By Kate KassinSeptember 23, 2026If you’ve seen people all over your feed ditching coffee for a matcha latte, you’ve probably also done some window-shopping to find the best matcha powder to make the drink at home. Matcha might be having a moment, but it isn’t exactly new; the practice of turning finely ground young tea leaves into a vibrant green beverage dates back nearly a thousand years. Matcha boasts a boost of antioxidants and the amino acid L-Theanine, which is thought to promote relaxation and jitter-free, sustained energy. The highest quality matcha, as you’ll see below, comes from Japan, where it is at the center of traditional practices like chado (tea ceremony).
While we can’t all jet off to Japan to drink the world’s finest matcha (nor can our wallets support daily coffee shop runs), there are a lot of high-quality, thoughtfully sourced matcha powders you can buy to make great matcha at home. To learn what we should be looking for in a matcha powder, we turned to experts Zach Mangan, owner of Kettl Tea, a New York–based tea company that sources directly from Japan, and Remy Morimoto Park, creator of the vegan recipe blog Veggiekins and founder of her own matcha brand Frauth. We also tested and made a whole lot of matcha at home, so we could say that our morning ritual was for the purpose of journalism (and not just caffeination).
Whether you’re looking to kick your coffee shop habit, reap the benefits of this antioxidant-packed beverage, or simply bring a moment of calm to your morning ritual, here are our nine favorite matchas to make at home.
Kettl Hakusan MatchaRocky’s Matcha Oishi Ceremonial BlendIppodo Tea Ummon - Rich MatchaNaoki Matcha Superior Ceremonial BlendGolde Pure MatchaMatchaful Hikari Single Origin Ceremonial MatchaIsshiki Ceremonial Grade Yabukita Matcha PowderPique Sun Goddess MatchaNavitas Organics MatchaHow we tested matcha powdersBest tools to make excellent matchaFAQNew in this update: We updated the best tools for making matcha.
What we love: Kettl not only purchases its teas weekly from Japan, but the company also packages them at its own facility in Fukuoka before air-shipping directly to customers. You can taste that attention to quality and detail in Kettl’s Hakusan matcha, which we love most for at-home daily consumption. It’s smooth, rich, and pretty well-priced for someone looking for the highest quality of matcha. The taste is also slightly sweet. It’s also super versatile in that it's rich but light enough to drink on the daily and works well as a tea or latte, whether hot or cold. Care to splurge? Kettl’s website can direct you to a matcha that suits you, from the best to blend with milk to the best for whisking traditionally.
What we’d leave: There isn’t much to complain about with the Hakusan matcha, but some might find it a bit astringent.
What we love: The first thing you’ll notice about Rocky’s Matcha is the packaging—the bright blue metal tin is engraved on top with the brand’s logo and splashed on the side with a neon green label spelling out the matcha’s grade, cultivar (variety), and size. The newish brand, which founder Rocky Xu started in 2022, has that cool-kids’ aesthetic from their apparel to their tea accessories to their recent collaboration with clean beauty brand Saie. This ceremonial blend features three cultivars of Okumidori, Saemidori, and Yabukita. The result is a smooth matcha that boasts one of the most bright, vibrant green hues of all the matchas we tested. This ceremonial blend has virtually no bitterness. It’s smooth, rich, and savory but is still great for daily drinking, whether as a tea or latte. For someone searching for even more luxury, the brand also has single cultivar options, an organic blend, and a houjicha powder.
What we’d leave: Because the brand has gotten so popular, some of the blends can sell out quickly after release. We just take that as a signal to try something new.
