Though matcha powder grades are not regulated and therefore may be inconsistent, the two categories you’re most likely to come across are culinary and ceremonial grades.
Culinary matcha powder is meant specifically for use in food, like in desserts, or other baked goods. It is typically less expensive since it’s intended for use in food or recipes, not drinking. The flavor profile is not as good as ceremonial grade since you want a different flavor result when baking or cooking with matcha. It’ll provide the color and flavor, but the quality of the plant, the growing practices, and the process of grinding it into powder will not be as high of a standard as ceremonial.
Ceremonial grade, on the other hand, is meant to be drunk on its own, whisked into hot water the way that traditional matcha is prepared in Japanese tea ceremonies. Ceremonial grade matcha indicates higher quality and better drinking experience.
Our Sun Goddess Matcha is sourced from a lush valley at the southernmost tip of the Japanese island chain, and is a ceremonial grade matcha. It is the furthest distance from environmental toxins and neighbors with Okinawa (home to some of the longest living people on Earth). The source of our matcha is more pristine and untouched than any other. We collaborated with Mr. Mori, a 9th-degree teamaster, to ensure you get only the ceremonial grade matcha following a scoresheet designed by them. It is also Quadruple Toxin Screened for heavy metals, toxic molds, pesticides, and radioactive isotopes.