Boba Matcha Guide to Choosing the Right Grade
When it comes to selecting the best boba matcha, it's not just about the price of the matcha powder. The key for a boba shop is to have a matcha that tastes great and looks good when it's combined with milk, sweetener, ice cubes and chewy tapioca pearls.
The correct grade should match the recipe for the drink, the desired cost, the way the drink is made and the customer's expectations. It needs to be repeatable from employee to employee, during high service times and on repeat wholesale orders.
Matchia offers a variety of grades of Japanese matcha to cafés, boba shops, restaurants and beverage companies. Operators can use the natural human method of comparing samples before purchasing in bulk and choose a matcha according to the performance of a matcha milk tea prepared from the sample, instead of just using a grade name.
Bobas are so popular these days that it is important to understand what makes a good matcha for them.
What Makes a Good Matcha for Boba Tea?
There are a number of potent ingredients in a matcha bubble tea. The use of dairy milk, oat milk, brown sugar syrup, creamer or sweetened tapioca can help soften delicate tea notes and can be used to cover mild tea notes.
That's why a quality matcha tea for boba tea generally should have a certain body and earthy tea flavor to stand out in the final product.
When deciding on a boba shop, there are five key factors to consider:
- Strength of the flavours after milk and sweetener have been added.
- Add colour to an iced matcha beverage.
- Bitterness and astringency.
- Mixing convenience during service.
- The cost per serving at the desired ratio of the recipe.
Not necessarily ceremonial-grade matcha is the best option. For a latte or high-quality tea, a well-chosen blend or premium quality can offer a more balanced and intense matcha taste in milk tea, and help control costs.
Matchia's guide to the various grades of matcha can be consulted before trying the products in recipes to determine which ones are suitable for your business.
Choosing Between Ceremonial, Premium, and Latte Matcha
The various grades of matcha can be used in various boba tea menus. The grade should be determined by the drink and not its label.
Ceremonial Matcha for Specialty Matcha Boba
Matcha is typically used in ceremonial applications and is appropriate for menus where the tea is the main attraction. It may be suitable for light-sweetened lattes made with matcha tea, matcha-based drinks with less other taste that can compete with matcha, or matcha coffee.
A boba shop can use matcha for a special tea that is brewed using simple syrup, fresh milk and plain tapioca pearls. This type of recipe provides customers with additional time for the green tea profile to be tasted.
Matchia's conventional ceremonial matcha wholesale is available for companies creating premium matcha beverages and/or classic methods of preparation.
Ultra Ceremonial Matcha can be used in matcha bars, high quality matcha beverage programs, and/or menus where matcha is used in minimal amounts of milk and sweetness. It might need more than a typical bubble tea would and it might be more expensive as well, so it's best to test it out and see if it tastes different.
Premium Matcha for Flexible Menus
For businesses that offer matcha lattes and matcha bubble tea, Premium Matcha can be a viable solution in between. It might offer an equilibrium of color, taste or commercial price.
This grade is suitable for cafes and boba shops requiring one matcha powder for multiple uses iced matcha, strawberry matcha, matcha milk tea and lightly sweetened hot tea.
Matchia's premium matcha wholesale option is designed for commercial matcha customers who are seeking a high-quality matcha in various applications.
Latte Matcha for Milk Tea With Boba
Latte Matcha is formulated for milk-based drinks, in which the matcha will stay in the drink after the addition of dairy milk, soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, syrup and ice.
This is the most convenient place for many boba shops to begin. It is possible to get a matcha flavor to be recognizable with a latte-grade powder product without having to use ceremonial matcha pricing for each serving.
Matchia provides latte-grade matcha for wholesale use in beverage shops, such as boba tea shops, cafés and coffee shops.
How Milk and Sweetness Affect Matcha Boba?
Matcha can have a very different flavor based on the milk and sweetener combination employed in the tea.
Dairy milk is creamy and can help to blend in delicate matcha undertones. Oat milk can also have a natural sweetness, and soy milk can also impart a more distinct taste. Almond milk is lighter, but may accentuate the bitter flavor in certain dishes.
Brown sugar tapioca pearls are another feature that alters the end product. They are sweet and have a caramel flavor, which can complement a stronger matcha, but can overpower a light matcha.
If a shop is using unsweetened milk and plain cooked tapioca pearls, then they could use a softer matcha powder. Brown sugar syrup, sweetened tapioca, creamer and added sugar will typically call for a stronger grade for a recipe.
Try a matcha using the same ingredients as are served in the day-to-day. Avoid judging the powder based on the volume of powder once it is whisked with hot water.
Testing a Matcha Bubble Tea Recipe
A sample test lets the buyer eliminate the guesswork in the buying process. Use the same weight of matcha powder, water temperature, amount of milk, syrup, ice and boba pearls for every matcha.
Make sure you sift the matcha powder first to minimize any lumps. Slowly add hot water and whisk until smooth. In cases where the shop has a typical workflow, a blender can be used as well.
