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The Best Matcha Powders of 2024
Matcha is a powdered green tea that originated in China but was popularized in Japan. The green tea leaves used to make matcha are processed to increase their chlorophyll content and stimulate the production of amino acids, particularly L-theanine. After harvesting, the leaves are steamed, dried, and ground into a fine powder. Matcha has a distinct umami flavor and is a very versatile ingredient used in lattes, smoothies, desserts, and savory dishes. It’s praised for being high in antioxidants and having a caffeine content that’s less than coffee but higher than regular green tea.
Our research for the best matcha powders looked at flavor, ingredient quality, health claims/properties, and packaging. The HANDPICK Matcha Powder takes the top spot because it is sourced and packaged directly in Japan, has a smooth taste, and aids digestion.
Our Top Picks For Matcha Powders
View all ContentsThe Best Matcha Powders
Best Overall
Immerse yourself in the flavorful world of matcha powder with this choice from HANDPICK. The 100 servings of second flush harvest infuse an aromatic allure that instantly captivates your senses. Unlike other matcha powders out there, this gem extends beyond just taste and fragrance. It emerges as the best overall for its robust, aromatic flavor that revives your senses with each sip.
The HANDPICK Matcha Green Tea Powder also excels in promoting digestive health. Its rich, organic ingredients actively seek to balance your body’s digestive system, making it the most effective choice in the market. The resealable ziplock pouch ensures freshness, while also demonstrating thoughtful packaging. The design is not only practical, but it also adds a touch of elegance to your kitchen shelf. If you’re shopping for the best matcha powders for teas, shakes, and more, the HANDPICK Matcha Green Tea Powder stands out as a top contender.
Pros
- Offers a strong, soothing flavor
- Comes in secure, resealable packaging
- Helps with digestion and sleep
Cons
- Lack of attached string on tea bags
Most Organic
These days, many people are wary of the chemicals inside their favorite food and drink. And even healthier products can sometimes be riddled with artificial compounds. Fortunately, there are brands that specifically manufacture and sell organic products with no artificial components. FGO is a great example of this, and their green tea powder is 100% organic and natural.
Each bag of FGO matcha powder can hold many servings. You can get the powder in either loose leaf form, tea bag form, or iced tea bag form. Of course, these change the way that you can enjoy the matcha, so if you’d rather be as versatile as possible with your options then the loose leaf is probably the best choice. There’s also a refund policy in place so you can always return the product if you’re not satisfied with the quality or flavor.
Pros
- Non-GMO and USDA-certified organic
- Available in a tea bags and loose leaf
- With refund policy
Cons
- Not always available in preferred size
Most Unique Flavors
The VAHDAM Matcha Powder is the perfect combination of two powerful superfoods and provides a unique, delicious taste. Derived from Japan, this matcha tea is pure green tea-powered, blended with creamy notes of Madagascar vanilla to make it the ideal beverage for a hot or cold latte or smoothie. It can also be used to season, bake and cook. The matcha green tea is rich in antioxidants, providing 137 times the amount of some other teas, as well as ECGC catechins which give it its strong, earthy flavor.
It is also certified pure from Japan and ethical, direct, and fair-trade certified. VAHDAM also strives for environmental sustainability initiatives with its commitment to being carbon and plastic-neutral. It measures its overall carbon and plastic footprint and offsets it through investments in the environment. So you can enjoy their high-quality product knowing you are making an eco-friendly choice with your purchase.
Pros
- Great flavor and texture
- Provides an energy boost
- Money-saving alternative to store-bought lattes
Cons
- Flavor may be too strong for some
Highest Caffeine Content
The Encha Matcha Powder is an organic Japanese tea powder perfect for those looking for a natural pick-me-up. This high-grade tea is made from the most tender matcha leaves grown each spring at the farm in the hills of Uji, Japan and is 100% certified USDA organic. The flavor of the tea powder is perfectly balanced, both sweet and earthy, with a smooth, velvety texture when whisked into water. The natural energy and mental clarity provided is far superior to coffee, bringing clean and consistent power without any sort of crash or jitters.
For those looking to get their fix on a daily basis, Encha’s 30-gram size can last up to two weeks with just one teaspoon per day. Preparing a traditional matcha green tea is easy: simply take one teaspoon of this ceremonial grade matcha and whisk vigorously into 5 ounces of hot water at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. As an added bonus, the health benefits of this organic green tea are tenfold.
Pros
- Organic and safe from dangerous contaminants
- High in antioxidants
- Calm and energizing properties
Cons
- High caffeine content could keep people up at night
Best Value
It’s no secret that good matcha doesn’t come cheap. Until recently, matcha was quite a premium product, and while its mainstream success has made it more affordable to the general population, it still isn’t as cheap as your average cup of joe. Because of this, it can be difficult for many people to enjoy matcha without spending hundreds of dollars on a good pack of green tea powder.
Fortunately, there are budget options now, and though they may not be that cheap, they’re still much more affordable without sacrificing too much on quality. Matcha DNA’s organic matcha powder is made of organic green tea and sells for a reasonable price per pack. The company is also Climate Pledge Friendly, so you’re also supporting a sustainable and environmentally friendly business.
Pros
- Cheaper than other matcha powders
- Certified BPA-free in packaging
- Climate pledge friendly
Cons
- No unique qualities or features
Most Culinary Grade
Do you want matcha powder that’s good enough to serve in actual restaurants? Jade Leaf’s products are up to that caliber. Their culinary-grade matcha powder is made out of green tea plants that contain no pesticides or artificial chemicals. They grow completely naturally, resulting in a powder that’s organic and only organic. And despite the premium grade of the powder, it’s also reasonably affordable, so you won’t have to break the bank, either.
