Baking green tea powder

Frequently Asked Questions

Matcha Product Questions

Ceremonial grade uses first-harvest, shade-grown leaves that are de-stemmed and de-veined before stone grinding. It has the brightest green color, highest L-theanine content, and the smoothest, sweetest flavor. Premium grade uses later-harvest leaves with moderate L-theanine—balanced flavor at a lower cost, ideal for lattes and smoothies. Culinary grade uses mature leaves, has a stronger and more bitter flavor, and is designed for baking and food manufacturing. The grade should match your application, not your price point. 

Start with your end product. If you serve matcha straight or in premium lattes where the matcha flavor is the main selling point, choose ceremonial or premium grade. If matcha is one ingredient among many—cookies, ice cream, protein bars—culinary or ingredient grade delivers the flavor at a lower cost. For high-volume drink menus, latte grade offers the best solubility and color stability. We recommend requesting samples of two grades and testing them in your actual production before deciding. 

L-theanine is the amino acid that gives matcha its umami sweetness and its calm, sustained energy effect. Higher L-theanine means less bitterness and a smoother mouthfeel. Ceremonial grade typically contains ≥20 mg/g, premium ≥15 mg/g, and culinary ≥5 mg/g. If your product markets relaxation, focus, or clean energy, a higher L-theanine grade supports that claim. If matcha is used mainly for color and flavor, L-theanine is less critical.

Matcha degrades with exposure to light, heat, and oxygen. Keep it in an airtight container away from direct light. Refrigeration after opening slows oxidation. Unopened bulk matcha retains quality for 18–24 months depending on grade. Once opened, use within 3–6 months for best flavor. Culinary and ingredient grades tolerate storage slightly better than ceremonial grade. Avoid storing matcha near strong-smelling foods—the powder absorbs odors easily.

Yes. Our organic matcha holds USDA Organic and EU Organic certification, and our processing facility is ISO 22000 and HACCP certified. Every organic shipment includes the organic certificate and a Certificate of Analysis (COA). For markets requiring additional testing, we arrange third-party lab analysis through SGS or Eurofins for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and microbiological parameters.

Unopened bulk matcha has a shelf life of 18–24 months. Fresh matcha has a bright green color and a fresh, grassy aroma. If the powder turns dull or brownish, or smells flat or musty, it has oxidized and lost quality. Each bag carries a production date and lot number so you can track freshness. For private label orders, we can print best-before dates according to your market’s labeling rules.

Shipping & After-Sales Questions

We ship by express courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS), air freight, and ocean freight. Express courier delivers in 3–5 business days to major markets and suits samples and trial orders under 50 kg. Air freight takes 5–8 days door-to-door and is the best balance for 50–500 kg orders. Ocean freight takes 20–40 days depending on port and service, and is the most cost-effective option above 500 kg. 

We quote FOB, CIF, and DDP. FOB is standard if you have your own freight forwarder. CIF covers freight and insurance to your nearest port. DDP includes door delivery with duties paid and is the simplest option if you do not have an import broker. Contact us with your delivery address for a freight-inclusive quote.

Every shipment includes a commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, Certificate of Analysis (COA), and Certificate of Origin. Organic orders include the organic certificate. If your destination requires a phytosanitary certificate or health certificate, we arrange testing and documentation at cost. We prepare all export documents within 2 business days of shipment.

Contact us within 7 days of delivery with photos of the packaging and the product. If the issue is a quality deviation from the approved sample, we will replace the affected batch or issue a credit against your next order. If the damage occurred in transit, we file the claim with the carrier and work with you to resolve it. Our COA and retained reference samples let us trace any batch quickly.

Yes. If customs requests additional documentation, we provide it within one business day where possible. Common requests include ingredient declarations, allergen statements, or additional lab reports. We have experience with US FDA, EU customs, and major Asian markets, and we can coordinate with your customs broker directly if you authorize it.

After three completed orders, qualified buyers may apply for net 30 payment terms. Approval is subject to a credit check and order volume review and typically takes 1–2 business days. First orders require 30% deposit with 70% balance before shipment.

Customization Questions

We offer private label for all grades with custom tins (30g/50g/100g), stick packs (2g/3g), foil pouches, and bulk bags. For private label, MOQ starts at 10 kg for bulk packaging or 5,000 units for stick packs. We coordinate artwork and supply retail-ready packaging with your branding, ingredient declarations, and barcode placement. 

Yes. We offer custom blending for latte mixes (with milk powder or sweetener), functional blends (with adaptogens, collagen, or mushroom powder), and flavored matcha (vanilla, coconut, ginger, cinnamon). Custom formulation MOQ is 100 kg per SKU. We can work from your target flavor profile or nutritional panel, or propose a formula based on your application brief.

Private label orders require 10–15 business days after artwork approval. Custom formulation (OEM blends) takes 15–20 business days after formula sign-off. Stock-grade matcha under 100 kg dispatches within 3–5 business days. Add transit time based on your shipping method.

Yes. We produce a pre-production sample of your custom blend for approval before bulk production. You cover the courier cost; the sample itself is free. For private label packaging, we can supply a digital mockup and, where feasible, a physical packaging sample before the full run.

Yes. We print your artwork, ingredient declarations, allergen statements, nutritional panels, and barcodes. We follow the labeling rules of your destination market for required disclosures. Please supply the final artwork and compliance text for your market—we do not draft regulatory labeling content, but we can flag missing fields during artwork review.