Ceremonial and culinary matcha explained: what the labels usually mean, why neither is an official grade, and how to read a matcha tin.
Ceremonial vs culinary matcha: you'll see both words on tins and café menus, often with a big price gap between them. They sound like official grades, but they aren't. Here's what each label usually means, why the difference is less clear-cut than it looks, and what to check on a label instead.
First, what makes matcha matcha?
Matcha is green tea leaf ground into a fine powder. The leaf used is called tencha: tea plants are shaded for a period before harvest, and the leaves are steamed and dried without being rolled, then ground. An international technical report, ISO/TR 21380:2022, describes matcha by its plant source, how it is grown and how it is made. Because you whisk the powder into water rather than steeping and removing leaves, you drink the whole leaf.
Is "ceremonial grade" an official grade?
No. Tea importers and specialists such as Tezumi and Ikkyu Tea point out that "ceremonial grade" is not an official or regulated classification in Japan, and that there is no central body setting a standard for it. The phrase was popularised by brands outside Japan to separate matcha for drinking on its own from matcha for cooking. So two tins that both say "ceremonial" can be very different teas.
What "ceremonial" usually signals
- Use: meant to be whisked with water only and drunk on its own.
- Leaves: usually the youngest, most tender leaves from the first harvest of the year.
- Growing: usually more careful shading before harvest.
- Taste and colour: sold as smoother and less bitter, with a brighter green colour.
- Price: higher, because all of the above takes more time and care.
What "culinary" usually signals
- Use: baking, cooking, smoothies and lattes.
- Leaves: often slightly older leaves or later harvests.
- Taste: stronger and more astringent, which can stand up to milk and sugar.
- Range: very wide. Some "culinary" matcha is only a little more bitter than drinking matcha; some is far cheaper powdered green tea.
How to read a matcha label instead
Because the words aren't regulated, the details on the tin tell you more than the grade name. Look for:
- Origin. The region or farm, not just the country.
- Harvest. First harvest (first flush) leaves are usually the most prized.
- Ingredients. It should be 100% matcha. Some latte mixes add sugar or milk powder.
- Colour. Vivid green is usually a better sign than dull or yellowish green.
- Price per gram. Compare like with like; tin sizes vary a lot.
Which is better for a matcha latte?
It depends on what you like. Milk and sweetener soften bitterness, so many people are happy with a matcha made for mixing in a latte, and save pricier tins for drinking with water only. Others prefer a smoother tea in their latte too. There's no single right answer, and the label alone won't tell you how a tea tastes. The easiest test is to taste a few side by side.
Iced Matcha Latte 
Matcha Latte with Cilbir Eggs
What we serve
At Kybelle we use PerfectTed matcha.
Our six matchas, hot or iced
All six are made with PerfectTed matcha, and every one can be served hot or iced.
- Matcha Latte, £3.90, hot or iced
- Strawberry Matcha, £4.50, hot or iced
- Strawberry Shortcake Matcha, £4.50, hot or iced
- Mango Matcha, £4.50, hot or iced
- Blueberry Matcha, £4.50, hot or iced
- White Chocolate Matcha, £4.50, hot or iced
Prefer a plant milk? Oat, almond, coconut or soya is 30p extra.
Sources
- ISO/TR 21380:2022, “Matcha tea — Definition and characteristics”
- Tezumi (Japanese tea importer), “Why ‘Ceremonial Grade’ is Meaningless”
- Ikkyu Tea, “Ceremonial vs. Culinary Matcha”
More matcha guides
- Matcha vs coffee: a side-by-side guide
- Strawberry matcha latte in London: hot or iced
- Iced matcha in London: where and how
- White chocolate, mango and blueberry matcha: our flavours
- Matcha near Old Street and Liverpool Street
- How to make a matcha latte at home
Every drink, price and photo is on our matcha in Shoreditch page.
Find Kybelle
Kybelle Café & Brunch, 62 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3QR, about four minutes' walk from Old Street station. Breakfast, brunch and lunch are served all day, dogs are welcome and there's outdoor seating. Get directions on Google Maps.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am–4pm · Saturday and Sunday 9am–5pm. Walk-ins only — no booking needed, just turn up.
See the full menu · Directions & opening hours
Questions people ask
Is ceremonial grade an official matcha grade?
No. Tea specialists point out that "ceremonial grade" is not an official or regulated classification in Japan. Each brand decides what it means on its own label.
What is culinary matcha used for?
Usually for cooking, baking and mixed drinks such as lattes, where milk, sugar or other ingredients soften its stronger, more astringent taste.
Can I use culinary matcha for a matcha latte?
Yes. Many people do. Taste is personal, so try a few and choose the one you enjoy with milk.
Why does matcha sold as ceremonial cost more?
Labels like this usually point to younger leaves from the first harvest, more careful shading and stone grinding, all of which take more time and cost more to produce.
Which matcha does Kybelle use?
PerfectTed matcha, for all six matcha drinks on the menu. Each one can be served hot or iced.