In recent years, matcha has become part of my daily routine. Slowly weaning myself off coffee and transitioning to matcha has made me feel more focused and less jittery. Over time, I have tested a range of matcha brands. Below, I will highlight some of my favorites. Some brands are great, some are good, and some may not stand out in the crowded matcha market but still get the job done.
The Greats
Ippodo is a matcha brand that firmly belongs in the “greats” category. When I describe Ippodo as great, I specifically mean if you are drinking matcha straight. I recommend using only matcha powder and hot water, nothing else. The flavor profile is complex and smooth, with none of the harsh bitterness often found in cheaper brands. Ippodo is expensive, but there’s a reason respected tea shops in Japan offer it. If you have the budget, this is a brand worth serious consideration. It may not be an everyday option for most people, but for matcha aficionados who want the real deal, Ippodo delivers.
Shinzo has become one of the best additions to my morning routine, though for different reasons than Ippodo. For one, it is flavored… and the flavor is incredible. The convenient packets are a genuine game changer versus the large tubs and bags that exist in your average grocery store. With the flavored packs, you’re essentially saving the $8 a day you might otherwise spend on a vanilla matcha at a local café. The first flavor I tried was mocha. It was not too bitter and not overbearingly sweet, with a profile reminiscent of a dark chocolate with a balanced matcha taste. I have had the mocha iced and hot and still cannot decide which I love more. The flavors are well balanced, without the artificial sweetness common in syrups and additives used by many coffee shops. Shinzo also offers a ceremonial grade option that is excellent when prepared straight. The quality of their plain matcha is top-tier, and you are not sacrificing taste for convenience, which is rare with a product like this.
The Goods
Naoki sits comfortably in the middle ground by doing everything right without trying to be flashy. It is a solid, reliable matcha in my strong opinion. This is the brand I would recommend to someone new to matcha who does not want to spend heavily while deciding whether matcha will become part of their daily routine. The taste is good, as it mixes well for both lattes and traditional straight preparation. Best of all, you will not feel wasteful if you ruin a cup while learning how to whisk or froth properly. It is dependable, affordable, and good enough that it never feels like settling. That is exactly why Naoki earns a place in this category. It does its job well without pretending to be something it is not.
Gets the Job Done
Kettl is impressive at first glance. It is single origin, the quality is undeniable, and matcha purists often consider it exceptional. However, it is very expensive, and I am not someone who needs top-grade matcha for everyday use. I prefer having the flexibility to experiment with different drinks without feeling like I have wasted money if I need to remake one, unlike Naoki. For many matcha drinkers, myself included, I can state with confidence that this price does not feel practical. The brands listed in The Greats category are close enough in quality that the differences are hard to notice in a morning latte, making the premium cost difficult to justify.
Jade Leaf originally stood out to me because of its strawberry-flavored option. Expecting something fun and different, I found that it did not taste as anticipated. While still drinkable, the strawberry flavor I purchased leaned artificial, with a chemical sweetness similar to fake fruit. Don’t get me wrong: Jade Leaf can easily work if your primary goal is caffeine and you plan to add extra milk or sweetener to mask those notes. It is not unbearable by any sense of the word. I have not tried their plain matcha, which may be better, but for flavored options, brands like Shinzo remain the safer and more enjoyable choice.