01
What makes a matcha suitable for koicha?
Koicha is thick tea, so the blend needs body and little bitterness. This guide picks blends scored body 9+ and bitterness 3 or below.
Marukyu Unkaku (body 9) and Ippodo Ummon-no-Mukashi (body 9) make the cut. Ippodo Kanza scores body 10, bitterness 1. Maiko no Cha Honpo has two: Maimukashi (body 9, bitterness 3) and Koetsu (body 10, bitterness 3).
02
Which koicha matchas are closest in profile?
Marukyu Unkaku and Ippodo Ummon-no-Mukashi are scored alike: body 9, bitterness 2. Maiko no Cha Honpo's Maimukashi and Koetsu both score bitterness 3.
Prices and stock change, so check the offers on each blend page.
03
Which koicha matcha has the strongest scores?
Ippodo Kanza. It is scored 10 for umami, sweetness and body, and 1 for bitterness.
Ippodo Ummon-no-Mukashi is the closest alternative: bitterness 2, body 9 and sweetness 8, so it scores less sweet.
04
Which matcha should you avoid for koicha?
This guide leaves out blends with bitterness 4 or above, such as Ippodo Wakaki (7).
Blends scored body 5–6 are lighter. Ippodo Sayaka (body 6) and Ippodo Ikuyo (body 5) suit usucha better.
