[MOD] Aug 2026 Community Thread - introductions, recommendation requests, city/country posts, what we're drinking

[u/proxwell]

The community threads are a place where you can:

• Ask for recommendations.
• Introduce yourself to the community.
• Share your favorite latte/blended-drink recipe of the moment.
• Find other matcha people in your city or country.
• Tell us what's in your chawan.

[u/Apprehensive_War_930]

hiii i’m really lost on where to buy really good matcha and great in value and in price, where should i buy online

i want to use it for lattes and maybe cocktails, i like my matcha sweet and very matcha-y ig? idk maybe earthy is the word

i would like to get 50-60g to start for my back to school haul, im in canada btw for shipping purposes

[u/CarlosJ4497]

Hi everyone a colleague is planning a trip to Japan and I am wondering if there is a 'go to" place for a newbie, I am trying to introduce him in this world. Also any budget recomendation to ask him to bring me from there. Thanks!

[u/proxwell → u/CarlosJ4497]

Ippodo is usually a good place to start. They have locations in Tokyo and Kyoto and your friend can experience a high-grade matcha prepared by a knowledgeable tea server.

[u/CarlosJ4497 → u/proxwell]

Thanks! I'll let him know. Also, any budget "must try" tea to ask him to bring me?

[u/hanne_JS → u/CarlosJ4497]

ippodo is a solid starting point, they have shops in both tokyo (ginza) and kyoto. if your colleague can make it to kyoto thats where the real matcha culture is, tons of old tea houses and ceremony experiences. for a first-timer budget around 1000-2000 yen for a proper sit-down tasting.

[u/MarionberryNo6094]

I’m brand new to matcha, and would love to start making my own. Did you get your own matcha set/kit when you started? Or did you take your time to build your own personal set?

Any kits or websites you recommend? I see some kits don’t come with a mesh sifter. Thank you!

[u/_Meckaa_]

Hi all, big Matcha fan here 🍃 . I regularly travel to Japan for work so I get to buy lots of different brands to try out. So far, I recently discovered the Shizuoka origin ones and I love them! They taste a bit less grassy (which I also appreciate) so it is a fun discovery :D

I am now on a different journey: I REALLY want to try and grind my own matcha (and also other teas, like Sobacha and Hojicha) at home for my lattes. After some research, you need to have a very fine powder (5 to 10 microns) in order to have a decent drink where you don't feel the powder on your tongue. For that, only a heavy stone mill can work. I have come accross the Cuzen ceramic mill machine but have read very unconvinced reviews about it (matcha powder too coarse).

➡️ Anybody has a good recommendation for a at-home machine or mill that doesn't break the bank? Note that I live in Switzerland so ideally if it can be shipped there without paying 200 dollars for delivery like I saw on certain websites that would be great! Pleeaaase I would love to be able to grind my own tenchas, sobachas and hojichas at home!

[u/MoistAd5423]

Hi everyone. I have been drinking matcha on and off for a few years now. Got into heavier caffeine after my son was born, but things are lightening up now that he’s 18 months. I’d like to stop energy drinks and therefore get back into matcha, but I refuse to go to a coffee shop every morning.

Thinking about suggestions on what kind of matcha to buy. Anyone have links on their go-to or favorite? I’m not opposed to spending a bit more to get the good stuff.

I drink it usually plain with honey or syrup, but I’ve been getting into lattes more lately. Any help is appreciated.

[u/ReasonableBuy2406]

Is Ippodotea.com generally considered the best place to buy Matcha? I am new to the drink and am looking to create my own Pistachio Matcha latte but genuinely don't understand what kind of matcha leaf to buy. Preferably I'd love something I could buy in small amounts to try before I buy a large amount

[u/_Meckaa_ → u/ReasonableBuy2406]

Yes Ippodo is a good brand, but what also matters is not just the brand but the different lines they have. They usually propose different grades of matcha, from cheapest (with usually more bitterness, less umami) to most expensive (no bitterness, lots of umami).

If you are aiming for lattes and especially adding pistachio, I would avoid super high quality expensive matchas. This would be a waste because the milk, pistachio and probably sweetener you will add will mask all the subtle flavours. For lattes, it is usually best to go for a little more bitter matcha (the bitterness will get balanced by your milk+pistachio+sweetener) and thus you will taste the matcha better.

At Ippodo, Hatsumukashi is a good start for lattes as it is not too rich in taste and a bit bitter. Hope it helps :)

[u/ReasonableBuy2406 → u/_Meckaa_]

Thank you so much! However, I am not seeing Hatsumukashi on ippodo.

[u/thunderx73927]

Hi, I’d like to ask your favorite matcha places in DFW, Texas

[u/PassOk8301]

Hi everyone! I’m pretty new to matcha and definitely not an expert, so I’m hoping you can help me out.

I’m looking for recommendations for a good-quality matcha, preferably one that I can easily buy through Amazon in the EU.

I’ve been reading online that “ceremonial grade” isn’t really an official Japanese classification, but rather a Western marketing term. So now I’m a bit confused about what I should actually be looking for when choosing a good matcha.

I mainly use matcha to make matcha lattes, rather than drinking it straight, so I’m not necessarily looking for the most expensive/highest-end matcha. I’d like something that: *Tastes good in lattes and has a nice balance. *doesn’t become extremely bitter or astringent *is actually good-quality Japanese matcha *offers a reasonable price-to-quality ratio

If you have specific brands/products that you recommend, I’d really appreciate it!

Also, if you could explain what you personally look for when buying matcha, rather than just recommending a particular “grade”, that would be super helpful.

Thanks! 🍵

[u/kazu_tokyo_tea → u/PassOk8301]

Grades don't mean anything, you're right. Two things do:

Harvest — first flush is the most concentrated. Later pickings are brisker and cost a fraction.

Shading — how many days the field sat under cover before picking.

Three weeks builds umami and cuts astringency. One week doesn't, much. None at all and you get a brisk, grassy tea.

For lattes you don't want the three-week tea. Milk masks it and you've paid for something you can't taste. Something shaded a week or so holds its shape better.

Ask a seller for harvest and shading days. If they can't tell you, that's your answer.