In the milk, syrup, ice cubes and tapioca balls, add the matcha base. Drink right away and a few minutes later, melting ice may water down the drink.
‘For each sample, rate them for:
- The tea is flavored with matcha when it is added to the drink.
- Sweetened with milk and sugar
- Color after dilution
- Bitterness or dryness
- The number of powder required for each serving.
- How quickly and efficiently the preparation is conducted.
Not all powders are created equal, and the one that is strongest isn't necessarily the best one. The aim is to create a balanced-tasting drink that can be made by the regular boba shop.
Commercial-grade matcha is ready to be used as a base for commercial-grade matcha-based coffee or tea; for instructions on how to do this, please refer to the instructions on how to prepare a commercial-grade matcha base.
Cost Per Drink Matters More Than Price Per Bag
For wholesale buyers, it is important to take into consideration not just the price per kg of matcha, but the price per finished drink.
A lower-priced powder may need to be used in larger quantities to be "felt" in milk tea. Be sure that their product is stronger, which can be more expensive per pound, but requires less powder in the recipe.
Use the actual amount of powder to determine the cost of the powder per cup. Then think about waste, preparation time, consistency of drinks, and if it can be used in multiple menu items.
This way, operators will have a more meaningful sense of value. It also assists them in pricing their menus and predicting their weekly or monthly requirements of matcha.
Storage and Preparation Consistency
Matcha is light-, heat-, air-, and moisture-sensitive. Even if the powder was suitable for the recipe, it can spoil due to poor storage.
Store opened bags tightly covered and follow the supplier's instructions. Do not serve matcha in the vicinity of steam, direct sunlight or warm equipment.
Use measured scoops or a digital scale to ensure consistency in preparation by each employee. Ensure consistency of matcha, hot water, milk, sweetener, ice, and boba pearls.
For more useful tips on how to store matcha to maintain its colour and freshness, read Matchia's article on matcha freshness.
Why Boba Shops Work With Matchia for Wholesale Matcha?
Matchia is a matcha supplier that can supply matcha wholesale in Hayward, California. The company provides service to cafés, boba shops, restaurants, beverage brands, manufacturers and distributors in the United States, especially for those on the West Coast.
It offers Ultra Ceremonial, Ceremonial, Premium, Latte, Culinary, Single Origin, organic and conventional matcha varieties. It has the majority of its matcha from Japan, particularly from Shizuoka.
Matchia assists commercial buyers to compare grades based on flavor profile, preparation, menu use, and cost. Minimum order quantity applies to wholesale orders, starting from 1kg, and there are volume discounts for larger volumes.
Before ordering a product for repeat supply, companies can obtain samples of the product. Matchia might also provide weekly or monthly ordering options, local cold storage and shipping via USPS, UPS or LTL.
The regular testing by SGS and COA documentation will give extra information to the buyer when they are looking at the quality and sourcing of the products. Matchia should be contacted directly to provide documentation for a particular product.
Conclusion
There's more to selecting the best boba matcha than just looking at the labels. It is recommended that boba shops try the different grades with their milk, sweetener, ice and tapioca pearls to see how the grade performs in terms of flavour, colour, ease of preparation and price per serving.
Ceremonial Matcha is great for specialty drinks, Premium Matcha has versatility for menu options, and Latte Matcha can be a good option for milk tea and boba. It is best to test a few grades before making a decision whether to purchase a beverage.
When it comes to the grade of matcha you should use for your boba shop, you might not be certain. Use Matchia's sample program and make a comparison before placing a wholesale order. Contact Matchia to discuss samples, 1kg+ wholesale orders, volume discounts and repeat orders with Matchia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does it make sense to always use ceremonial-grade matcha in boba tea?
No, Ceremonial matcha might be good in light-sweetened specialty drinks, but a latte or premium grade can be used in milk, syrup and ice to deliver a higher level of flavor. The decision of which to use is based on the recipe and desired cost.
Which matcha to use for matcha milk tea?
Latte Matcha is frequently a good first choice as it is for beverages that use milk. Premium Matcha could be perfect for shops looking to use one powder for boba tea, matcha lattes, and other drink recipes.
How to avoid clumping of matcha powder?
Sieve the powder, then add some hot water and whisk to make a smooth base. Shops should determine if they want to use a whisk, shaker or blender to fit their workflow.
Is there a way to use oat milk/almond milk in matcha boba tea?
Yes. This can be almond milk, oat milk, dairy milk or soy milk. Each alters the sweetness, creaminess and perceived strength of the matcha and should be tried separately in the recipes.
Is it best for a boba shop to taste matcha before purchasing it wholesale?
Yes. The shop can use sampling to check its drink's colour, taste, sweetness balance, ease of preparation and cost per drink with its real milk, syrup and tapioca pearls.
What is the lowest amount of Matchia that can be ordered wholesale?
The minimum order quantity for Matchia is 1kg (wholesale). Private label matcha prices start at 20kg.