What are the best Matcha teas of 2022?
Are you searching for a high-quality matcha tea but don't know where to start? This article will help you make an informed decision about the best matcha tea to purchase online. I have listed several options including reviews to provide you with an overview of the different matcha teas. Additionally, I have included direct links to online stores for quick access. With this information, you will be able to choose the perfect matcha tea for you with ease!
Table of content.
What are the criteria for choosing a good matcha tea ?
Before I show you this list of different matcha teas that may appeal to you, I want to share the necessary criteria to pick a genuine matcha tea. To make sure you choose a genuine matcha tea no matter the cost, use this list as a reference point and create a checklist for the products you are considering.
Grown in Japan
Matcha tea is mainly cultivated in Japan, with production also occurring in China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. However, there are certain distinctions between these regions. Official certification of matcha tea is only given by Japan, with the ISO not yet recognizing it worldwide. Quality control and the name of the tea are regulated exclusively in Japan. In other countries, any powdered green tea can be labeled as "matcha tea".
Processed entirely on site (in Japan)
In order to preserve its freshness, it is essential to handle matcha tea with care. Exposure to open air, light, humidity and heat can cause the tea to oxidize quickly, resulting in the loss of its health benefits, flavor, umami and bright green color. For this reason, it is best to purchase matcha tea from Japan to ensure optimal quality. Additionally, a metal box is preferable to a glass jar when storing the tea.
Shading process before harvesting
Before harvesting, the tea leaves must be shaded under a black cloth for approximately twenty days. This step is essential in determining the unique characteristics of the matcha tea.
A beautiful bright green color
Matcha tea is renowned for its brilliant green hue, which is a sign of its quality and production process. The greener the matcha, the more intense its flavor and beneficial properties like umami (5th flavor) will be.
Matcha's green color is the result of a few key practices:
- Shade is respected during its cultivation.
- Young shoots are carefully handpicked in the spring.
- Steamed briefly to avoid oxidation and sorted to remove all impurities (stems and veins).
- It is then dried using a gentle wind breeze, and ground slowly with granite stone wheels that do not heat up.
- Finally, it is hermetically packed in small batches on site.
The more these steps are respected, the greener the powder will be and the richer in taste and nutrients.
Organic (if possible)
What are the benefits of choosing organic matcha? The taste of organic matcha will be superior. It is healthier as you are consuming the entire leaves in a pulverized form. Organic matcha does not contain additives, dyes or chemical fertilizers, which make the matcha artificially green.
Its grade
In many places, there are a variety of grades of matcha tea available, such as culinary, premium, and ceremony. The quality of the tea will be determined by the grade that you select; the higher you go, the superior the quality. If possible, I always suggest opting for the premium grade and avoiding the culinary grade whenever possible. Even when cooking, I urge you to take one of the higher grades; the taste of your baked goods will be significantly different! It is a pity to use a dulled matcha for cooking that lacks flavor.
Quantity, quality and price ratio
When it comes to finding a good price-quality balance with matcha tea, it is important to be aware of the cost per kilogram. A 30g box of matcha tea in Japan, which is not organic and of no particular grade, usually averages around €5 (€166.66/kg). However, some matcha teas can be priced as low as €90.00/kg, which may be too good to be true.
The best matcha teas online and why?
I've taken the time to research and compare the best matcha teas available online. Based on quality and price, here are the top contenders. All of the benefits are taken from the product pages and official websites. Additionally, I've looked up images to ensure they all boast a vibrant green hue. I hope this list aids in your search for the perfect matcha tea.
This product was crafted by a passionate matcha tea connoisseur, who knows the ins and outs of the tea. His main purpose is to provide genuine Japanese-quality matcha tea.
To obtain this, the tea plants are kept in the shade for four to six weeks under a black net, which blocks 80% of the sunlight. This is much more than the usual 15 to 20 days period. The longer the tea bushes remain shaded, the sweeter the matcha will be, being enriched in umami and nutrients, and having much less bitterness due to its higher chlorophyll content.
There is only one harvest a year, in spring, and the best young shoots are hand-picked. This ensures excellent quality and a vivid green matcha. After grinding, the tea is packaged in air-tight boxes, which provide better heat insulation (and are both recyclable and reusable).
I wholeheartedly recommend it over other products.
