Matcha 101: Know What You Are Drinking
At Santé, we believe that every cup of matcha should be an experience—one rooted in quality, transparency, and authenticity. But in today’s crowded market, many buyers find themselves misled by confusing labels and misleading marketing terms.
The biggest culprit? The term “Premium” matcha. Many brands use it to make their matcha seem superior, when in reality, it’s often not truly ceremonial grade. That’s why understanding the three main categories of matcha—Culinary, Premium, and Ceremonial—matters. If you don’t know what you’re drinking, you may be paying for something you’re not actually getting.
At Santé, we cut through the noise. We source, craft, and deliver matcha that’s true to its name, so you can trust that what you’re buying is exactly what it claims to be.
Understanding the Three Main Grades of Matcha
1. Ceremonial Grade Matcha – The Pinnacle of Purity
Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest-quality matcha available, made from the youngest, most delicate tea leaves that are shade-grown and stone-ground. The result? A vibrant green powder with a naturally sweet, umami-rich flavor—best enjoyed pure, without any milk or sweeteners.
However, true ceremonial grade matcha comes at a premium price because of the meticulous process required to produce it. If you see a “ceremonial” matcha at an unusually low price, it’s likely not the real thing.
✔ Color: Bright, vibrant emerald green
✔ Texture: Ultra-fine, silky powder
✔ Flavor: Naturally sweet, smooth, with no bitterness
✔ Use: Best enjoyed traditionally, whisked with hot water
2. Premium Matcha – The Market’s Most Misleading Term
The word “Premium” is often used as a marketing tactic to make buyers believe they are getting ceremonial-quality matcha—when in reality, it’s usually a high-end culinary grade.
That’s why we at Santé set the record straight. Our EveryDay Premium matcha is one of the finest culinary matcha options on the market, sitting right on the edge of ceremonial quality. It’s perfect for those who want an exceptionally smooth matcha at an affordable price, without sacrificing flavor or freshness.
✔ Color: Bright green (slightly less vibrant than cereominal)
✔ Texture: Fine, but not ultra-silky
✔ Flavor: Smooth and bold, with slight astringency
✔ Use: Ideal for lattes, smoothies, and everyday drinking
When buying Premium matcha, know what you’re actually getting. If it’s labeled as Premium but priced like Culinary, it’s not what it claims to be. Santé ensures that every grade is true to its name—so you’re never overpaying or settling for less.
3. Culinary Grade Matcha – Not All Are Created Equal
Culinary matcha is the most versatile and affordable matcha category, used for lattes, baking, smoothies, and desserts. Many brands offer low-quality, dull-colored, bitter matcha at rock-bottom prices—but that’s not how we do things at Santé.
Our Kitchen Culinary Matcha is carefully selected to meet our high standards of freshness, color, and flavor, ensuring it never tastes dull, overly astringent, or unpleasantly bitter.
✔ Color: Deep green (never yellow or brown)
✔ Texture: Blends well into recipes without clumping
✔ Flavor: Bold, slightly stronger to hold up in lattes and baked goods
✔ Use: Perfect for cooking, smoothies, and matcha-infused recipes
Other culinary matcha brands cut corners to lower prices—but we refuse to compromise on quality. If you want a matcha that brings out the best in every recipe, without sacrificing taste or authenticity, Santé’s Kitchen Culinary blend is the one to choose.
Price vs. Quality: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
The matcha market is full of misleading claims—but quality speaks for itself. Cheap matcha isn’t just low-priced—it’s low-quality. A matcha’s color, texture, aroma, and flavor profile tell you everything you need to know about its grade.
- Vibrant green? High quality. Dull yellow-green? Low quality.
- Silky and fine texture? High quality. Gritty and coarse? Low quality.
- Naturally sweet, smooth umami? High quality. Overly bitter and astringent? Low quality.
At Santé, we are fully transparent about what you’re buying—because we believe you deserve matcha that delivers on both taste and quality.
Why Choose Santé Matcha?
At the end of the day, choosing the right matcha is about trust—trust that what you’re buying is exactly what it claims to be. Santé exists because we refuse to let misleading marketing win.
✔ Authenticity: We don't cut corners or mislabel our products.
✔ Quality-First Approach: Every grade meets our strict sourcing and flavor standards.
✔ Sustainably Sourced: We partner with responsible growers to bring you the best
✔ For Every Budget: Whether you want ceremonial luxury, anj everyday indulgence, or a premium culinary matcha for alttes and baking - we have an option that fits.
If you’re looking for matcha you can trust, crafted for those who truly appreciate quality, Santé is your go-to source.
Explore our collection today—because knowing what you’re drinking makes all the difference.