Ceremonial vs. Organic Premium
Kaci Barnes
Ceremonial Matcha 🍵
Ceremonial Matcha is the highest grade of matcha tea, revered for its smooth, delicate flavor and vibrant green color. It is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, where its subtle sweetness and almost imperceptible bitterness can be fully appreciated. This high-grade matcha is carefully cultivated and processed, ensuring that only the finest leaves are used to create a powder that is rich in antioxidants and amino acids. Why ceremonial isn’t organic: the elevation it is grown produces the best tea leaves but does not meet organic standards. Ceremonial Matcha is not just a tea; it's a ceremonial experience that embodies mindfulness, respect, and a deep connection to the present moment.
Organic Premium Matcha 🍵
Organic Premium Matcha is our highest grade of USDA organic-certified matcha. This means out of our organic certified matcha teas, it has the smoothest and best flavor. Plus, because our Organic Premium Matcha is organic certified, no pesticides can be used while growing the tea leaves used to make it. All matcha have the same health benefits, so the true difference between the different grades of matcha is taste.
What's the Difference?
Ceremonial Matcha
Grade:
Highest grade of matcha overall.
Flavor:
Known for its smooth and refined flavor. It has a delicate taste with a hint of natural sweetness and almost no bitterness, making it ideal for traditional tea ceremonies.
Organic Certification:
Not certified organic. Grown and processed using traditional methods, which may include the use of conventional fertilizers.
Usage:
Best suited for traditional tea ceremonies, where the subtle flavors can be fully appreciated in a bowl of usucha or koicha (thick tea). It can also be used in high-end culinary applications where the matcha flavor needs to shine.
Color:
Bright, vibrant green, indicating high chlorophyll content and a high level of care in cultivation and processing.
Organic Premium Matcha
Grade:
Highest grade of USDA organic certified matcha.
Flavor:
Slightly more earthy and robust compared to Ceremonial Matcha. It may have a stronger grassy or vegetal taste, which is characteristic of high-quality organic matcha.
Organic Certification:
Certified organic, ensuring it is grown and processed without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Usage:
Ideal for everyday use, such as in smoothies, lattes, or baking. It's also suitable for traditional tea ceremonies, but its bolder flavor might be more pronounced in a simple preparation like usucha (thin tea).
Color:
Vibrant green, though it may be slightly less bright than Ceremonial Matcha due to its organic nature.
It is common practice to pick which grade of matcha is right for you based on how you plan to prepare the matcha.
- For traditional matcha, matcha whisked with hot water using a bamboo whisk, Ceremonial or Organic Premium Matcha are the ideal choices.
- For matcha lattes, it is best to use Premium or Organic Premium Matcha, or Culinary or Organic Culinary Matcha. (If you prefer your matcha latte pre-sweetened, you can also explore our sweet matcha options.)
- Lastly, for baking or smoothies it is most cost efficient to use Culinary or Organic Culinary Matcha.
Still not sure which matcha is right for you? Check out our matcha samplers!
