Matcha grade guide Matcha grades, from latte to ceremonial.
What separates a latte blend from a first-harvest ceremonial matcha, which cultivars are behind each one, and what every grade costs per kg.
2 grades
Latte & Culinary
Blends for lattes, baking and food. The lowest cost per cup.
6 grades
Premium Latte
Brighter colour and softer bitterness for a specialty latte menu.
7 grades
Signature
First-harvest teas for usucha and premium lattes.
8 grades
Imperial
Stone-milled and single-region first harvest, for straight matcha.
5 grades
Reserve
Our rarest lots, for koicha and tea service.
4 grades
Flavoured
Half ceremonial Uji base, natural flavour, no added sugar.
3 grades
Hojicha Powder
Roasted green tea powder for lattes and desserts.
Every grade
Origin, cultivar, harvest. And the price per kg.
Latte & Culinary
Blends for lattes, baking and food. The lowest cost per cup.
| Grade | Origin | Cultivar | Harvest | Taste | Supply | Per kg | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC-01 Everyday Latte Blend | Japan, multi-region | Saemidori, Okumidori, Yabukita | 1st to 3rd harvest blend | Mild and clean, low bitterness | 100 kg/month | $68 | Quote |
| LC-02 Organic Culinary BlendCertified organic | Japan, multi-region | Blend | 1st to 4th harvest blend | Bolder, holds up in baking | 1 t+/month | $85 | Quote |
Signature
First-harvest teas for usucha and premium lattes.
| Grade | Origin | Cultivar | Harvest | Taste | Supply | Per kg | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG-01 Nishio Stone-milledStone-milled | Nishio | Samidori, Yabukita | 1st harvest | Light, clean, easy to work with | 500 kg/month | $182 | Quote |
| SG-02 Shizuoka Yabukita | Shizuoka | Yabukita | 1st harvest | Sweet, nutty, creamy finish | 300 kg/month | $195 | Quote |
| SG-03 Shizuoka Sayamakaori | Shizuoka | Sayamakaori | 1st harvest | Emerald green, refined bitterness | 300 kg/month | $195 | Quote |
| SG-04 Yame Yabukita | Yame | Yabukita | 1st and 2nd harvest blend | Deep umami, almost no bitterness | 1 t+/month | $221 | Quote |
| SG-05 Yame Gyokuro Powder | Yame | Yabukita, Saemidori, Tsuyuhikari | 1st harvest | Rich umami, natural sweetness | 100 kg/month | $234 | Quote |
| SG-06 Uji Stone-milledStone-milled | Uji | Yabukita, Samidori, Gokou, Saemidori | 1st harvest | Balanced depth, very fine powder | 1 t+/month | $247 | Quote |
| SG-07 Organic KagoshimaCertified organic | Kagoshima | Yutakamidori, Yabukita, Saemidori | 1st harvest | Smooth and balanced | 1 t+/month | $260 | Quote |
Imperial
Stone-milled and single-region first harvest, for straight matcha.
| Grade | Origin | Cultivar | Harvest | Taste | Supply | Per kg | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM-01 Uji First HarvestStone-milled | Uji | Yabukita, Okumidori, Gokou | 1st harvest | Silky, bright, gently bitter | 100 kg/month | $286 | Quote |
| IM-02 Kagoshima Floral | Kagoshima | Mostly Okumidori | 1st harvest | Floral, clean, no bitterness | 100 kg/month | $286 | Quote |
| IM-03 Yame Okumidori | Yame | Mostly Yabukita and Okumidori | 1st harvest | Fragrant, deep green, clean finish | 1 t+/month | $299 | Quote |
| IM-04 Kagoshima Roasted Note | Kagoshima | Mostly Okumidori | 1st harvest | Strongly nutty, deep roasted character | 100 kg/month | $325 | Quote |
| IM-05 Yame Tsuyuhikari | Yame | Tsuyuhikari | 1st harvest | Floral, strong umami, long sweetness | 1 t+/month | $338 | Quote |
| IM-06 Uji and Yame Milk BlendStone-milled | Uji, Yame | Yabukita, Saemidori, Tsuyuhikari, Okumidori and others | 1st harvest | Built for dairy and oat milk | 100 kg/month | $375 | Quote |
| IM-07 Uji Stone-milled SelectStone-milled | Uji | Samidori, Yabukita, Saeakari, Okumidori | 1st harvest | Sweet, clear umami, creamy in a latte | 100 kg/month | $377 | Quote |
| IM-08 Organic Kagoshima OkumidoriCertified organic | Kagoshima | Mostly Okumidori | 1st harvest | Nutty, roasted, elegant | 100 kg/month | $390 | Quote |
Reserve
Our rarest lots, for koicha and tea service.
