Trust & governance
Editorial Policy
Yuri Matcha's editorial process, independence standards, and content lifecycle — from the moment a page is created to the moment it is updated, verified, or retired.
Content Independence
Core principle
Editorial scores, verdicts, and recommendations on Yuri Matcha are determined solely by the evidence gathered through our tasting protocol and primary-source research process. No brand, advertiser, or affiliate partner can influence, modify, or delay the publication of any editorial content.
Brands may submit factual corrections (e.g., a price change or updated cultivar information). These are reviewed independently and updated with a changelog entry if verified. Corrections never override independently verified data without re-verification.
Product samples accepted for review are disclosed in the tasting notes where applicable. Accepting a sample does not guarantee coverage, a positive verdict, or any change to standard scoring criteria.
Content Standards
Primary sources first
All factual claims are traced to a primary source wherever possible — official brand documentation, confirmed retailer listings, or peer-reviewed publications. Secondary sources (aggregators, press coverage) are used only for initial research and clearly distinguished in source metadata.
Explicit uncertainty
When evidence is ambiguous or insufficient, the page says so. Scores are left blank rather than estimated. Editorial status badges communicate the confidence level of the entire page at a glance.
Consistent naming
Every entity has a canonical name used consistently across all pages. Alternate names, retailer names, Japanese script, and romaji variants are stored as aliases and displayed explicitly — not used interchangeably on the same page.
Structured, extractable content
Pages follow a defined content order (summary → facts → answer → detail → FAQ → sources) to support both human readers and automated extraction. Comparison tables are always HTML, never images. JSON-LD structured data is present on every page type.
No manufactured urgency
Yuri Matcha does not use stock-scarcity warnings, countdown timers, or artificial urgency language designed to pressure purchase decisions. Availability status reflects actual sourced information.
Page Lifecycle (Editorial State Machine)
Every entity page moves through a defined set of states. The current state is shown as an editorial status badge on the page.
Draft
Page stub created. Identifying information (name, slug, basic facts) is present but not yet researched. Published but excluded from recommendation surfaces and flagged visibly.
- → Researched (after primary-source data collection)
Researched
Factual data collected from secondary sources. Core claims (origin, price, certifications) are plausible but not yet confirmed against a primary source. Flavor scores absent or estimated.
- → Verified (after primary-source cross-check)
- → Discontinued (if product no longer sold)
Verified
All factual claims confirmed against primary sources. Source URLs logged with access dates. Confidence ratings assigned. Price and availability current.
- → Tasted (after in-house tasting session)
- → Needs Reverification (if price/formulation changes)
- → Discontinued
Tasted
Verified + in-person tasting completed under standardized protocol. Full flavor scores present, tasting data recorded. Highest confidence state for flavor information.
- → Needs Reverification (if reformulation suspected or price changes)
- → Discontinued
Needs Reverification
Previously verified or tasted, but a trigger event occurred: price change, reported reformulation, new harvest season, or a reader report. Page remains published with a warning while reverification is in progress.
- → Verified or Tasted (after reverification complete)
- → Discontinued (if product no longer available)
Discontinued
Product is no longer sold by the brand. Page remains published as a historical record and to support users comparing past products. Excluded from recommendation surfaces. Links to suggested alternatives when available.
- → Researched (if brand relaunches the product)
Merged
Page was a duplicate or near-duplicate of another entity. Content consolidated into the canonical page. A redirect is maintained from the merged URL. Changelog notes what was merged and why.
- (terminal — no further transitions)
Update & Re-Verification Policy
Pages are triggered for re-verification when one of the following occurs:
Price change
Any change ≥5% in the official price
New harvest season
Typically March–May each year for Japanese matcha
Formulation change
Brand announces new cultivar, origin, or milling process
Availability change
Blend goes out of stock, limited release, or discontinued
Reader report
Credible user-submitted correction with supporting evidence
Periodic review
All pages reviewed at minimum annually
All changes are recorded in the verification changelog visible on each entity page. The changelog includes the verified field, old value, new value, verification method, and date.
Editorial vs. Monetization
Yuri Matcha may earn revenue through affiliate commissions and, in the future, advertising. The following guarantees apply:
- Affiliate links are added only after the editorial verdict is finalized — not before
- A brand's participation in an affiliate program has no bearing on its scores or recommendations
- Blends without affiliate links are recommended on the same basis as those with links
- Sponsored or promoted content, if ever used, will be clearly labeled and segregated from editorial content
- No editorial content is gated behind payment or registration
See the Affiliate Disclosure page for specific program details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Yuri Matcha accept payment for reviews?
No. Editorial scores and verdicts are never influenced by payment, gifted product placement fees, or brand requests. Brands cannot pay for higher scores, favorable verdicts, or prominent placement on the site.
How are affiliate links handled?
Some product links use affiliate tracking codes that earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to the buyer. Affiliate status is disclosed clearly and has no influence on editorial scores or recommendations. See the Affiliate Disclosure page for full details.
Can brands submit corrections?
Yes. Brands can submit factual corrections via our contact form. All corrections are reviewed and, if verified, updated with a changelog entry noting the source of the correction. Brand submissions do not override independently verified data.