Matcha is the Japanese word for the type of tea used in chanoyu. While the word “tea” may conjure up images of dried leaves steeped in hot water, matcha is actually
a green powder that’s whisked with hot water to create an intense version of the green tea most
people are used to.
Matcha is made from the same tea plant as the tea you buy at the grocery store (camellia sinensis); what makes it special is the way it’s grown and prepared. The plants are covered at a certain point in their growing
cycle so that they don’t get too much sunlight, and the leaves are picked while they’re still young. The leaves are steamed to stop them from fermenting and then
aged for six months before they’re ground to a fine powder.
Drinking matcha has become very popular in the United States, and in fact, it’s already found in a number of popular products – green tea ice cream, green tea milkshakes and lattes, and green tea soaps and
body lotions are usually made with matcha.
We are often asked where people can buy matcha. That brings us to . . .
An important note about buying matcha: Matcha should be stored in the refrigerator (if you’re drinking it on a daily basis) or freezer (for long-term storage) to preserve
its freshness. Most tea sellers do not do this; they leave the matcha out on
room-temperature shelves for weeks or even months until it sells. You should
never, ever buy from a store that does this. While the tea doesn’t spoil per se, it’ll certainly taste awful!
How can you tell if you’re buying fresh matcha? Fresh matcha is bright green, the color of new leaves;
matcha that’s been left to sit out for too long turns yellowish-brown.
For best results, we recommend that you order directly from a matcha supplier or
from a seller who understands how the tea needs to be stored. Below, we’ve listed some Japanese matcha suppliers, and many of the utensil suppliers at
the bottom of the page also sell matcha. See individual sites for details.
Ippodo A well-known producer of matcha; the company sells its tea through its site.
Aiya Another matcha grower; the company describes the process of growing and
processing tea and sells the tea online.
Horaido Sells all types of tea utensils, including a good selection of matcha from
their own plantation. They have many more items available than are listed
online; e-mail for special inquiries.
Matcha and More Sells tea, utensils, and books. The selection of utensils is complete for basic
use but there's not a big selection on each item. Based in the United States,
but features a wide selection of matcha from Koyamaen, the tea grower favored
by the Urasenke school.
Hibiki-An A small tea grower that sells matcha as well as other types of loose leaf tea
and some basic tea utensils. Their site has a number of informational articles
about tea, and their newsletter is highly recommended.
Matcha Source Features a selection of matcha from some well-known Japanese growers and
suggestions for cooking recipes and smoothies.
The Pacific Leaf Company U.S.-based company that sells its own brand of matcha as well as tea utensils
for beginners.
O-Cha.com Not just matcha, but organic matcha, including a beginner's guide to drinking
it.
Ito Green Tea Not to be confused with Ito-en, this U.S.-based tea importer sells sencha from Uji, and is currently working
on establishing a matcha tea plantation in this country.
And what’s tea without sweets?
Minatoya Japanese sweet maker that specializes in dry sweets of the kind used in
chanoyu. Ships express mail from Japan; fast and reliable.
Minamoto Kitchoan Japanese company that makes sweets for chanoyu as well as for everyday use. If
you’re in New York, be sure to visit their store on 49th Street, just off Fifth
Avenue, for fresh-made sweets not available through mail order. They also have
a location at Mitsuwa, a Japanese shopping center across the river from Manhattan with a selection of
Japanese products to make any Philadelphia resident weep.
Tea Circle All types of chanoyu equipment, including supplies for the tea room and the tea itself. They have the
widest variety of tea ceremony items available online, and their selection is
constantly expanding.
Asakichi This San Francisco-based store is legendary in the tea community. The site only
hints at what's available; inquire for details.
Tea Toys A site run by a chanoyu teacher in Kyoto; it features many unique items at very good prices.
Rikyucha From the good folks at Ichiroya (scroll down to the kimono section) comes this site featuring new and antique
tea items. The prices are excellent, but sorting and categorizing are not their
strong suit; a little time browsing will be well rewarded.
Sweet Persimmon Sells a variety of tea ceremony related items, including a leg-saving bench that
aids in sitting seiza. They also have a selection of other loose-leaf teas. Don’t miss their blog about the practice of chanoyu.
Trocadero The overall Trocadero site is a marketplace for all kinds of merchandise, but
they have a section specifically for tea ceremony (scroll down to "Japanese
antiques" on the left-hand side). Want to see what a $10,000 tea bowl looks
like? This is your site. Even if you’re not buying, just browsing the listings is an education.
Ichiroya Online kimono seller with a selection that borders on mind-boggling. For a real
treat, sign up for their e-mail newsletter.
Yamatoku Online kimono store that sells all types of kimonos and accessories. They make
a special effort to feature larger-size kimonos for us big-hipped foreigners.
E-Budostore Kimonos, obis, and related items. Heavy focus on men’s wear; can cater to very tall/large sizes.
