You know what quality coffee tastes like. Now taste quality matcha.

Matcha is stone-ground powder made from tencha, tea leaves grown under shade for 20 or more days before harvest, then steamed and dried without rolling. Shading blocks sunlight, preventing umami compound L-theanine from converting to bitter catechins, creating matcha's distinctive covered aroma, sweet taste, and vivid green color from increased chlorophyll production.

Matcha is specifically ground tencha (shade-grown tea leaves), while powdered green tea is ground sencha or byproduct powder from regular tea processing. Only matcha has the distinctive covered aroma, vibrant green color, and sweet umami from 20 or more days of shading. Powdered green tea does not go through shading and tastes more bitter. Instant tea powder is freeze-dried tea extract that fully dissolves in water.

Matcha is rich in antioxidants (catechins), L-theanine for calm focus, and vitamins C and E. Our Chiran matcha retains maximum nutrients because you consume the entire leaf in powdered form, not just the brewed liquid.

Our matcha is single-region from Chiran, Minamikyushu City in Kagoshima, Japan's largest tea-producing municipality responsible for 16% of the country's tea production. Chiran tea has won national production awards for 5 consecutive years. Read our guide to importing matcha from Japan for more on why Kagoshima matters.

Import Matcha is owned and operated by a Japanese founder who grew up in a tea farmer family and sources directly from trusted suppliers in Japan. We work exclusively with verified suppliers, including direct partnerships with tea producers in Chiran. Every batch is traceable to its origin, ensuring authenticity and quality control.

High-quality matcha has vivid, bright green color (not pale or reddish), distinctive covered aroma from proper shading, rich umami with minimal bitterness, and smooth texture when whisked. Color indicates freshness and cultivation quality. Premium matcha maintains its emerald hue because of extended shading and proper storage. Lower grades show more yellow or brown tones and higher astringency. Our matcha import guide covers quality evaluation in detail, including lab specifications.

While Kyoto's Uji and Aichi's Nishio are famous matcha regions, production techniques have advanced greatly across Japan. Region alone does not determine quality. We focus on sourcing the highest quality matcha for the price, regardless of whether it carries the premium Uji designation. Quality comes from proper cultivation, shading, harvest timing, and processing skill. Learn more in our guide to Japan's matcha regions.

Chiran matcha is grown in mineral-rich volcanic soil with pure mountain water, producing tea with rich sweetness, minimal bitterness, and vibrant emerald color. The region's shaded cultivation (kabuse) and gentle steaming of tencha leaves preserves chlorophyll and umami, creating smooth, full-bodied flavor with maximum sweetness.

Ceremonial grade is our finest quality matcha, typically from first spring harvest, with vivid emerald green color, creamy umami, and low bitterness, perfect for traditional whisked tea. Latte grade is robust matcha that stands up to milk with balanced sweetness and smooth finish, ideal for lattes and smoothies. Culinary grade has a stronger flavor profile designed for baking and cooking applications. See our matcha import guide for detailed grade comparisons with pricing, or our recipe guide for grade-specific applications.

We offer JAS-certified organic matcha and non-organic (conventional) matcha. All products meet strict Japanese food safety standards. Contact us to specify organic or non-organic when requesting a quote or samples.

Our matcha meets Japanese national production standards and comes from award-winning Chiran producers. Every batch is traceable to its producing region, with third-party testing for purity.

The minimum order quantity is 5kg per shipment. We are flexible depending on your situation. Contact us to discuss.

Because we mill to order for maximum freshness, the first order typically takes 5 to 7 weeks from order confirmation to delivery. From the second order onward, we work out a recurring schedule with you to ensure timely restocking. We ship directly from Kagoshima, Japan shortly after milling.

We ship matcha from Kagoshima, Japan, shortly after milling is complete. For US customers, we ship in bulk to our California distribution point first, then distribute domestically for logistical efficiency.

We ship internationally. Current customers are located across the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Africa. Contact us to confirm lead times for your location.

Yes. We encourage sampling before any commitment. Request samples through our contact form.

Store matcha in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture, preferably refrigerated. Once open, use within 2 to 3 months for optimal freshness and vibrant color. We highly recommend refrigerating after opening.

Once opened, use within 2 to 3 months for peak color and flavor. After that, matcha is still safe to consume but better suited for lattes or baking where milk and heat mask some flavor loss. Unopened matcha stays fresh for 12 to 18 months.

Request samples or get a quote through our contact form. We will respond within 1 to 2 business days to discuss your needs.