Organic Matcha

Whilst no official industry wide classification system has been formally established, Ceremonial Grade Matcha represents highest quality matcha that has been crafted using the youngest, carefully selected shade-grown tea leaves picked during the first flush of the Japanese tea season, ideally from a single cultivar and origin. Additionally, a ceremonial grade matcha should be stone-milled to give it a smoother, most delicate texture. Ceremonial Grade Matcha should be produced with great reverence and the highest respect for purity and excellence which means it can appropriately be served during formal chadō tea ceremonies and special occasions. Our Great Taste Award-Winning Original Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha lives up to these exacting standards and has been designed to be enjoyed in its purest form, rich with umami and layered with additional sweet notes of chocolate.

Culinary Grade Matcha should be of extremely high quality too but, as it is usually crafted expressly for use by baristas and food industry professionals as an ingredient to prepare matcha latte drinks, smoothies and baked goods, it is not milled with stone and this makes it cheaper as this method takes much longer and adds cost. Our Apparition Organic Culinary Grade Matcha has been intentionally designed to be used as a base for delicious matcha lattes and to allow the bright, creamy taste of this matcha to cut through and shine in milk.

While traditional green teas are steamed to keep their fresh, grassy elements, our organic hōjicha powder takes a beautifully different approach. Hōjicha is made by carefully roasting green tea leaves and stems at very high temperatures. This intense roasting process completely transforms the leaves, turning them a deep, warm reddish-brown. It entirely removes any bitterness and replaces the classic vegetative green tea flavour with a highly comforting, sweet, and smoky aroma. Once finely ground into a micro-fine powder - exactly like matcha - hōjicha can be freshly whisked up into hot water or plant-based milk. It yields a rich, velvety brew with tasting notes reminiscent of toasted nuts, roasted grains, or dark cacao. If you love smooth, cafe-style hōjicha tea lattes, you can use our Great Taste Award-Winning Organic Hōjicha Powder to enjoy recreating them at home.

Genmaicha is a legendary, traditional Japanese tea favorite that harmoniously marries high-quality green tea leaves with toasted brown rice. Historically known in Japan as "popcorn tea" because some of the rice grains pop during the roasting process, it offers an incredible, complex flavour profile. The combination creates a beautiful balance: you get the fresh, uplifting, and antioxidant-rich qualities of classic single origin green tea layered with a deeply savoury, nutty, and toasted aroma from the brown rice. It is a hearty, comforting brew that pairs exceptionally well with meals and offers a uniquely soothing, savoury experience. To explore this traditional green tea favourite, try our Great Taste Award-winning Organic Genmaicha Powder.

If you are sensitive to caffeine or looking for a relaxing evening ritual, your best choices within our collection are Organic Hōjicha Powder and Organic Genmaicha Powder. The high-heat roasting process used to make hōjicha naturally alters and significantly reduces the caffeine content of the tea leaves, making it a celebrated, gentle nightcap tea in Japan that won't disrupt your sleep cycle. Our genmaicha powder is also relatively low in caffeine because the green tea leaves are blended 50/50 with caffeine-free toasted rice. On the other hand, if you are looking for sustained, calm focus to kickstart your morning or power through a workday, our organic matcha powders are ideal. Matcha provides a clean energy boost that lasts for hours without the sudden spikes or jittery crashes associated with coffee, thanks to its high concentration of the calming amino acid L-Theanine.