Editorial
Matcha Guides
Practical, evidence-backed explanations of how matcha works — what labels mean, how origins differ, how to buy intelligently, and why some bowls taste better than others.
Guide
What Ceremonial Grade Really Means
A practical explanation of why ceremonial grade is a retail label, not a regulated guarantee.
Haruka FujimotoRead guide →Guide
Uji vs Yame vs Nishio Matcha: What Our Data Shows
The three major Japanese matcha origins compared — flavor, price, and availability — using standardized scores across 44 tracked blends. Proprietary data from 4,354 price snapshots, not editorial opinion.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Best Matcha for Beginners: Which Blend to Buy First
Beginners quit over bitterness. Nine in-stock blends stay under $1.50/g with bitterness 3 or below and enough umami to taste like something — here's which one to buy first.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
How to Store Matcha
What actually matters for freshness once you open a tin or bag.
Haruka FujimotoRead guide →Guide
Why Some Matcha Tastes Bitter
The main reasons bitterness shows up, and which of them you can actually control.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
The 2026 Matcha Shortage Explained
Why ceremonial matcha is harder to find and more expensive in 2026 — and what the data from 4,354 price snapshots shows about which brands are most affected.
Haruka FujimotoRead guide →Guide
Matcha Prices in 2026: What Our Data Shows
Price-per-gram analysis across 133 tracked blends and 4,354 snapshots. Where ceremonial matcha sits today, which price tiers still have supply, and when to expect relief.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Where to Buy Matcha In Stock Right Now (2026)
Which merchants and blends have confirmed in-stock status based on our live price tracker — plus which retailers have the most reliable availability during the 2026 shortage.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
Matcha Sold Out? The Best Alternatives When Your Blend Is Gone
Which blends to buy when your usual matcha is out of stock — matched by flavor profile, price tier, and preparation style. Based on live availability data from our tracker.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
Okumidori vs Samidori Matcha: What's the Difference?
A data-driven comparison of the two most common tencha cultivars in US-accessible ceremonial matcha. Flavor scores, price ranges, and which to buy — based on our tasting protocol applied to both.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
Gokou Matcha: Flavor Profile, Why It's Rare, and Where to Buy
Gokou is the rarest major tencha cultivar — grown almost exclusively in Uji's Shirakawa district, with extreme umami and very limited US availability. What it tastes like, which blends we track, and what to buy when it's out of stock.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
Best Matcha Under $2 Per Gram: Our Tracker's Top Picks
Which in-stock ceremonial matcha delivers the most at under $2/gram? Ranked by flavor scores from our standardized tasting protocol across 4,354 price snapshots — not editorial opinion.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Kettl Matcha: Complete Price Per Gram Guide (All 26 Blends)
Every Kettl matcha priced by gram with in-stock status and flavor scores from our tracker. Covers the full lineup from Uji Homare ($0.75/g) to Gokasho Blended ($6.60/g), organized by tier.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
Samidori Matcha: Flavor Profile, Best Blends, and Where to Buy
Samidori is the premier Uji tencha cultivar — sweet, low-bitterness, and body-forward. Our tracker covers 35+ Samidori blends with daily availability data. What it tastes like and which ones are in stock now.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
Ippodo Matcha: Complete Price Per Gram Guide (All 8 Blends)
Every Ippodo matcha priced by gram with flavor scores from our tasting protocol — from Wakaki ($0.55/g) to Kanza ($5.20/g). What each tier delivers and which blend matches your brewing style.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Marukyu Koyamaen Matcha: Complete Price Per Gram Guide
Every Marukyu Koyamaen matcha priced by gram with flavor scores — from Isuzu ($0.71/g) to Eiju ($2.28/g). Why Marukyu's lineup delivers near-premium quality at mid-tier prices.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
Best Matcha for Koicha: Which Blends Are Actually Worth It
Koicha requires high body, low bitterness, and true ceremonial grade. Wrong matcha at thick preparation is chalk. Ranked by body score from our tasting protocol — only 6 in-stock blends qualify.
Ayane ShibataRead guide →Guide
The 2026 Matcha Shortage: Current Status, Root Causes, and Recovery Timeline
The 2026 matcha shortage is structural, not cyclical. Here's what's driving it, how deep it goes, and when supply is expected to stabilize — backed by sourcing data and industry statements.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Kagoshima vs Uji Matcha Supply in 2026: What's Different and Why It Matters
Kagoshima is now Japan's largest matcha-producing prefecture, but it can't replace what Uji makes. Here's the supply situation for both regions in 2026, including production volumes, price differences, and what buyers actually get from each.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Which Premium Matcha Brands Are Still In Stock in 2026?
Not all premium matcha brands are equally affected by the 2026 shortage. Here's a brand-by-brand breakdown of current availability, restock patterns, and where to reliably buy ceremonial matcha right now.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Matcha Price Spike Data: How Much Have Prices Actually Risen?
Matcha prices rose 15–100% depending on grade and brand between 2023 and early 2026. Here's the sourced data behind the spike — wholesale auction prices, retail price-per-gram movement, and what different tiers actually cost now.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Ippodo Matcha In Stock 2026: All 8 Blends Available — Here's What to Order
Ippodo has maintained full catalog availability through the 2026 matcha shortage — all 8 blends in stock. Complete lineup with flavor scores, price per gram, and which blend fits your brewing style right now.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Kettl Matcha In Stock 2026: Which Blends Are Available and What to Order Now
Kettl has 18 of 26 blends in stock as of June 2026, but 8 are out — concentrated in Uji-origin tiers. Full availability breakdown, which blends to order now, and what to set alerts on.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Marukyu Koyamaen Matcha In Stock 2026: Full Availability Tracker
All 7 Marukyu Koyamaen blends are currently in stock as of June 2026 — the full availability breakdown, where to buy each one, and which blend to order first.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Best Place to Buy Matcha in 2026: Ippodo vs Marukyu vs Kettl vs Sazen
Four premium matcha merchants with controlled out-of-stock rates compared across availability, price, shipping, and flavor data from 4,354 tracked checks. Which one to order from depends on your use case — here's the breakdown.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Best Matcha for Daily Drinking in 2026 — Protocol-Scored, In Stock, Under $2/g
The best matcha for daily drinking isn't the most expensive — it's the blend that delivers high umami and low bitterness at a price you can sustain. Here are the top picks by price tier, all in stock in 2026.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Certified Organic Ceremonial Matcha in 2026 — What's Actually Available and Worth Buying
Certified organic ceremonial matcha is harder to find in 2026 — Uji organic lots are nearly gone, but Kagoshima organic fills the gap. Here's what's certified, what it costs, and whether the premium is worth it.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Marukyu Koyamaen vs Ippodo: Which Uji Brand Is Worth Your Money in 2026?
Marukyu Koyamaen and Ippodo are the only two premium Uji brands with full catalog availability during the 2026 shortage. Here's how they actually compare — protocol scores, price-per-gram, best blends at each tier.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →Guide
Best Matcha for Daily Drinking in 2026 — Protocol-Scored, In Stock, Under $2/g
The best matcha for daily drinking isn't the most expensive — it's the blend that delivers high umami and low bitterness at a price you can sustain. Here are the top picks by price tier, all in stock in 2026.
Mio TakasugiRead guide →