Curious what the difference is between ‘ceremonial' and ‘cooking' or ‘culinary' matcha? Continue reading and discover what the differences are!
In Japan, when shopping for matcha you'll find the term ‘ryouriyou' translated this means “for cooking use”.
However, most matcha sold in Japan is intended for drinking. Because of that, drinking matcha is simply called matcha. The only way to differentiate the cooking from drinking are the words ‘ryouriyou' on the package.
To put the differences simply, matcha or what is sold as ‘ceremonial' is for drinking. As in drinking straight after adding hot water and whisking.
Cooking or culinary matcha is intended to be used for everything else.
While I won't stop you from using regular matcha in your cooking, for many (including me) you might not be using your matcha to its fullest potential.
When you dilute matcha in your smoothies, lattes, baked goods and other foods like soba, you'll lose a lot of the delicate flavors and aromas that make each matcha special.
These characteristics are what enable matcha to sell for such high prices. (for example, over $100 for just 40g!)
So why would you waste it?
So now that you know matcha is for drinking and ‘cooking' matcha is for everything else, why not try some of my favorite from one of the famous tea growing regions – Shizuoka, Japan?
Shizuoka is one of the famous tea growing regions in Japan.
Japanese green tea including matcha does taste different here than other regions such as Kagoshima.
One of the main reason is the ‘terroir'.
The French word ‘terroir', which loosely translated means environment is different – the soil, the air, the water, the climate etc.
All of these things together with the green tea leaf cultivar, production and processing techniques make for a distinct flavor, color and aroma.
Try and see if you can tell this Shizuoka cooking matcha apart from the Kagoshima one 🙂
Vegan, Gluten free, Keto friendly
Authentic Japanese origin
100% Pure Premium organic matcha powder
Michael W –
I used this sample size to make matcha scones and it was perfect for testing the quality. The scones turned out super smooth, with a great taste and a beautiful color. I’m quite happy with it.
johngriffin0928 –
I used to love the green tea ice cream at a local Asian restaurant. Now, thanks to this matcha powder, I can make it at home. The powder dissolves easily in hot water, and I add the matcha mixture to the custard base before adding the heavy cream. The resulting ice cream is heavenly.
While I’m sure there are many other uses for this delicious powder, I’m currently obsessed with making green tea ice cream. I’m so happy to have that flavor back in my life!
DrS –
I use this matcha powder in my morning nut milk drinks. It’s quite tasty, especially when combined with medicinal TCM mushrooms. It’s a good quality matcha, and I can definitely taste the difference!
Ron –
I love the taste and how easily this dissolves in warm milk. I will be buying this in bulk and stock up my pantry. I can highly recommend you try this one out if you love green and matcha tea.
Noah M –
I’m not sure if fake matcha exists, but I really enjoyed this one. It makes a delicious drink, and I’m looking forward to using it for matcha rolls. It seems to be of decent quality, and I’m happy with it.
BoopBleepBlop –
I’m not a huge fan of traditional matcha. I prefer it in boba, ice cream, or latte form, as I find it too bitter as a regular tea. This matcha, however, is very subtle at 1/2 teaspoon per cup of water, making it easy to adjust the strength and flavor to your liking. I recommend it to anyone new to matcha.
Lisa –
The organic certification of this matcha powder gives me peace of mind. It’s completely additive-free and made from organically grown green tea, which is very healthy. I’m a big fan of matcha powder. It has a rich aroma and a delicious taste. Whether I’m making matcha lattes, ice cream, or cakes, it enhances the flavor and makes my cooking even more enjoyable.
Yashahime –
I mainly make matcha cookies using Culinary Grade matcha using the Shizuoka’s Finest Organic Cooking Matcha was a great additional to my baking. Although at 3oz the matcha is slightly on the pricier side, but the matcha flavor comes out well when used. The matcha does have a darker green color that you’d expect from matcha. While the matcha itself was usable and alright, at the price point there are better options for matcha out there, but this one is decent for what it provides.
Customer –
This matcha tea has a very nice scent and subtle flavor. I use it to make green matcha desserts.
johnmc –
I appreciate that this matcha is from Shizuoka, Japan. It has a true matcha flavor, and you can adjust the strength by controlling the amount of powder used. For a simple tea, a small pinch is all you need.
Debbie –
I was curious about organic matcha and decided to try a 10g sample. Unfortunately, the sample package wasn’t resealable, so I had to either use it all at once or transfer the remaining powder to an airtight container. While I haven’t tried green tea leaves, I enjoyed the matcha tea I made. Despite steeping for about 20 minutes, it wasn’t bitter. I think it would also be a great addition to various foods.
Calm Tom –
This was a matcha. We used it to make a small batch of ice cream, following a recipe that only required a small amount of matcha. As this is our first time using matcha, we can’t compare it to other brands. However, the ice cream turned out delicious.
JJ –
This matcha powder is easy to drink. The taste is lighter than other matcha powder that I had. It’s lighter but not weak, so it’s especially good if you’re new to matcha. You only need about half a teaspoonful to make a cup. It’s a sample size, and I think there’s about 5-6 servings in the bag. The bag is not resealable, so I store it in a sandwich-size zipper bag.
SunnySkies –
I’ve been eager to try a matcha cookie recipe, and this culinary-grade matcha was perfect! It added a delightful herbaceous flavor and a vibrant green color to my cookies. While cookies aren’t exactly health food, I like to believe that the addition of matcha provides a nutritional boost to my baked goods. I haven’t tried it as a tea, but it works wonderfully as a baking ingredient.
Choosy Indecisive –
I’ve been adding matcha to my green smoothies. While I find it too intense to drink on its own, it adds a lovely flavor to smoothies with bananas, yogurt, milk, and spinach.
Philly –
As a recent matcha tea enthusiast, I’m no expert. However, this matcha produced a lovely cup of tea. It mixed well and had a good flavor, comparable to other brands I’ve tried.
I appreciate the option to try a sample size before committing to a larger purchase.
CR –
I chose Shizuoka’s Finest Organic Cooking Matcha from All Day I Eat Like a Shark tea shop because I wanted to experiment with cooking using matcha without compromising my ceremonial-grade powder. While the matcha has a pleasant aroma, it’s slightly bitter, which is typical for culinary-grade matcha. It’s definitely not suitable for traditional matcha tea. I made a quick latte with it, and the sweetness helped to balance the bitterness. However, I do think it’s a bit overpriced compared to other culinary-grade matcha options on the market.
Beau+Dee Vine –
I keep hearing “matcha is good for you”; so I ordered this product. I am still learning the diverse ways this product can be consumed. Initial impression: recommended.