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Organic Matcha Green Tea Ceremonial Grade

High quality matcha with a thick vegetal taste and minimal bitterness

certified organic
Organic Matcha Green Tea Ceremonial Grade
$32.00
Orders over $60 ship free in USA
 
 
 
 
 

Organic Matcha Green Tea Ceremonial Grade

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This Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha Green Tea (Usu-cha) is an excellent example of a high quality organic matcha displaying the highest color quality (brilliant green) and offering a smooth, slightly bitter taste. Comprised of finely ground tea leaves from the very first picking of the year, this first flush matcha combines several cultivars to create a consistently lovely matcha that froths beautifully in the bowl and perfectly balances sweet notes of spring peas against oceanic seaweed. This organic green tea is perfect for daily consumption or for that special treat.

Matcha is a variety of organic tea from Japan that is stone ground at the end of the manufacturing process, resulting in an ultra-fine tea powder that is typically whisked in hot water until a frothy consistency is reached, as in the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. The resulting brew has much more body and flavor than tea brewed in a conventional fashion, with a thick, rich green taste and slight bitterness.

Please note: this product is not delivered in our backyard compostable packaging. This extremely sensitive item is packaged in a tin (regular size) or zip pouch (bulk size).

Ingredients: organic Japanese green tea

Origin: Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

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Located in central Japan, Shizuoka is known as the capital of Japanese green tea production. Though it is not the oldest producer of green tea, it is the largest: this prefecture alone accounts for 40 percent of all green tea production in Japan. However, much of the world never experiences organic tea from Shizuoka because tea is so popular in Japan that most tea grown in Japan is consumed in Japan; very little is exported. Shizuoka lines the Pacific, and runs into the Japan Alps and other mountains, including Mt. Fuji. For those concerned with the implications of the Fukushima-Daiichi disaster, we continue to have our organic teas from Japan independently tested for radiation.

Steeping Instructions

At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. Matcha is treated differently than other teas because of its powdered form. Typically matcha is prepared by whisking ½ to 1 teaspoon of matcha powder in a bowl with 3 oz of almost-boiling water, and immediately consumed directly from the bowl. Steeping time is less of a concern with matcha, as the powdered leaves are in suspension in the water as soon as they are combined.

For more detailed instructions on how to prepare matcha, check out our How to Make Matcha Page.

Staff Perspectives

  • Lea

    "I absolutely love this tea's vibrant green color, plus it has no bitterness and is such a luxury to drink in the morning!"

  • Sarah

    "I love everything about this tea! The sifting, mixing it with a bamboo whisk in a bowl, and sipping it with your nose deep in the experience."

  • Aubrey

    "This tea is completely different from every other tea experience. Expect a little grit in your cup as the matcha comes out of suspension. For the uninitiated, it will be a sensory explosion! I usually use 6-8 oz of water per half teaspoon, rather than the recommended 3 oz of water."

Health Benefits

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Like all true tea, Matcha green tea offers many potential health benefits. Research has found that tea (Camellia sinensis) can have many positive effects on human health, including improved cardiovascular function, cancer risk reduction, improved immune function, improved oral health, and help with weight management. Tea is also full of polyphenols, which are a class of antioxidant that help your body maintain homeostasis and balance your stress levels. Matcha specifically has elevated levels of L-theanine, a beneficial amino acid that helps balance stress levels and promote a sense of calm and focus. This is a result of the shading the tea plants undergo for several weeks before harvest. The shading stresses the plant, and causes an increased production of certain nutrients including chlorophyll and L-theanine. Also, because matcha drinkers ingest the whole tea leaf, they’re getting an even higher dose of amino acids, antioxidants, and caffeine than drinking infused tea.

For more information about the health benefits of matcha and other types of tea, and for direct sources of the above information, check out our Tea Health Benefits page!

Please note: the information above is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

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The Japanese tea ceremony (cha-no-yu, chado, or sado) is a traditional ritual in which powdered green tea, called matcha, is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a peaceful setting. Cha-no-yu ("hot water for tea"), usually refers to a single ceremony or ritual, while sado or chado ("the way of tea") refer to the study or doctrine of tea ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony has its roots in early Chinese tea ritual (approx. 800 AD), influenced greatly by Zen Buddhism. However, the exacting formula for the tea ceremony we know now evolved years later, in isolation from the Chinese practice of taking tea. Every element of the tea ceremony, from the greeting of guests to the arrangement of flowers, even the architecture, is rigidly prescribed, requiring the host to be knowledgeable in a broad range of arts and disciplines. Even the participants of the tea ceremony must be familiar with the proper gestures, phrases and actions required of them throughout the ceremony.

