Welcome to our 2025 Ceremonial Matcha - selected after tasting dozens of top-grade Matcha samples from Uji. Our Saemidori Matcha is luxuriously creamy with playful accents of bright fruits and flowers.
The worldwide shortage of Matcha has led to big changes in Japan with the Japanese government agencies pushing to increase production.
Despite these efforts, the yield of Matcha in 2025 is likely less than previous years (primarily due to climate and weather) so it has been a battle to secure the pinnacle grade tea without paying absurd prices.
But, with our 20 year history of sourcing Matcha and strong relationships with producers, we have been privileged to select from some gorgeous Matcha and negotiate reasonable price increases.
While everyone in tea is delighted by the incredible surge in popularity of Matcha is does come with downsides which can affect quality.
In the drive to increase yields, the producers are motivated to:
- use younger, faster-growing tea bushes
- simply and cheaply shade the plants using direct blanket shading vs constructed shading shelves like Kanreisha or Honzu
- focus on cultivars high yield with good cup colour
- increase mechanization in cultivation and processing
All of this leads to producing a higher quantity of Matcha to meet demand with attention focussed much more on colour (it has to be Influencer friendly) and less on character or taste.
This Saemidori Matcha comes from producers resisting these changes and came out way on top in all of our blind Matcha tastings.
It is made from tea leaves from 40-year-old Saemidori bushes which are Kanreisha shade grown for about 25 days before picking.
What does this all mean?
- 40 year old bushes will have much more character in the cup than younger plants (at the expense of yield)
- the Saemidori cultivar has incredible depth and creaminess but is less vivid green in colour compared with other more popular cultivars
- shading under Kanreisha instead of direct blankets allows the tea to breathe to improve taste and complexity but will produce a less deep green colour
The result is a Matcha which looks a bit lighter in colour than all of the 'pop' greens on a TikTok feed but is so much better in quality.
Sipping this Matcha is a creamy dream. Luxurious malted chocolates, nut butters and hints of coconut fill the mouth and nose, all seasoned by a rounded umami.
After swallowing the bright notes come out with accents of green melon, starfruits and lotus flowers.
There is the barest and most delightful soft bitterness which shifts to a cooling, strawberry juiciness.
This is a supremely balanced Matcha with comfort and depth.
I do not know how Matcha will evolve in the future. Demand is increasing and the shortage will inevitably force changes in Japan's production. But, while we can, lets celebrate these proper, old-skool Matchas and savour every sip.
Directions:
The most convenient way of drinking matcha is in the form of a tea 'shot'. We recommend using about half a teaspoon for 50ml of cold or hot water (between 70 and 80 degrees). Stir vigorously or whisk to make a smooth drink. Sip and enjoy the marine air and grass flavour or down it like a health shot. Drink one or two shots a day. We do not advise drinking before bed as it does contain caffeine.
Scent/Taste
Grass and seaweed vibrancy with slight creaminess if brewed properly.
Matcha in Cooking and Baking
Home cooks and restaurant chefs around the world add matcha into all sorts of recipes to enhance the flavour and boost the health properties of their dishes. It's powdered form makes it perfectly versatile and convenient as an ingredient. The complex flavour profile of grassy bitterness and earthy sweetness makes matcha an intiguing spice ripe for experimentation. Our matcha is a bit too high-grade to use for general cooking but it is perfect to dust over a dessert.
Indications:
Here are just a few known health benefits associated with drinking green tea: Boosts your immune system - Lowers blood sugar levels - Helps prevent cavities and tooth decay - Slows the ageing process - Helps reduce the risk of cancer - Lowers Cholesterol - Aids in weight loss by burning calories - Reduces high blood pressure - Helps prevent arthritis - Reduces the risk of heart disease - Reduces the risk of stroke - Lowers the risk of blood clot.
