This sampler set features a spectrum of six 10 gram samples of matcha at various grade levels based on our system of matcha grading, highlighting the differences in flavor from the lowest culinary grade with the highest amount of bitter-tasting antioxidants to most delicious, umami-rich (theanine-rich) imperial ceremonial grade. Whether you were a first time buyer or a longtime buyer or a matcha professional, knowing this spectrum of quality levels is the first step toward becoming a matcha expert. Traditionally the Japanese tea industry has used cultivation and production techniques—as well as price—to indicate quality. Terminology like "stone mill ground" (石挽き), "handpicked", regional indicators like "Uji, Kyoto", or "culinary usage", "perfect for baking", and now in "ceremonial"—a term invented in the West and quickly being adopted in Japan as the primary market for matcha shifts from the tea ceremony to foreigners buying matcha for matcha lattes (and cafes serving it). In the end, these terms hint at what quality it might be, but there is no standard in the market or industry. Our matcha grading and categorization system seeks to bring clarity to quality, and also transparency to the effort to hide behind techniques by categorizing matcha by types. This is especially important as the industry advances in technology to be able to produce matcha with leaf processed in innovative new ways (creating ambiguity in what is and is not "tencha"—the leaf traditionally used to create matcha). Levels include Imperial Ceremonial Grade - intended for koicha in the tea ceremony. Very rich in umami flavor, little or zero bitterness. Premium Ceremonial Grade - suitable for koicha or usucha in the tea ceremony. Rich in umami, little bitterness. Standard Ceremonial Grade - suitable for usucha in the tea ceremony. Balanced umami and bitterness. Premium Barista Grade - great color and strong bitterness allowing the matcha flavor to stand out against milk. For premium matcha lattes. Standard Barista Grade - more reasonably priced, the color is duller, and the bitterness is stronger Culinary Grades - dull color, quite bitter, but when used in baking, allows you to create great matcha flavor. Cookies, cakes, ice cream...
