I've tried matcha before and never understood the hype. This was completely different. Smooth, creamy and not overly bitter. I finally understood why people are so particular about good matcha.
Our Kagoshima matcha is silky, sweet, and bitter-free. Perfect for beginners starting their matcha journey or experts preferring a traditional drink. Picture your morning without the cortisol spike. You wake up, you have 10 minutes before everything starts, and instead of reaching for something that's going to make you wired and anxious by 10am you make a bowl of matcha. Three minutes. Warm water, a whisk, and something that actually works with your body instead of against it. Steady energy. Clear head. The kind of focus that makes your first hour your best hour. That's what this is.
The first thing most people notice is the colour. Not the dusty, khaki green you get from a supermarket bag, a proper jade. Almost luminous when it foams up. That colour is chlorophyll, and it's the clearest signal that the leaves were young, shade-grown, and handled correctly.
We source from one farm, a JAS-certified family operation in the Kagoshima highlands. Not a blend, not a rotating supplier. Same farm, same family, every season.
Before harvest each spring, the tea plants are covered for three weeks to block sunlight. It stresses the plant. The plant responds by pushing more L-theanine and chlorophyll into the leaves, which is why first-harvest matcha is naturally sweeter and more vibrant than anything picked later in the year. The farmers call it ichibancha. It happens once a year. That's the batch in this bag.
Product Specifications
| Grade | Ceremonial |
| Origin | Kagoshima, Japan |
| Harvest | First flush (ichibancha) |
| Cultivation | Shade-grown, 3 weeks |
| Processing | Stone-ground (granite mill) |
| Harvest season | Spring 2026 |
| Caffeine level | Moderate, approx. ~30 mg per 1 g serve |
| L-theanine | High (responsible for calm, focused energy) |
| Certifications | JAS Organic-certified farms |
| Tasting notes | Sweet umami, no bitterness, silky texture |
| Colour | Vivid jade green |
| Best for | Traditional whisking, iced matcha, daily wellness |
| Intended audience | Coffee switchers, wellness-focused adults, matcha beginners |
| Net weight | 50 g / 100 g |
| Country of origin | Japan |
Shipping:
We're based in St Kilda East, Victoria, and aim to get your order out within 1–2 business days. Aust. Post tracking is provided with every order.
Returns:
We offer 30-day returns on unused items in original condition. To start a return, email hello@ikimatcha.com.au — just reach out before sending anything back.
Return postage is at your cost unless the item is faulty or incorrect — in that case, we've got you covered.
Refunds:
Once we receive and inspect your return, we'll be in touch. If approved, your refund will be back on your original payment method within 3–10 business days.
Shelf-Life
In the original unopened package can stay fresh up to 12 months if stored properly. Once opened we recommend to consume within 4-6 weeks for best results.
Storage
Upon arrival, store your matcha in a cool and moisture-free environment using the original resealable pouch or an airtight, lightproof opaque container.
Before any matcha goes on sale, a batch sample goes to an independent Australian laboratory and is tested for lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, methyl mercury, tin, copper and microbial safety. Every heavy metal in our current batch came back below the limit of quantification — meaning the instrument could not detect it at all, not merely that it passed. Almost no matcha brand at any price publishes these results. We do, because the alternative is asking you to take our word for it.
Smooth enough to drink straight. Good enough to turn into your daily ritual.
| IKI CEREMONIAL MATCHA | STANDARD MATCHA | |
|---|---|---|
| ORIGIN | Single-origin Kagoshima, Japan | Often blended from multiple sources |
| HARVEST | First harvest (Ichibancha) | Second or third harvest |
| Matcha Content | 100% Matcha Powder* | Often less than 10% Matcha Powder |
| Organic | 100% Organic from JAS-certified farms | Rarely disclosed |
| Lab Testing | Independently AU Lab Tested | Often missing |
| CULTIVATION | Shade-grown for 3 weeks | Minimal shading or none |
| PROCESSING | Traditional granite stone-ground | Industrial milling methods |
| TASTE | Smooth, sweet and naturally umami | Can be bitter or grassy |
| TRANSPARENCY | Single farm, traceable and lab tested | Origin and testing often undisclosed |
| Price | from ~$ 0.89/Cup | Over $2 |
All comparisons are general and may vary by brand and preparation.