You’ll have quite a few options in terms of flavor and size. You can choose between their culinary grade and ceremonial grade tea, and they come in packs ranging from 1.06 ounces to 1 pound. These varied options will allow you to pick just the right amount of matcha to suit your preferences and budget.
Pros
- Comes in two flavors
- Made of matcha from Japan
- With refund option included
Cons
- Packaging isn’t the best
Most Flavor Variety
Let’s say that you’ve had your fill of matcha green tea powder. If that was your first foray into tea, then you may be interested in trying out other types of green teas and infusions, too. But where do you begin? A great way to broaden your horizons is by choosing a brand that sells great tea products in many flavors and trying out their selection. PureChimp is one such brand, with many tea flavors for you to dip your toes in.
Aside from their premium and high-quality Japanese matcha powder, you also have lemongrass matcha, mint matcha, and even turmeric matcha among other options. These combinations bring out exciting tastes that can spice up your mornings. They come in cute little glass jars, too, so they’re easy to open and seal as needed.
Pros
- Comes in many matcha flavors
- Packed in resealable glass jars
- Very easy to brew with
Cons
- Not a lot of servings per jar
The Best Matcha Powder Buying Guide
Tired of the same old hot cocoa or coffee in the morning? Try green tea instead. This guide will cover what you need to know about matcha powder.
What Is Matcha Powder?
Simply put, matcha powder is a powdered and crushed-up form of the matcha green tea plant. Matcha powder is available in loose leaf or tea bag form, and you can mix it with water to drink. You may even add milk or sweeteners such as sugar to enhance the flavor or texture of the tea.
Most of the premium matcha powder products you’ll find online and on shelves come from plants that grow in places throughout Japan such as Uji. Japan is well-known for its matcha products, and the tea powder is often associated with the country, but that’s not where the tea originally came from.
Is Matcha Chinese or Japanese?
While Japan is said to have perfected the cultivation and creation of matcha and matcha powder, matcha actually came from China. Like many other popular teas and tea-like drinks, the first traces of matcha can be traced back to China. For the past 800 years or so Japan has slowly improved and perfected the plant to become the matcha we know and love today. So while matcha is technically Chinese in terms of origin, it’s Japan where the tea actually took off.
Health Benefits of Matcha Powder
Matcha doesn’t just taste great — it’s also extremely healthy. Many experts and scientists have done extensive research on matcha powder and its effects on the human body, and many of them have pointed to the conclusion that matcha powder is a lot better for you than you think. Here are some of matcha powder’s benefits.
It may prevent or slow down cancer
One of matcha powder’s most surprising potential benefits is the fact that it can either prevent or slow down cancer. In one example, scientists used green tea extract on rats that had breast cancer cells and tumors. These rats ended up with smaller tumors and their cancer cell growth rates shot down. Of course, these are only animal studies, and humans have very different bodies, but these are good indicators of the healthy nature of matcha powder, if nothing else.
It’s full of antioxidants
If you’ve ever done research on health-related products before, then you probably know about things called antioxidants. In short, antioxidants are compounds that fight off free radicals in your body, which are substances that can harm your body if left unchecked. Basically, antioxidants help with regulation, and matcha green tea is basically full of the stuff.
There are many types of green tea, but matcha is said to contain up to 137 times more antioxidants than any other green tea. It delivers such a huge difference, which is why green tea is so popular in both the East and West.
What To Consider When Buying Matcha Powder
Origin
With matcha powder, there are certain places where you can more or less guarantee decent quality at the very least. One such place is, of course, Japan — as the world’s premier source of matcha green tea, many green tea companies and brands source their plants from hilly farms all over the country.
In Japan, certain prefectures and cities specialize in particular goods, and this is the case for matcha, too. Places such as Uji are well known for their green tea farms and you’ll find that many brands get their plants from Uji and a few other locations.
But just because Japan is heralded as the best place for matcha doesn’t mean that any other location isn’t worth considering. In fact, different climates and conditions can lead to different flavors and textures in the tea, and this may be something you want to look into if you want to try out other forms of matcha.
Flavor
The origin and location of where the matcha green tea plant grows isn’t the only factor that affects the final flavor of the drink. In fact, many matcha green tea powders come mixed with other flavors and spices. Some matcha powders, for example, can contain mint, adding a cool and refreshing feel to every sip.
If you’re more of a purist who only prefers the flavor of matcha and matcha alone, this may not be your cup of tea (pun intended). But if you think that sipping on the same old cup of matcha every day sounds boring to you, these mixes and unique flavors may keep things interesting for months or even years to come.
Price
Matcha is matcha, and if you’re sourcing your products from a farm in Japan, you can expect the product to cost you more than just your pocket change. Price is a major factor to consider when picking the right product. Often, you will find matcha powders costing less than $100, though there are many that also go beyond this price point.
Your budget will dictate what you can afford, but you can decide on the quality based on your options. Usually, the higher-quality powder will yield you less for the same price, but you’ll get much better servings out of each cup, so it’s up to you whether you’d prioritize quality or quantity.
Do “Green Tea” and “Matcha” Refer to the Same Thing?
Many people who aren’t very into green tea often use the terms “matcha” and “green tea” interchangeably, and this rarely means much as, for most people, matcha is the only type of green tea they know. There are many other types of green tea on the market today, such as Sencha, Japan’s most popular type of green tea. These differences are important to learn when you want to try out more than just matcha, but for the average person, you should be fine with using the terms interchangeably.
People Also Asked
Are sencha and matcha the same type of tea?
While sencha and matcha are both green eta, the former is more popular in Japan, whereas the latter has more global success.
Can I enjoy matcha hot or cold?
You can enjoy matcha both hot and/or cold depending on how you prepare the drink.
Is matcha healthy?
Studies show that matcha contains healthy compounds, such as antioxidants and other nutritious elements.
