How to Choose the Right Culinary Matcha for Your Business

When it comes to culinary matcha, there's more to it than just picking up a green tea powder and paying for it at a reasonable price. The matcha should have the appropriate flavour, colour, texture and consistency to produce the product you wish to sell.

A matcha powder that is not burned during baking may be required for a bakery. Matcha lattes might be a café that desires a milder slope. One food manufacturer might want consistency and repeatability of the batch.

Wholesale matcha supplier Matchia is based in Hayward, California and sells to food manufacturers, food distributors, beverage brands, bakeries, and restaurants throughout the U.S. It has a team that assists commercial buyers in deciding between the various grades of matcha, depending on the application, taste, preparation and cost.

What Is Culinary Grade Matcha?

Culinary grade matcha is a matcha powder that is chosen for use in recipes that will be mixed with other ingredients. Some of the most popular applications are baked goods, smoothies, ice cream, sauces, desserts, chocolate, ready-to-drink beverages, and matcha lattes.

Matcha is prepared by grinding processed green tea leaves into a fine powder, unlike loose leaf tea. All of the powder is added to the final recipe and is not filtered out after brewing.

Culinary matcha is typically more tea-flavored and astringent than ceremonial-grade matcha. These properties can be beneficial when a matcha needs to be used with milk, flour, sugar, fruit, chocolate or other flavored components.

For businesses looking to find recipes, they can take a look at Matchia's culinary grade matcha wholesale option to use for business.

Ceremonial vs. Culinary Matcha for Commercial Use

Matcha can be used for either ceremonial or culinary purposes. It is not just that ceremonial vs. culinary is the same thing, except one is good and the other is low quality matcha. They have been designed to be used in various preparations.

The matcha used in ceremonies is typically chosen for use with water where the tea flavor, sweetness, umami, aroma, texture and subtle flavor of the tea are readily apparent. It can also be added to high quality drinks where matcha is the predominant taste.

Culinary grade matcha tends to be more vegetal, slightly more astringent and stronger than the others. That profile enables the matcha taste to stand out from other flavors when blended.

If your business is looking at matcha to buy for ceremonies versus for cooking, you should use that as your guide:

• Ceremonial grade matcha can be used for traditional matcha made with water.
• Ceremonial, premium, or latte-grade matcha can be used to enhance premium matcha lattes.
• Drinks such as sweetened milk-based beverages go well with latte or culinary matcha.
• Usually, culinary-grade matcha is used for baked goods and desserts.
• When producing food in bulk, a culinary mixture might be provided to ensure uniformity and cost-effectiveness.

For those who are buying matcha for commerce, Matchia offers a guide to understanding matcha grades.

6 Ways to Choose the Right Culinary Matcha for Your Business

The type of culinary matcha you use can have a huge influence on your product quality, flavor, consistency and customer experience.

Let's look at 6 actionable things to keep in mind when choosing culinary matcha for your company:

1. Start With the Finished Product

Define the use of the matcha powder before making comparisons of grades. What is good for cookies isn't necessarily good for a cold drink or a base for soft-serve.

Ask the following questions:

1. Is matcha going to be hot or cold?
2. Will it be combined with milk (dairy or oat), fruit, chocolate, or sweetener?
3. Does the product presentation prominently feature green color?
4. Is the recipe going to be baked, frozen, blended or bottled?
5. How many servings of matcha will be used?
6. Is the matcha to be left with a good flavour after processing?
7. Does the product fit into the category of a regular product or a high-quality item on the menu?

It is better to taste matcha in the actual recipe than to make a decision based on the appearance of the powder. The simple matcha profile will come out when whisked with water, but won't display what it can do in a commercial formula.

2. Evaluate Matcha Flavor Strength and Astringency

A culinary-grade matcha should be strong enough to be tasted but not too bitter.

Matcha can be softened by milk, sugar, flour, fats and ice. Some very mellow powder can go down the drain once it has been added to a recipe. If you are looking to enhance your smoothies, desserts, sweetened drinks, or baked goods, you will find that a more flavorful culinary-grade matcha will give you better definition.

But that doesn't necessarily mean more powerful is more effective. Too astringent may need greater sweeteners, which will alter the product taste and ingredient expense.

Try different dosages of matcha. After all the ingredients of the recipe have been incorporated, compare the flavor, vegetal aspects, bitterness, sweetness, and finish of the tea.

3. Consider Color in the Final Application

Many buyers consider quality matcha to be a bright green colour, whereas colour is a factor of the finished product and not just the dry powder.

The final appearance may be different due to various ingredients, storage conditions, and heat. In cases where the color matters to the customer, such as cakes, frostings, drinks, and desserts, a vibrant green culinary matcha could be worth it.

For dark chocolate products, items that are heavily baked, or recipes that include fruit, color may not be as significant as the strength of the chocolate and the amount of chocolate per serving.

It is also important that businesses safeguard freshness after receiving the product. Matchia's tips for keeping matcha fresh and vibrant include practical storage tips.