In the volcanic highlands of Kagoshima, at the southern tip of the Japanese archipelago (the furthest distance from environmental toxins). The mineral-rich soil and sharp seasonal temperature fluctuations produce tea leaves of exceptional complexity. The high-altitude cooler temperatures are a natural insect repellent.
The JAS-certified farm we source from has been growing tencha for over seven generations. Every bag is traceable to one region, one season, one standard.
Let's brew some Matcha magic!
Sift It!
Take a tiny spoonful (1g). Add more matcha for a stronger drink.
Whisk
Add 30 ml of warm water (80°C) and whisk until frothy!
Pour It!
Add to 200 ml of water/milk.
Sip and enjoy!
Sit back and enjoy the drink.
Find more easy-to-follow instructions on how to prepare matcha.
First harvest (ichibancha) Kagoshima matcha has a naturally sweet, full-bodied umami flavour with zero bitterness. The volcanic soil and warm climate of Kagoshima produce a matcha that is smoother and less astringent than varieties from cooler regions like Uji. Expect a creamy mouthfeel with a clean, lingering finish.
A 12$ Supermarket matcha is definitely not sourced from Japan and not first harvest leaves. They are usually heavily blended with fillers. Our Matcha is sourced directly from Japan, First Harvest, Stone Grounded, 100% Organic which a superstore matcha cannot compare with.
A shaker, blender or electric frother would still do a decent job. But, a whisk is recommended
First harvest matcha is picked in spring from the youngest leaves at the top of the plant. These leaves have the highest concentration of L-theanine, chlorophyll and amino acids, which gives a sweeter, smoother flavour. Second harvest matcha is picked in summer from more mature leaves, resulting in a stronger, more astringent taste with higher catechin content. Our Kagoshima ceremonial matcha uses only first harvest leaves.
Yes. Our Kagoshima ceremonial matcha is sourced from certified organic farms under the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS), which is Japan's strictest organic certification. The tea is grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilisers. Every batch is also independently lab-tested in Australia for heavy metals, pesticide residue and microbial contamination — you can view the published results on this page.
One serve (1g, roughly two chashaku scoops) contains approximately 30mg of caffeine. That is about a third of a standard cup of coffee. Because matcha also contains L-theanine, the caffeine is absorbed more slowly, producing calm, sustained focus without the jitters or crash associated with coffee.
Store your matcha in an airtight, lightproof container away from heat and moisture. A sealed matcha canister or tin is ideal. Once opened, use within 4–6 weeks for the best colour, aroma and flavour. Unopened bags can be kept in the freezer for up to 12 months — just bring the bag to room temperature before opening to prevent condensation.
Using the standard 1g serve (two chashaku scoops whisked with 60–80ml of water), you get approximately 100 serves from a 100g bag. If you prefer a stronger bowl or use 2g per serve, expect around 50 serves. At 100 serves, that works out to under $0.90 per cup.
You can, and it will taste excellent — the smooth, sweet profile works beautifully with milk. However, ceremonial matcha is designed to be enjoyed whisked with water so you can appreciate its full flavour. If lattes are your main use, our Kagoshima Ceremonial Matcha Latte Blend is specifically formulated for that purpose and is more cost-effective for daily latte drinking.
Kagoshima, on the southern tip of Kyushu, has volcanic soil, a warmer climate and longer growing seasons than Uji in Kyoto. This produces matcha with higher chlorophyll density, a naturally sweeter taste and a more vibrant green colour. Uji matcha tends to have a more delicate, grassy profile. Both regions produce exceptional matcha — the difference is terroir, much like wine from different valleys.
Yes. Every batch is independently lab-tested in Australia. We publish the actual test results — including lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic levels — on this product page. All results are well below Australian food safety limits. We are one of the few Australian matcha brands that make lab results publicly available.
Yes, we ship Australia-wide. Orders placed before our daily cut-off are dispatched same day from Melbourne. Standard delivery is 2–5 business days depending on your location. Express shipping is available at checkout. Orders over $69 ship free.