Comments section open.
*Amazon links are either products I mentioned above or products I have tried. The quality varies. Please read full reviews to see which products I personally like best. I have not tried vitalife, but plan to because it gets good feedback..
2016 UPDATE: The BizJournals names matcha as a wellness trend for 2016. I am not surprised! Green tea provides an antioxidant-filled boost to your day without the normal jitters that espresso beverages often bring. The article reads..
"Wellness trend: Matcha everything — You’ve probably seen this powder version of green tea at various coffee and tea places, including Starbucks, a lot recently. It's actually been kicking around in wellness circles since the 90s and again as part of the raw food movement in the aughts.."
Not a sponsored post: When first doing this post, I purchased every single matcha in my survey (no freebies!) so you know I have nothing to gain in calling one brand better than another. In the following months a few brands sent me free samples, and some were added to the reviews.
Disclosure: I provide links to Amazon available products from my review, and I am an Amazon affiliate.
This page will occasionally be updated as more matchas are tasted.
