Budget pick
Encha
Encha Ceremonial Grade Matcha Powder
7.5Good
Affordable USDA-organic first-harvest matcha at about $1.33 a serving; pleasant and dependable rather than memorable.
Ceremonial3$1.33 / serving
Great for beginners Trending
Naoki Matcha
Superior Blend Matcha
Amazon's go-to starter ceremonial: mild, low-bitterness Uji matcha at about $1.25 a serving, though enthusiasts find it basic.
7.7
Good
Coffee Reviews score
See the breakdown →
Community
—/10
- Grade
- Ceremonial
- Origin
- Uji, Kyoto, Japan
- Harvest
- First harvest
- Price per serving
- $1.25 / serving
- Umami
- Fresh Grass
- Walnut
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Last reviewed October 17, 2026 by the Coffee Reviews editors · How we score
Amazon's go-to starter ceremonial: mild, low-bitterness Uji matcha at about $1.25 a serving, though enthusiasts find it basic.
Superior Blend (sold for years as Superior Ceremonial Blend) is Naoki's best-selling first-harvest matcha from Uji, Kyoto, pitched as the place to start for new matcha drinkers. Naoki describes it as balanced and mellow with low bitterness, some umami and a smooth mouthfeel, versatile for tea or lattes. Beginner-focused reviewers like its price and gentleness, while more experienced tasters (including a 6.4/10 creator rating) call it astringent, slightly yellow-green and short on complexity.
Best for
- First-time matcha drinkers
- Everyday lattes on a budget
What we like
- About $1.25 per 2 g serving for first-harvest Uji matcha
- Mild, low-bitterness profile that suits beginners and lattes
- Very fine powder that whisks easily without clumps
- Sold in 40 g, 50 g and 100 g sizes
Watch-outs
- Experienced drinkers find it basic, astringent or bitter as straight usucha
- Color can lean yellow-green next to pricier ceremonials
- No cultivar or lab-test details; page carries a Prop 65 warning
Flavor profile
What it tastes like.
In the maker’s words
“Balanced and mellow. Low bitterness with some umami and a super smooth mouthfeel. Versatile enough for lattes and tea.”
- Umami
- Fresh Grass
- Walnut
- umami
- sweetness
- bitterness
- astringency
How it scored
The breakdown.
7.7Good
Cup score out of 10, weighted across five factors.
- Flavor & cup quality30%7.4
Beginner reviewers call it mild, smooth and good in lattes, but experienced tasters rate it as low as 6.4/10 for astringency, chalkiness and little depth.
- Quality & freshness20%7.6
First-harvest Uji ceremonial with a very fine, clump-free grind; several reviewers note a duller, yellow-leaning color for the grade.
- Value20%8.6
$24.99 for 40 g (about $1.25 per 2 g serving) is cheap for first-harvest Uji matcha.
- Sourcing & transparency15%6.8
Region (Uji) and harvest are stated, but no cultivars, farm or lab results are published, and the page carries a California Prop 65 warning.
- Community love15%7.8
The best-selling listing in third-party Amazon sales estimates and widely recommended to beginners, though r/Matcha regulars usually move on to other blends.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
2 positive2 mixed1 critical
Independent creators, verified with YouTube and TikTok. We don’t pay for reviews and creators don’t pay us.
What people are saying
From the forums.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums and long-term owner write-ups — linked so you can read the full thread.
“One is the Naoki’s superior ceremonial matcha and the other is Ippodo’s Sayaka. I typically drink it in the usucha style and I find myself enjoying the Sayaka a bit more because it tastes more rich”
“i make lattes out of Jade Leaf or Naoki Superior blend. Both I have been happy with, particuarly the Naoki... which was so good I actually started drinking it straight (as a tea, not a latte)”
“Super smooth with delicious nutty notes from the matcha dominating, and just a touch of grassiness adding a fresh counterpoint. Just the tiniest amount of bitterness adds a nice depth of flavor as well.”
“I bought Naoki Superior and Barista blend and I’m not happy with them. Even doubling to 6g with the same amount of milk didn’t help, it just changed the mouthfeel a bit.”
Details
The particulars.
- Origin
- Uji, Kyoto, Japan
- Harvest
- First harvest
- Color
- medium green
- Serving
- 2 g
- Sweetened
- No
- Best brewed as
- Whisked (matcha), Lattes & milk drinks, Iced / over ice
- Typical price
- $24.99 for 1.4 oz (40 g) tin (checked October 2026)
- Servings
- ≈ 20 servings at Naoki's 2 g (1 tsp) serving
Community
Member tasting notes & discussion.
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Discussion
No discussions yet.
Own Naoki Matcha Superior Blend Matcha? Ask a question or share your recipe — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Is Naoki Superior Blend good for beginners?
That is how Naoki positions it: 'Start here if you are new to matcha.' Reviewers agree it is mild and forgiving, though seasoned drinkers often find it too plain or astringent on its own.
How much should I use?
Naoki's serving size is 2 g (1 tsp). Its iced latte recipe uses 2½ teaspoons whisked into ¼ cup of 158°F water, poured over ½ cup of milk and ice.
Is it organic?
No organic certification is listed for Superior Blend. Naoki sells a separate Organic First Spring Blend ($25.99 for 1.4 oz on its site).
Is this the same as Naoki 'Superior Ceremonial Blend'?
Yes. Older listings and many reviews use the 'Superior Ceremonial Blend' name; Naoki's site now calls it Superior Blend Matcha, and the 40 g Amazon listing is titled 'Naoki Matcha Superior Blend Matcha, 40g/1.4oz'.
Sources (14)
- naokimatcha.com/products/superior-blend-matcha
- naokimatcha.com/products/superior-blend-matcha.json
- naokimatcha.com/pages/our-story
- amazon.com/dp/B01L2GW7SI
- asinsight.com/report/US/green-tea-matcha
- steepster.com/CameronB/posts/434984
- reddit.com/r/MatchaEverything/comments/1s1si36/dens_tea_premium_restaurant_matcha/
- reddit.com/r/MatchaEverything/comments/1rzi4rl/matcha_enjoyment/
- reddit.com/r/Matcha/comments/k3ih9n/whats_the_best_matcha_youve_had_so_far/
- youtube.com/watch?v=8poOHQETM8E
- youtube.com/watch?v=GgC5MqOiQ7g
- youtube.com/watch?v=y-VuJ8vbcJM
- youtube.com/watch?v=PSiovYnNoXI
- youtube.com/watch?v=woxzO7mDWeQ
Alternatives
You might also like.
Tenzo Matcha
Original Blend Organic Ceremonial Matcha
6.7Fair
Cheap, organic Kagoshima matcha from a subscription-first store; independent reviewers find it bitter or bland on its own.
Ceremonial2$0.67 / serving
Community favorite
Ippodo Tea
Ummon Matcha (40g Can)
8.0Great
Ippodo's richest everyday-tier blend: big umami, deep emerald color and a long finish, at a true special-occasion price.
Ceremonial4$4.10 / serving
Best overall Trending
Ippodo Tea
Sayaka Matcha (40g Can)
8.4Great
Ippodo's smooth, umami-forward 'first taste' blend: a benchmark Kyoto usucha that is pricey and often hard to get.
Ceremonial4$2.50 / serving