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If you've ever witnessed emerald-hued matcha being made, you know it's an absolute art. To make Japan's famous green tea, the green tea powder is incorporated with hot water with a bamboo whisk in a ceramic bowl until it becomes a frothy, green liquid with earthy aromas. Not that tea is matcha's only application. The powder is also divine frothed into lattes, folded into matcha macaron batter, swirled into matcha hot chocolate, or even piped into cream for matcha cream puffs. But finding a good quality matcha powder can mean the difference between a ho-hum dish or drink and a great one. Don't worry, as always, Delish has done the hard searching for you.
Our top picks
What makes a good matcha powder?
It's all about the color. "The brighter the green, the better the quality," said Jee Choe, a tea sommelier and the blogger behind Oh, How Civilized. A dull green means the flavor could be bitter, she added.
There are also two main kinds of matcha powder. There's ceremonial-grade matcha "for special occasions or formal tea ceremony," said Angel Wong of Angel Wong's Kitchen blog. There's also culinary-grade matcha, "which is for cooking and making lattes." The first will be brighter in color, of better quality, but also more expensive, while the latter will be a little duller and more budget-friendly.
How do I make the best matcha latte?
"My matcha motto is to sift before you whisk," said Lu Ann Pannunzio of The Tea Cup of Life blog and author of a book of the same name. It may come pre-sifted, she continued, but sifting again will get any lingering lumps out. "It helps you achieve a smoother bowl of matcha, resulting in a nice layer of froth." (Here are sifters we recommend!)
Want a hack for the best (and breeziest) iced matcha latte? Add matcha, milk, and any desired sweeteners to a cocktail shaker or mason jar with a lid, Choe recommends. "Shake vigorously and pour into a cup of ice. It's super easy and takes literally seconds," she said.
How we chose these products
We sought the expertise of tea experts, reaching out to bloggers and authors in the space who really know matcha powder. We also included a few of the internet's favorite matcha powders, plus ones considered ceremonial and culinary grade. With these powders, you'll be in matcha heaven in no time.
Pros
- Good quality
- Vibrant color
Cons
"My favorite matcha is from Ippodo Tea, a 300-plus-year-old Japanese company that specializes in green tea," Choe said. She loves how flavorful and vibrant in color it is, as well its op-notch quality. "It's what I use to make matcha drinks at home."
Encha Ceremonial Grade Matcha Green Tea
Pros
- Affordable
- Vibrant color
Cons
"For making matcha lattes, my go-to matcha is Encha Matcha's ceremonial grade matcha," Choe said. She raves about how great the quality is for the price and the lovely green color. "Stick to the ceremonial grade since it's higher in quality than the latte grade."
Pannunzio loves that it's "made with first-harvest leaves and has a sweet and earthy taste with little to no bitterness."
Jade Leaf Matcha Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Pros
- Great for smoothies and healthy desserts
Cons
"Jade Leaf ceremonial matcha powder is organic matcha with a bright, beautiful color, smooth texture, and clean taste," said Dani Spies of the blog Clean & Delicious. She uses it to make a creamy latte with almond, coconut, or oat milk, but notes it's also great in smoothies, protein bites, energy balls, and even pistachio "nice" cream.
Pros
- Great for cooking
Cons
"Culinary-grade matcha has a more subdued shade of green that is still beautiful in color, as it's made of older tea leaves that have had more exposure to sunlight," Patti Delgado, chef at healthy lifestyle restaurant Vibrant in Houston, T.X., explained. She uses this one from Mizuba Tea Co. at her restaurant.
Sugimoto Tea Daily Matcha
Pros
- Good for cooking and drinking
Cons
"Sugimoto Tea's Organic Daily Matcha powder is a bright green so it's high quality and fresh," Wong said. Although it's culinary grade, this matcha is still fabulous for both drinking and cooking—a best of both worlds situation, if you will.
Pros
- Affordable
- Makes easy matcha lattes
Cons
If you loooooove matcha lattes and find yourself only using matcha powder for that, try this mix. It's a mixture of green tea powder (matcha) and sugar cane, meaning all you have to do is add water and milk! At $30 for a one pound container, it's super affordable, too.
Pros
- Good quality for price
- Multipurpose
Cons
With 62,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, you know this matcha powder has a dedicated fan base. Customers love that you get a lot for the price, dig its slightly sweet flavor, and adore the stuff's pretty, deep green color. This stuff is great in lattes, smoothies, or baked goods.
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