Matcha Grades

Ooika’s pursuit of single-cultivar Matcha means that each year’s harvest brings in new aromas, textures, flavors, and finishes that delight the connoisseur.

We are brought closer to the micro terroirs our Matcha comes from. As a result, our Matchas are unblended and focus more on the individual farmer and region the tea comes from.

A Note on Matcha Grades

Matcha grades like “culinary” and “ceremonial” are similar to marketing terms like “economy” or “premium.” Generally, these terms are used to describe the intended use of Matcha. For example, a “culinary grade” blend is one where the manufacturer suggests the Matcha is used for culinary applications.

In terms of quality, one company’s standard for ceremonial may be another company’s standard for culinary. At Ooika, we pursue the highest caliber Matcha with longer shading durations, preference for handpicking over machine, and fresh milling.

Put simply: grading is not a reflection of a Matcha’s quality, but rather the intended use of the manufacturer. With that in mind, we’ve provided highly generalized notes on Ooika’s Matcha Grades below.

Matcha Grade Chart


Grade	Barista	Ceremonial	Indigo

Description	Well balanced Matcha for use in Lattes, Americanos, and other drinks.	Highly complex and balanced Matcha meant for traditional Usucha or Koicha application.	Matcha of historical significance or heritage masterful production.
Color	●●●	●●●●●	●●●●●
Complexity & Balance	●●	●●●●	●●●●●
Umami & Richness	●●	●●●●	●●●●●
Tannin & Bitterness	●●●	●●	●

Use
Usucha	●●	●●●●●	●●●●●
Koicha	●	●●●●	●●●●●
Cold-Brew Matcha	●●●●●	●●●●●	●●●
Culinary Ingredient (cookies, cakes, chocolate)	●●●●●	●
Barista Ingredient (Matcha latte, cocktails)	●●●●●	●