| Grade | Origin | Cultivar | Harvest | Taste | Supply | Per kg | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS-01 Kyushu Okumidori | Kagoshima, Ureshino, Sonogi, Yame | Okumidori | 1st harvest | Velvety, rich umami, long finish | 100 kg/month | $403 | Quote |
| RS-02 Nishio Single Cultivar | Nishio | Okumidori | 1st harvest | Deep green, nutty, very limited | 3 kg/month | $455 | Quote |
| RS-03 Uji KoichaStone-milled | Uji | Yabukita, Okumidori, Samidori, Gokou and others | 1st harvest | Ultra fine, elegant sweetness | 100 kg/month | $455 | Quote |
| RS-04 Yame Koicha | Yame | Okumidori | 1st harvest | Strong umami, lingering sweetness | 100 kg/month | $494 | Quote |
| RS-05 Uji ReserveStone-milled | Uji | Samidori, Gokou and others | 1st harvest | Velvety, quiet refined finish | 100 kg/month | $494 | Quote |
Flavoured
Half ceremonial Uji base, natural flavour, no added sugar.
| Grade | Origin | Cultivar | Harvest | Taste | Supply | Per kg | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL-01 Yuzu Matcha | Uji base | Blend | Half 1st harvest | Citrus, for iced and sparkling drinks | 100 kg/month | $247 | Quote |
| FL-02 Vanilla Matcha | Uji base | Blend | Half 1st harvest | For iced lattes, no syrup needed | 100 kg/month | $247 | Quote |
| FL-03 Chocolate Matcha | Uji base | Blend | Half 1st harvest | For iced lattes | 100 kg/month | $247 | Quote |
| FL-04 Cocoa Matcha | Uji base | Blend | Half 1st harvest | For iced lattes | 100 kg/month | $247 | Quote |
Hojicha Powder
Roasted green tea powder for lattes and desserts.
| Grade | Origin | Cultivar | Harvest | Taste | Supply | Per kg | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJ-01 Light Roast Hojicha | Mie | Yabukita | Autumn bancha | Fresh, lightly sweet, clean | 1 t+/month | $85 | Quote |
| HJ-02 Organic Medium Roast HojichaCertified organic | Kagoshima | Mostly Yabukita | Blend | Toasty, caramel-like | 100 kg/month | $91 | Quote |
| HJ-03 Uji Dark Roast Hojicha | Uji | Mostly Yabukita | Blend | Smoky, bold, long finish | 100 kg/month | $104 | Quote |
Indicative prices per kg, before shipping. Other currencies are converted from USD at fixed rates as of 2026-10-22. Your quote confirms the price.
Cultivars
The tea plants behind the powder.
- Yabukita
- Japan's most widely planted tea cultivar. Balanced umami and astringency, and the backbone of many blends.
- Okumidori
- A late-budding cultivar with deep green colour, rich umami and mild astringency.
- Saemidori
- Very bright green, sweet and low in astringency. Popular for vivid lattes.
- Samidori
- A classic Uji cultivar for high-grade matcha: refined, low in bitterness, with a long finish.
- Gokou
- An Uji cultivar known for its distinctive aroma, often used in high-grade matcha and gyokuro.
- Tsuyuhikari
- Bright colour and a floral aroma, with a mellow, rounded taste.
- Saeakari
- A newer cultivar: bright green, gently sweet, with a nutty note.
Questions
Matcha grade FAQ
What is the difference between ceremonial and culinary matcha?
Neither term is regulated. Ceremonial usually means younger first-harvest leaves, milled finer, with less bitterness, for whisking with water. Culinary or latte grades usually come from later harvests: stronger, lower in cost, and made to come through milk, sugar and baking.
Which grade should a café use for lattes?
Most cafés start with a Latte & Culinary or Premium Latte grade, because milk softens fine flavours and the cost per cup stays low. A first-harvest Signature grade suits a premium latte or a straight matcha on the menu.
What does stone-milled mean?
The leaves are ground slowly between granite mills. The low heat and slow speed give a very fine powder with little sediment, but the mill makes only a small amount an hour, so stone-milled matcha costs more.
What is gyokuro powder?
Gyokuro is a shaded tea brewed as leaf in Japan. PR-05 Mie Gyokuro Powder and SG-05 Yame Gyokuro Powder are milled gyokuro: strictly not matcha, but used in exactly the same way, with strong umami and sweetness.
Found the grade for your menu?
Ask for a quote for your volume, in your currency.