[Review] Best Matcha Powder in Singapore [2023] 

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a type of green tea (Camellia Sinensis) that’s ground into fine powder. It’s popular for its unique flavour and health benefits, as it is rich in antioxidants and other nutrients. Typically, it’s enjoyed with milk or infused in other desserts/drinks.

How is Matcha produced?

Matcha is produced through a meticulous process that involves shading, handpicking, steaming, drying, and grinding tea leaves into a fine powder. The shading process increases chlorophyll production in the leaves, resulting in its vibrant green colour.

How is Matcha prepared?

Matcha powder is whisked with hot water to create a frothy, smooth drink. When preparing, it’s crucial to use the right tools for smooth Matcha. A traditional bamboo whisk, or chasen, is essential for creating a frothy, creamy texture. The water used for brewing should be around 80°C, as boiling water can scorch the delicate tea leaves and create a bitter taste.

Tip: Sift your Matcha powder before brewing to ensure a smooth and even consistency.

What’s the difference between Green Tea and Matcha?

Green Tea is usually steeped in water before its leaves are thrown away for good. This means you lose a lot of the antioxidants and nutrients found in Green Tea leaves. With Matcha, you consume the whole leaf together with all its antioxidants and nutrients. That’s why Matcha has 10 times more antioxidants than Green Tea.

What defines Good Matcha?

(1) Colour: The colour of Matcha powder is one of the easiest indicators of quality. Good Matcha should have a vibrant shade of green, which indicates that the tea leaves were grown in the shade. This enhances the flavour and nutrients of Matcha, making it smoother and sweeter.

(2) Taste: Good Matcha has a balance of sweetness and umami, complimented by a slight bitterness. Low-quality Matcha usually has a harsh, unpleasant bitterness that can be difficult to drink.

(3) Aroma: Good Matcha should have a fresh, grassy aroma that is slightly sweet. If the Matcha powder has a dull or musty aroma, it may be a sign of low quality.

(4) Texture: Good Matcha should be fine and smooth, with no lumps or clumps. High-quality Matcha powder is finely milled and has a silky texture. This means it should taste smooth, not grainy.

What’s the best Matcha powder in Singapore?

Best in Singapore editor, Christina, tried and rated 4 popular Matcha powder brands in Singapore: (from the left) Crafti (previously Craft Tea Fox), Matchaya, Naoki Matcha and a supermarket Matcha (Green Pot).

(1) Colour

The 4 brands have varying shades of green. Crafti is the most vibrant green of the 4, with Naoki Matcha coming close with a slightly deeper, darker green color. Green Pot has a more muted olive green, while Matchaya has the lightest, almost yellowish-green.

(2) Taste

Crafti Matcha has a rich umami flavour, with a good balance of sweetness and bitterness. Both Matchaya and Green Pot Matcha have a milder taste with slight bitterness and sweetness. Naoki Matcha has a rather strong umami flavour, with a slight bitterness.

Sometimes, bitterness can be good for making Matcha lattes, as it allows Matcha to still be tasted despite the addition of milk.

(3) Aroma

The Matcha powders were reminiscent of freshly cut grass. Crafti has a distinctive earthy aroma with a hint of sweetness. Both Matchaya and Green Pot have a mild, grassy aroma, while Naoki Matcha has a strong grassy aroma.

After whisking each Matcha, Christina noticed Crafti and Naoki Matcha easily formed a smooth frothy mixture. On the other hand, Matchaya and Green Pot had minimal and no froth respectively.

(4) Texture

Crafti has a velvety texture that is pleasant to drink, while Matchaya had a slight bitterness and grainy texture. Both Naoki Matcha and Green Pot have a smooth finish that’s easy to brew. After brewing, Christina waited to see if powder would start settling at the bottom of the cup. Here’s the results:

What’s the best Matcha powder in Singapore?

Here’s the ratings (out of 10):

Here’s Christina’s verdict.

For those who are looking for a more budget-friendly option, you may be interested in Green Pot’s Matcha which was pleasantly surprising for Christina. It doesn’t fall too far from the rest for taste and colour, but it was rather clumpy in its packaging. So an easy fix is to sift your Matcha first.

So seriously… what’s the best Matcha powder in Singapore?

After comparing the 4 popular brands, Christina says that she will have to go with Crafti’s Matcha.

It topped all 4 categories – its umami-rich and fine Matcha definitely stands out from the rest.

Unlike the others in this review, Crafti’s Ceremonial Matcha is also organic, which means no pesticides / chemicals were used during the farming process.

If you’re looking to start your Matcha journey, Crafti has a beginner Matcha Starter Kit that comes with 1 week of free Matcha and all the tools to get started.