Best Matcha on a Budget
I love matcha, but don't love paying an arm and a leg for something that tastes good! You can't expect to find a quality matcha for dirt cheap, but there is that golden middle ground where matcha still has great umami and mouthfeel, yet isn't extremely bitter/astringent. That's why I've put together a list of my favorite inexpensive matchas. In no particular order, let's dive in!
Tezumi Tea's Umezuki Matcha
Price: $1.15/g (20g) or $0.92/g (50g)
An Okumidori matcha from Uji that tickets all my boxes. It's got a balanced flavor profile with solid umami. There's a reason I've drunk over 100g of this matcha. Whether enjoyed as a latte or just with water, this matcha is very versitile!
The fragrance of this matcha is great. It has a certain darkness to it with sweet and warm chocolate notes. It foams nicely, producing a consistent layer of foam which adds lightness to the tasting experience. Taking a sip, you are hit with an invitingly smooth umami and a little astringency to finish. I find the astringency to add to the flavor and balance out the umami nicely.
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2. Hawa Matcha’s Ceremonial Blend
Price: $0.60/g (100g)
Hawa is a new brand that popped up in 2024 but have quickly become one my favorites. They do a great job sourcing excellent quality matcha. Their Ceremonial Blend strikes one of the best balances between price and quality I have seen.
This blend is sourced from Fukuoka, Japan. from award winning producer Kuma Sans.
The tasting profile is uniquely nutty/roasty. This matcha is quite versitiily. I’ve find it very pleasant to drink just with water as usucha but also hold up well to milk in lattes.
3. Astrid Tea’s Okita
Price: $1.16/g (30g) or $1.00/g (50g)
Astrid Tea is the brainchild of Meredith Mao, a fellow matcha content creator. Influencer matcha can be hit or miss, but this is definitely a hit.
This is a blend of two cultivars Samidori and Yabukita, both from a 5th generation tea farmer in Uji, Japan. The dry smell is fruity and bright but once sifted into a warm bowl some toasted notes show. The flavor is built on a strong roasted toasty base layer on top is a subtle savoriness. This is a good one if you get turned off by marine notes in matcha. Instead, the umami takes on more of a vegetal mushroom profile.
4. Nio Tea's Chanoka Silver
Price: $1.13/g (30g)
This is an Asahi matcha from Uji. Asahi is a cultivar known for its high flavor potential and is often used in competitions in Japan. Although this offering is not competition grade, it's still smooth and easy to drink for the price point.
No one flavor here is too overpowering. It has a mellow umami and gentle astringency with a nice savory aftertaste. Overall this matcha is round, well balanced, and quite smooth all the way through. The weighty/thick mouthfeel and great foamability give it even more style points.
Use code MYNIOTEASADDICTION for 10% off
5. Naoki's Mame Matcha
Price: $1.00/g (30g)
This is a single cultivar matcha from Shizuoka. Part of what makes this offering so interesting is that it’s made from the Saeakari cultivar. Saeakari was derived from the Saemidori cultivar in 2011 ( ”Sae” from Saemidori and “akari” meaning light due to its bright green color).
The smell is surprisingly complex with fruity and edamame notes. It has a pleasant sweet mouthfeel and foams very well. I found the taste to start as vegetal sweetness on the tip of the tongue that rolls back to become a light astringency. I even has some toasted notes! The finish is crisp, however not sharp or offensive. If you, like me, feel like you're always drinking the same handful of cultivars, this matcha is super refreshing.
Note: it seems this matcha is not reliably kept in stock
6. Yunomi's Tempaku Matcha
Price: $1.17/g (30g)
Grown and blended by a 5th generation tea master in Kyotanabe. This matcha contains two cultivars, Uji Hikari and Samidori. Generally, Uji Hikari is known for being extremely umami rich and Samidori is known for it soft round mouthfeel. When the two are combined you get something really special.
Tempaku has outstanding umami and absolutely no bitterness or astringency. Mouthfeel is incredible too. A velvety sweetness lingers on the tongue long after taking the a sip. This matcha is particularly good cold. When prepared over ice, the sweetness is exaggerated even more!
The only catch here is that Yunomi ships directly from Japan so shipping costs to the US can run you around $20. They occasionally run shipping promos however, so be on the look out!
7. Kettl's Hanaka Matcha
Price: $1.35/g (20g)
This price point is stretching what I consider “budget”, but this is so good I had to include it. You don't know what nutty matcha tastes like until you try this! This matcha is a blend from Yame who's name "Hanaka" translates literally to "Summer Flower". True to the name, I found this matcha to be soft and smooth on the palate.
Hanaka has a wonderfully roasty, coca fragrance and no bitterness or astringency. What makes this matcha so unique, however is it's strong nutty taste. I love drinking this with only water, but the nuttiness is a great way to put a unique spin on the classic matcha latte.
Note: If nutty matcha is something you're into, Kettl's Shinme Matcha is also a must try!
Have a favorite budget matcha that didn't make the list? Let me know about it!
Need a new chawan to go with your new matcha? Check out my Chawan Buying Guide.
