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Whether you are a matcha connoisseur or a beginner in the world of Japanese teas, it is essential to understand the different types of matcha grades. Even for beginners, the grade of the matcha is an important factor to consider when purchasing one from a store. This can help you stay away from overpaying or under-utilizing your desired amount of matcha.
In this article, we'll break down what each matcha grades means and which one might be right for you.
Different Matcha Grades To Explore
1) Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest grade of tea and is made from the youngest leaves of the tea plant. It's grown in Japan, where it's shaded from direct sunlight for about three weeks before harvesting.
Ceremonial-grade matcha is also harvested by hand. Hence, you know you're getting a product that has been carefully prepared to ensure its quality and flavor profile.
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Ceremonial Grade Matcha comes in powder form, which means that you'll need to add water or milk (or another liquid) before consuming it. You can have it as part of your morning ritual or afternoon pick-me-up snack.
2) Culinary Grade Matcha
Culinary grade is the most common type of matcha you'll find on the market. It is used in recipes and it has a lower price tag than premium or ceremonial grade.
Culinary grade is a good option if you want to use matcha in recipes, but don't want to pay the high price of ceremonial grade. While culinary isn't as aesthetically pleasing as other grades, it still has all of its health benefits. However, it is not as intense as higher matcha grades because they're ground down into smaller particles.
3) Premium Grade Matcha
Premium grade matcha is the highest quality and most expensive type of matcha. It's made from the highest quality leaves, which means that it has a bright green color and an intense flavor.
The term "premium" refers to both its price and its taste - can cost anywhere from $30-$60 per ounce (2-3 grams), depending on where you're purchasing it.
4) Cafe Grade Matcha
Cafe-grade matcha is the most common type of matcha on the market. It's typically a blend of culinary and ceremonial grades, and it's sold in bulk to restaurants and cafes. It is primarily used for making lattes, smoothies, or other drinks.
Cafe grade can be quite good if you know what you're looking for it just depends on where the cafe gets their matcha from!
5) Classic Grade Matcha
Classic grade matcha is the most common grade of matcha and it's used in all kinds of preparations, from drinking to baking. The classic grade is also great for making smoothies.
Classic grade matcha is not recommended for ceremonial purposes because it has a lower quality leaf than other grades of matcha. However, its quality is still high enough to be used as an ingredient in many recipes or drinks that require green tea powder.
6) Ingredient Grade Matcha
Ingredient Grade Matcha, also known as secondary market matcha, is the least expensive grade of loose-leaf tea available. It's typically used in baking and cooking because of its lower quality.
The taste is not as good as ceremonial or culinary grades, but it still has some nice flavor notes if you're not expecting too much from your cup of tea.
The caffeine content is also higher than other grades because they use less leaves per ounce than other grades do. However, this doesn't mean that it will make you jittery like coffee would.
6) Kitchen Grade Matcha
Kitchen-grade matcha is made from the same leaves as ceremonial grade, but because it's not intended for drinking, it has a lower price tag. It's also less finely ground than other matcha grades and has a stronger color.
Kitchen grade is best used in cooking rather than drinking. It has a more intense flavor that may be too strong for your taste buds if you're accustomed to drinking other kinds of green tea.
Overall, the key factors to consider when selecting the right matcha grade are your intended use, personal preference, color, flavor, and price. By taking these factors into account, you can find the perfect matcha for your needs.
