What is Marukyu Koyamaen's full matcha price range per gram?
All 7 Marukyu blends are in stock as of May 2026 — full catalog, no gaps. The lineup runs $0.71/g (Isuzu) to $2.28/g (Eiju). Marukyu doesn't sell ultra-premium single-cultivar above $3/g in the US; their ceiling is where their Uji sourcing is most distinctive. The key number in the lineup: at $1.58/g, Unkaku reaches umami 9 and body 9. That's a savory, lingering depth — the kind of umami that stays in the back of your mouth after you swallow — at a price point where most brands are still delivering umami 7 and body 6.
Why does Marukyu Koyamaen's quality-to-price ratio stand out?
Marukyu reaches umami 9 and bitterness 2 at $1.58/g. Other brands charge $3–4/g for the same profile. The closest Kettl equivalent — Shirakawa Asahi — is $3.95/g for umami 9, bitter 2, body 9. That's $2.37/g more for nearly identical specs. Marukyu owns their Uji gardens and stone-milling facilities. The margin that would otherwise go to a distributor shows up in the price.
Which Marukyu Koyamaen matcha is the best value?
Unkaku ($1.58/g). Umami 9, bitterness 2, sweetness 8, body 9. Buy this. At body 9, the finish is thick and clean — the matcha coats your mouth and the savory note stays. If $1.58/g is a stretch: Kinrin ($1.48/g, umami 8, bitter 2, sweet 8, body 8) — one step down on umami and body. Wako ($1.10/g, Okumidori, umami 8, bitter 3) is the right Marukyu entry — it runs drier and greener than Unkaku, less sweetness (6), but the bitterness is low and the body holds up for daily drinking.
How does Marukyu Koyamaen compare to Ippodo at equivalent price points?
At $0.85–$0.88/g: Ippodo Sayaka (bitter 3) beats Marukyu Yugen (bitter 4) on bitterness. At $1.10/g: Ippodo Kan (sweet 8) edges Marukyu Wako (sweet 6) on sweetness. The meaningful Marukyu advantage is at $1.48–$2.28/g — Kinrin, Unkaku, and Eiju have no Ippodo equivalent at those price points. The closest is Ippodo Seiun at $1.68/g (umami 9, bitter 2, body 8) — comparable to Unkaku but slightly less body at a higher price.