For even more information about this and other traditions, visit our Tea Traditions Page!

Customer Reviews

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  • 5
    First time trying matcha, love it!

    Posted by Mike on 8th Aug 2021

    I had to get the best of the best for my first time trying matcha and this tea does not disappoint. Very balanced flavors of sweetness and bitterness, creamy mouthfeel & was very easy to get a good froth on top using a bamboo whisk. Very easy to drink and definitely seems high quality. Would totally recommend this matcha!

  • 5
    A luxurious splurge!

    Posted by Bee on 28th Jul 2021

    After purchasing the cooking grade matcha from Arbor a couple of times, I finally decided to splurge on the ceremonial grade. While I enjoy the cooking grade, the ceremonial grade is a smoother experience with barely any bitterness even when I make myself a strong cup. I feel as if I've rediscovered and fallen in love with matcha all over again. I will continue to drink the ceremonial matcha as a morning treat, but I'll probably get the cooking grade as well because I drink matcha throughout the day and I end up consuming quite a lot.

  • 5
    matcha convert

    Posted by Deborah on 24th Dec 2020

    With the desire to try something new during these stay-at-home times, I invested in a tin of ceremonial grade matcha and the special whisk. I then realized I've never had true matcha before. Matcha ice cream, lattes, etc, yes. But straight matcha powder brewed into tea, no. Verdict: I love it. Captivated by the slight froth, the greenness, good mouth feel. Very satisfying as is; no desire for sweetener or milk.

  • 5
    Amazing!

    Posted by James Gilbert on 7th Oct 2019

    I've purchased this matcha multiple times and keep coming back to it. It comes in an air-tight tin that really minimizes light and air exposure and you can tell this is a good quality matcha when you open it up and see the beautiful vibrant green color of it. Yum!

  • 5
    great quality, love them

    Posted by danny li on 25th Feb 2019

    gonna stick to this matcha for a long time now... love them!!

  • 5
    Smooth and delicious

    Posted by Ann on 29th Dec 2018

    I have been drinking matcha for years now and this one is one of my all time favorites. Very little bitterness, very smooth finish, and very bright. Love it!

  • 5
    Good

    Posted by Greg on 18th Aug 2017

    I do not have that much experience with Matcha so it is hard for me to compare this tea to other Matchas. I like this tea and would buy it again.

  • 5
    You Can't Go Wrong

    Posted by Eric on 10th Dec 2016

    This is truly a great, high-quality tea. My favorite thing to do is mix this matcha with gyokuro green tea. They go so well together!

  • 5
    OMG I am in love!

    Posted by Leslie on 28th Aug 2015

    I have been a match enthusiast for a couple years. Have the whisk, use the bowl etc. My husband brought me home some good matcha from a tea shop in San Francisco. Very good, but not organic. I wanted organic. Took a chance on the Ceremonial Arborteas Matcha. OMG. I am addicted. So buttery and clean and wonderful! It's hard for me to only have one cup a day! I could drink it all day long. It is pricey, but once you taste it, you'll crave it. I have already ordered a second large bag as I do NOT want to run out! Thank you for this excellent tea experience. Highly recommend getting a sieve as well as the bamboo measurer/scoop. Enhances the tea and the experience!

  • 5
    perfect

    Posted by Katie O. on 30th Nov 2014

    This is now my go-to for drinking matcha. My husband bought me some from an asian market store some time back but this is such a brighter/deeper green and far better quality. I prepare this in a matcha bowl with a whisk every morning and it's just lovely.

  • 5
    Excellent matcha green tea...

    Posted by Lukasz on 6th Dec 2011

    I am a big fan of matcha and this ceremonial grade organic matcha does not disappoint. The color is an intense green, but not as bright as I would imagine with the best ceremonial grade matcha out there. Flavor is very good with lots of complexity and pleasant bitterness. If you’re going to drink this tea, make sure you do it the right way. Use a bamboo whisk and spoon, pre heat your serving vessel then dry it, strain the matcha to get rid of clumps, don’t use too much water, and whisk properly. The result will be a drink that results in immediate satisfaction, a calming effect, and lots of energy. Believe it or not, I would often make a cup of matcha before a bike ride after a long day of work as opposed to relying on some artificial energy drink and feel much better results. In short, I highly recommend this tea for those adventurous enough to drink tea not just for its taste, but for the ceremony surrounding it!

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