4. Choose the Right Grade Matcha for Lattes

Not every matcha latte requires ceremonial-grade matcha powder. The correct grade matcha to use for lattes will vary based on the milk, sweetener, amount of matcha used, the recipe ratio, and the menu price.

If the profile of the drink is more matcha than it is coffee, a premium or latte grade matcha can be appropriate. This is because a culinary matcha might be suitable for a sweeter beverage, matcha latte, boba shop recipes with multiple ingredients or matcha drinks.

Companies should make up samples with their own milk and sweetener. Taste it both hot and cold, as different temperatures will affect the perception of sweetness, bitterness and umami.

You aren't looking to purchase the highest quality matcha. It is their job to choose a grade that will give the desired customer experience at an affordable price.

5. Review Sourcing, Consistency, and Documentation

In the eyes of the commercial matcha buyer, the initial sample is not enough. They also want a supplier who will be willing to place repeat orders and offer reliable product information.

When talking to people who might be able to supply the items, ask them about:

• The country or region of origin of the product.
• The type of product, a blend or single-origin matcha.
• Either organic or conventional choices.
• Batch consistency.
• Storage practices.
• Minimum order quantity.
• Available testing and documentation (e.g., diagnostic, lab, blood).
• Sample availability.
• Lead times and reorder possibilities.

The majority of Matchia's matcha is direct from Japan, particularly Shizuoka. The company sells blended and single-origin products, organic and conventional products.

Matchia regularly tests its products according to SGS standards and can supply COA documentation for its products. It is essential for buyers to obtain documentation from the company for the specific matcha they are interested in.

6. Calculate Cost by Finished Serving

While wholesale price per kg is significant, it should not be the only criterion to consider.

If a lower priced powder is used, a higher matcha dosage might be necessary to achieve the desired matcha flavor. May require a different recipe ratio with a stronger or smoother powder. 

Other factors, such as sweetener requirements, waste, customer expectations, and menu positioning also have an impact on the final economics.

Work out the price of the matcha per drink, pastry, dessert or packaged unit. Then check the quality, selling price and target margin of the finished product with that number.

The approach is a more realistic one for the buyer than just comparing the price per kg of a product.

Why Businesses Choose Matchia for Culinary Matcha?

Matchia's primary focus is not on retail, but rather wholesale and B2B customers. It has a variety of products such as Culinary Matcha, Latte Matcha, Premium Matcha, Ceremonial Matcha, Ultra Ceremonial Matcha, Single Origin Matcha and Hojicha.

The wholesale minimum order quantity is 1kg, which gives businesses the option to start with a commercial quantity, rather than having to make a large up-front order. Discounts are available for larger orders.

Matchia also provides sample kits for comparison for buyers to consider before buying. For businesses that have regular buying requirements, a weekly/monthly repeat supply might be possible.

Matchia also offers bulk matcha support for food manufacturers who are preparing recipes at scale.

Matchia is headquartered in the city of Hayward, California; therefore, it is particularly applicable to businesses looking for culinary matcha for business use in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, the rest of California, and the West Coast. Orders are fulfilled from Matchia's own store with cold storage facilities within the country.

Conclusion

Business-grade matcha should not be a grade name or price point; it should be the right matcha to fit the finished product. The following characteristics should be compared among the various products: flavor strength, astringency, color, preparation, cost per serving, consistency, storage, and repeat supply.

The best way to decide on the culinary, latte, premium and ceremonial matcha varieties is to try them in the actual product.

Still not certain of the grade of matcha you need for your business? Use Matchia's sample program before comparing different grades and making a wholesale order. Reach out to Matchia to talk about culinary matcha, 1kg+ wholesale orders, volume discounts, and options for purchasing matcha for your business at sales@matchia.us or 628-298-6432.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use culinary grade matcha for my matcha lattes?

Yes. Sweeten and use culinary matcha in lattes, flavored drinks, boba shop recipes and blended beverages. The premium grade or latte grade matcha can be used if a smoother, more nuanced matcha flavor is desired.

Is ceremonial grade matcha better than culinary matcha?

Not for every use. The ceremonial matcha is typically used for making matcha-based drinks, or even some of the high quality matcha teas. Culinary matcha is prepared for recipes that will require matcha powder to be added to the recipe.

How to test culinary matcha?

Test the matcha in the recipe used in the commercial production. Taste, color, texture, dosage, sugar requirements and baking, chilling, blending and milk mixing performance.

What is Matchia’s wholesale minimum order quantity?

Matchia’s wholesale minimum order quantity is 1kg. For samples, grades, discounts for volume purchases, and repeat orders, businesses can reach out to Matchia.

Is there an organic matcha for culinary use at Matchia?

Matchia has organic and conventional matcha. Availability is subject to change; please check with the team about the grade and format needed for their application.

Is there a possibility for making private label matcha products with Matchia?

Yes. Matchia's private labelling begins at 20kg and could be ideal for beverage brands, retailers, cafés or other product companies. You can get more info on Matchia's matcha white label packaging service.