Matcha

Matcha is shade-grown tencha, de-stemmed and de-veined, then ground on a stone mill. The constraint nobody mentions in the marketing is the mill: a granite wheel produces roughly 40 grams an hour. That single fact explains most of what is confusing about matcha pricing, and why genuine ceremonial grade cannot be bought in volume at short notice.

Two very different businesses

• Culinary and beverage. Larger lots for cafes, bakeries and drink manufacturers. Colour and consistency across batches matter more than the last increment of sweetness, and price is the deciding factor. This tier can be planned and repeated.
• Ceremonial and premium. Small lots, high unit price, and the name of the garden is part of what you are selling. Supply is genuinely limited, so a repeat order needs to be booked ahead rather than placed on demand.

We handle both, and we will say plainly which tier a price belongs to. A great deal of matcha sold internationally as ceremonial is culinary grade in better packaging.

What we handle

Sourcing direct from producers in the main growing regions, verification of grade and harvest, nitrogen-flushed packing, JAS organic certification where required, and private label packaging for importers building their own brand. Customs and freight are run with the forwarders and brokers we work with; we stay the single point of contact.

Practical notes

• Matcha degrades in light, heat and air. It is far more fragile than leaf tea. Nitrogen flushing and cold storage are not upgrades, they are the baseline, and a supplier who does not mention them has not thought about it.
• First harvest is not a marketing term. First flush leaf is sweeter and less astringent, and it is why ceremonial grade tastes different. It is also why it costs what it costs.
• Import documentation. Food import rules and labelling requirements differ by market. We confirm what your destination needs before shipping.

Tell us the grade, the annual volume and whether you need your own packaging, and we will send samples across the price band so you can taste the difference rather than take our word for it.