Best & Worst Amazon Matcha Powders

I sampled Chalite matcha, although I'm not entirely sure how to pronounce it. It had a really nice scent and a richer, darker green color compared to some of the previous matcha powders I've tried. While it was quite smooth, it did have a slightly bitter aftertaste and was a bit powdery. Some matcha powders can have a chalky aftertaste, and while this one wasn't quite chalky, it did leave a powdery aftertaste. It had a pretty strong matcha flavor, and the fine texture meant you didn't need to sift it, which was convenient.

I also tried Kyoto Dew Matcha Organic Japanese Matcha Green Tea, which is labeled as premium ceremonial grade. Compared to the previous one, it didn't have as strong of a fragrance; it was much lighter in this aspect. However, Kyoto Do had a very robust matcha taste. It featured a fine powder, which meant there was no need for sifting, and it was notably smooth. In terms of color, it had a nice, darker green shade. While it was smooth and lacked a bitter aftertaste due to the fine texture, it did lean slightly towards being watery. Overall, it was pretty good considering the price point and the flavor profile. I did wish the aroma was a bit more fragrant, but this matcha is not bad.

My second most favorite matcha powder on Amazon is the Pure Matcha Premium Japanese Ceremonial Tea. This matcha is remarkably good, featuring a complex and almost creamy scent with a pleasant grassy undertone. It's bright and refreshing in terms of fragrance and a vibrant shade of green. However, it has a slightly gritty texture, which requires sifting to avoid clumps. This aspect made it my second favorite because I prefer matcha that doesn't require sifting, as the preparation process is already somewhat laborious. Nevertheless, the taste is very good with no bitter aftertaste, and it has a strong matcha flavor, making it a high-quality option.

And finally, my top choice among all the matcha powders I've tried is the Harai No Mukashi Matcha from Ipudo Tea. It's the most expensive option in terms of cost per gram but offers the best flavor, texture, and fragrance. It has a complex scent with creamy, vanilla, grassy, and citrusy notes. The fragrance is truly delightful. The matcha packaging might not be the favorite, but it makes up for it with a strong matcha flavor and a very smooth taste. There's no bitter aftertaste, and it's incredibly delicious with a balance of astringency, creaminess, and umami-like flavors.

I also tried Matcha Bar, and what surprised me was that, despite being labeled as ceremonial grade, the color was quite yellow compared to the other matcha powders I've sampled. This coloration suggests that it may not be of very high quality, possibly skewing more towards the culinary grade. This implies that you might not be getting your money's worth. It had a slightly lemony, fruity smell, but considering the cost of this tin, there are better matcha powders on the market. I don't recommend wasting your money on this one due to the color and the less rich taste, as it didn't exhibit a strong matcha profile.

I tried Jade Leaf Organic Japanese Matcha Tea House Edition, which is labeled as ceremonial grade. Surprisingly, it had a fragrant and complex smell, featuring nutty and citrusy notes, setting it apart from the other matchas I've tested. This matcha was relatively smooth with no bitter aftertaste, which was a positive point. It also boasted a vibrant green color, and I appreciated the screw-on lid for airtight storage. However, personally, I found that it lacked the strong matcha flavor and richness that I prefer in matcha.

Firstly, I discovered that matcha powder, like coffee, should not be exposed to warm temperatures or sunlight, as it can deteriorate the quality over time. Additionally, matcha oxidizes when exposed to air, so it's crucial to store it in an airtight container. Unfortunately, the glass container used for this matcha is susceptible to sunlight. On top of packaging concerns, the taste was surprisingly disappointing despite thousands of positive Amazon reviews. It had a bitter and peculiar aftertaste. The matcha had no distinct scent and was notably chunky, requiring sifting. While the color was passable, the low price raised a red flag. High-quality matcha is typically more expensive, and I wouldn't recommend this product.

I also tried Pantenger Matcha powder, and it was a letdown in terms of both scent and taste. It lacked any discernible fragrance and had an odd, almost expired aftertaste reminiscent of sour milk gone bad. The bitterness was overpowering and quite unpleasant. This was a rather disgusting matcha, and I wouldn't recommend it.

I also tried Matcha Moon, which is marketed as ultra-premium organic ceremonial-grade matcha. There was a very subtle scent, but I found the packaging to be somewhat inconvenient as it's easy to spill. The taste had a slightly bitter aftertaste, and it lacked the desired smoothness. While the color was satisfactory with a nice shade of green, the taste was still too bitter for my liking.

I sampled Matcha Wellness, an organic ceremonial-grade green tea powder. While some organic matcha powders can appear slightly yellow compared to non-organic ones, I noted that my preference mainly revolves around taste and texture rather than organic certification. Matcha Wellness had a subtle, sweet, and citrusy fragrance, although it wasn't very strong or distinctive. The color was lighter, lacking the vibrant green of some other matcha powders. It was finely ground, so there was no need for sifting. However, there was a peculiar taste, which wasn't as bitter as some previous options but still carried a strange sourness and initial bitterness that wasn't very pleasant.

I tried Naoki Fine Uji Matcha, which is from the Uji region in Kyoto, Japan, well-known for its matcha. While Uji matcha often attracts attention due to the brand name, it's essential to recognize that there are high-quality matchas from other Japanese regions like Kagoshima. Some of these can be just as good, if not better than Uji matcha. The issue with this particular matcha was that the powder was incredibly fine, making it prone to flying everywhere. The packaging wasn't great either, as it had a hole in the tin can, leading to matcha powder puffing out when closed. The taste was passable but not extraordinary, and due to the fine powder, it resulted in a somewhat watery consistency.