Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Product details below come from Encha’s own website at the time of writing (October 2026); grades and prices can change, so check the current listing before you buy.
Quick Verdict
- Is Encha worth it? Yes, if organic matters to you. Encha grows its matcha on its own organic farm in Uji and sells it in a simple three-grade system that’s easy to understand. If organic isn’t a priority, traditional Kyoto tea houses offer more depth and variety.
- Best for drinking with water: Encha Ceremonial Grade – first-harvest, smooth and not bitter. Encha Ceremonial on Amazon
- Best for lattes: Encha Latte Grade – made specifically to taste strong enough under milk. Encha Latte Grade on Amazon
- Best for baking and smoothies: Encha Culinary Grade – second-harvest leaf, earthier and cheaper.
- Don’t need organic and want to compare single-origin teas? Nio Teas’ matcha collection has a wide range from small Japanese farms. At the time of writing, ordering through the links on this page automatically applies a 10% discount at checkout – no code needed. Offers can change, so check the final price in your cart.
Below: how Encha’s grades differ, who each one suits, the honest downsides, and how Encha compares with Ippodo and Marukyu Koyamaen.
Most famous matcha brands are centuries-old Kyoto tea houses. Encha is different: it’s a newer, US-based brand built around one idea – organic, single-origin matcha from its own farm in the mountains of Uji. That focus has made it a popular choice among health-conscious buyers in the US, and it’s widely sold online, including through major US retailers.
But “organic” and “Uji” on a pouch don’t automatically mean great matcha. So is Encha genuinely good, or just good at marketing?
The Problem You’re Actually Trying to Solve
You want matcha you can trust – organic, clean, and properly Japanese – and Encha keeps showing up. You’re not sure which of its grades to buy, whether its ceremonial grade can compete with traditional Kyoto brands, or whether you’d be better off with something else.
Who This Article Is NOT For
- If you’re comparing several brands at once, my matcha brand comparison puts Encha alongside Ippodo, Marukyu Koyamaen and DoMatcha.
- If you want to explore koicha (thick tea) or a long ladder of premium grades, Encha’s short range isn’t built for that.
- If you mainly want sweet, flavored matcha drinks, Encha’s flavored latte blends exist, but this review focuses on its pure matcha.
About Encha
Encha sells matcha grown on its own organic farm in the Uji mountains of Kyoto Prefecture. Rather than buying tea through layers of wholesalers, it controls the tea from the field to the pouch – a model that makes its sourcing unusually easy to trace.
Its key selling points, according to its own site:
- Organic farming, with no pesticides or synthetic chemicals
- Single origin – all three main grades come from its Uji farm
- Testing – Encha states radioactivity has never been detected in its matcha, and that lead is not detected at California’s Prop 65 limit, with reports published on its website
- No added sugar in its pure matcha grades
The Three Grades, Explained
Encha keeps it simple: three main grades, defined mostly by harvest.
| Grade | Leaf | Taste (per Encha) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremonial | Premium first-harvest (spring) leaves | Smooth, full-bodied, delicately grassy, not bitter | Drinking with water only |
| Latte | Standard first-harvest leaves | Strong, slightly bitter with water alone | Lattes, iced matcha, shakes |
| Culinary | Premium second-harvest leaves | Vegetal and earthy, with a sweet, nutty finish | Baking, cooking, smoothies |
Encha also sells limited-edition reserve matcha from single cultivars, a “barista” grade for cafés, and flavored latte blends. For most people, though, the choice is between the three main grades above.
What’s smart about this system
Encha is unusually honest about one thing many brands blur: the latte grade is designed to taste a little strong and bitter on its own. That’s a feature, not a flaw – milk softens bitterness, and a delicate ceremonial matcha can disappear in a latte. Rather than telling you to put expensive ceremonial grade in milk, Encha tells you to buy the cheaper grade made for the job.
Which Encha Should You Buy?
| You mostly… | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Drink matcha whisked with water | Ceremonial | Smooth enough to drink straight |
| Make hot or iced lattes | Latte | Holds its flavor under milk, costs less |
| Make smoothies or protein shakes | Latte or Culinary | Strong flavor survives other ingredients |
| Bake | Culinary | No point paying for first-harvest leaf in a cake |
| Want both straight and lattes | Ceremonial for bowls, Latte for milk | Two pouches, each used for what it’s good at |
If you’re not sure, start with the grade that matches what you drink most often. If that’s lattes, my matcha latte guide covers how to make one that isn’t bitter or clumpy.
What’s Genuinely Good
- Organic and single origin. If you care about how your tea is grown – and with matcha you drink the whole leaf – Encha is one of the clearest choices.
- A simple, honest grade system. Three grades, each with a clear job.
- Published testing information. Encha shares its testing reports on its website, which few brands do.
- Easy to buy in the US. Widely available online, and Encha’s own site ships within the US (free shipping was advertised at the time of writing).
- A latte grade that actually works. Many brands sell “ceremonial” for everything; Encha’s latte grade is built for milk.
The Honest Downsides
- Less depth at the top end. If you want to explore a long ladder of premium grades or prepare koicha, traditional houses like Marukyu Koyamaen offer much more.
- One farm means less variety. You won’t get the range of regions, cultivars and blends a big Kyoto tea house offers.
- Pouch packaging. Encha uses resealable pouches rather than tins. They work well if you reseal them carefully and keep them cold, but they’re less protective once opened.
- Flavored blends can confuse. Some Encha latte blends include added ingredients or sweeteners. Check the label if you want pure matcha.
- Organic isn’t the same as better-tasting. Organic matcha can be excellent, but shading and fertilizing practices also affect sweetness and umami. Some of the richest-tasting matcha in Japan isn’t organic.
How Encha Compares
| Encha | Ippodo | Marukyu Koyamaen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic | Yes | No | No |
| Sourcing | Own farm in Uji | Kyoto tea house blends | Grows and processes its own tea in Uji |
| Grade range | 3 main grades | Classic and premium ranges | Very wide, including koicha grades |
| Best for | Organic buyers, lattes | Beginners drinking matcha straight | Learning grades, koicha |
| Availability in the US | Easy | Easy | Often sold out |
How to Prepare It
Ceremonial (usucha): sift about 2g into a bowl, add about 70ml of water at around 80°C (175°F), and whisk in a quick zigzag until frothy.
Latte: whisk 2g of latte-grade matcha with a little warm water into a smooth paste, then add about 150ml of hot or cold milk. Sweeten to taste.
Storage: keep pouches sealed in the fridge, squeeze out the air each time, and finish an opened pouch within one to three months – Encha’s own recommendation.
A Few Things People Ask Me
Is Encha really organic? Encha says its matcha is organic and publishes its certificates and testing information on its website.
Is Encha good for lattes? Yes – its latte grade is one of the best-designed latte matchas available, because it’s made to taste strong enough under milk.
Is Encha better than Ippodo? Not better, different. Encha wins on organic and simplicity; Ippodo wins on depth, consistency and a more traditional flavor for drinking straight.
Why does Encha latte grade taste bitter with water? That’s by design. Latte grade is made to stand up to milk, which softens bitterness. For drinking with water, choose ceremonial grade.
Where I Landed
Encha does exactly what it promises: clean, organic, single-origin Uji matcha in a simple range that’s easy to choose from. For organic-minded drinkers and latte lovers, it’s one of the best choices available in the US. For people chasing the deepest umami or wanting to explore koicha, a traditional Kyoto tea house will take you further. Choose Encha for organic and everyday drinking, and buy the grade that matches how you actually drink it.