Color, texture, aroma, taste, and the questions a label refuses to answer. Five ways to check what is actually in your tin.

Sift first, use water at 175 degrees Fahrenheit, whisk a paste before you add the rest. The full method for smooth matcha every time.

There is no official grading system for matcha. Here is what ceremonial and culinary really mean, and what single origin and first flush do for your cup.