Matcha Set – How to Choose the Right One (Finest or Excellence)

The question we get most often about matcha isn’t “is it worth trying”. It’s “okay, but what exactly should I buy so it doesn’t end up in the cupboard after two weeks as yet another green powder I have no idea how to prepare”. And it’s a good question, because matcha really is different enough from brewing regular tea that without the right set it’s easy to get discouraged.

Matcha set – what it should actually include

Matcha is a powdered green tea (Camellia sinensis) from Japan, where it has accompanied the tea ceremony for centuries. The difference compared to loose-leaf tea is fundamental: you don’t steep leaves and throw them away, you disperse the entire powdered leaf in water and drink it whole. That’s why a regular teaspoon and mug aren’t enough – you need three things that together make up a proper set:

Chasen – a bamboo whisk for aerating matcha. Without it, matcha dissolves into lumps and you end up drinking it like mud from the bottom of a glass. The chasen aerates the infusion and creates that characteristic, velvety foam on top.

Chashaku – a bamboo measuring spoon. One serving is about 1 gram of matcha – too much and the infusion is as bitter as grass, too little and you get a watery brew with no character.

Chawan – a wide, low bowl. The shape isn’t accidental: the width lets you move the chasen freely at the right angle, which you simply can’t do in a tall, narrow coffee mug.

Finest or Excellence – which Sakuro matcha is right for you

Sakuro Matcha comes in two grades, and this isn’t a marketing gimmick, it’s a real difference in the character of the infusion. Finest is bold and dynamic – deep umami combined with a light tannic edge, a flavour full of power and character. It’s the choice for people who want to clearly feel they’re drinking something different from ordinary tea. Excellence is a milder, creamier version, better as a starting point for someone who has never tried matcha before and wants to avoid a flavour shock on first contact.

Our recommendation is simple: if this is your first set, start with Excellence or a combined set (Finest + Excellence in one box) – you’ll compare both variants and decide for yourself which way to go with your next order.

Why a set, not single tins

This brings us back to the question from the first paragraph. Buying matcha alone without accessories is the most common reason people get discouraged – without a chasen the infusion won’t foam, it tastes flat and doesn’t make the impression you expected after seeing those Instagram photos. A set eliminates this problem from day one: matcha, whisk, spoon and bowl arrive together, so there’s no chance you’ll prepare your first cup wrong because a piece is missing.

There’s also a practical saving involved – the complete set works out cheaper than buying the same elements separately, and the elegant, minimalist packaging means such a set works just as well as a gift as it does as a first purchase for yourself.

A ritual, not just a drink

In Japan, matcha was never just a way to get caffeine. The tea ceremony is about slowing down, focusing on a single activity, measuring, aerating, drinking – without a phone in your other hand. It’s interesting that it’s precisely the culture where this ritual has been part of everyday life for generations that records one of the highest average life expectancies in the world. We’re not claiming matcha alone is the sole reason for that – that would be an oversimplification – but the combination of antioxidants contained in the leaf, a calm pace of drinking and daily regularity is exactly the kind of habit that comes up in discussions of a healthy lifestyle and longevity.

Practical side: matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid that, combined with caffeine, delivers a different kind of alertness than coffee – no jittery kick and no crash after two hours. That’s one of the reasons matcha has gained so many fans among people who gave up coffee precisely because of that crash.

How to prepare your first matcha step by step

Water at 70-80°C, never boiling – water that’s too hot scorches the powder and makes it bitter. One chashaku scoop (about 1 g) per 60-70 ml of water. Pour a little water onto the powder, work it first into a smooth, lump-free paste, then add the rest of the water. Whisk with the chasen using a quick W or M-shaped motion, not circles – that’s exactly the motion that creates the foam. The whole process takes maybe two minutes, but those two minutes are exactly that moment of slowing down we mentioned above.

What matcha really gives you beyond flavour

Because you drink the whole powdered leaf, not just an infusion made from it, matcha delivers far more active compounds than regular green tea – including catechins, mainly EGCG, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. These are responsible for the “cleansing” effect that regular matcha drinkers often mention – they help neutralise free radicals and ease the burden on the body at a cellular level.

Add to that the previously mentioned L-theanine combined with caffeine – a combination that performs exceptionally well in studies on attention and concentration, delivering alertness without irritability. For people working at a desk, this is often a real alternative to a third coffee during the day, but without the typical heart racing and evening trouble falling asleep, as long as you drink it by early afternoon.

Matcha or yerba mate – which one to choose

Since Yerbador deals with both plants, we get this question regularly. The answer is: you don’t necessarily have to choose. Yerba Mate is an all-day drink, meant to be sipped for hours from a bombilla, with a mechanism that supports metabolism and appetite control. Matcha is more of a moment – a short ritual, a stronger sense of focus, less ceremony around long brewing. Many people drink yerba mate in the morning as a longer ritual, and reach for matcha in the middle of the day when they need a quick, sharp shot of concentration before a meeting or a deadline. If you’re just starting out and have to pick one – ask yourself whether you’re looking for a companion for the whole day (yerba mate) or a tool for a specific moment (matcha).

Our Sakuro sets

Below are three concrete suggestions depending on where you are on your journey.

Matcha Finest Set in a 40g tin with a Fuji bowl

A complete starter set for those who want to experience the full, bold character of Finest matcha from day one. A 40g tin of matcha plus a Fuji bowl – everything you need, in one box.

Check out the product: Matcha Set with Bowl

Sakuro Matcha Finest 40g + Excellence 40g (duo for comparison)

For the undecided – two tins, two grades, one lower price than buying them separately. The best way to feel the difference between the bold Finest and the milder Excellence yourself, before deciding which version will stay with you for the long run.

Check out the product: Sakuro Matcha Finest + Excellence

Premium Set – Excellence + Finest, a bigger bundle

For those who already know matcha is here to stay, and would rather order a bigger supply of both grades at once instead of coming back to the shop every two weeks.

Check out the product: Matcha Premium Set

Matcha set with a unique bowl – eight variants to choose from

The three sets described above are our recommendations to start with. But if you’re looking for a matcha set that also looks good on the shelf or works as a gift, it’s worth knowing that we have eight different bowls – each with its own name, each with its own mood. A tin of Finest or Excellence matcha paired with one of them comes with a chasen, a chashaku and a gift box – just check the current price for the Finest and Excellence versions.

The names aren’t random – each bowl refers to a different theme from the Japanese landscape: Fuji (mountain), Shizuku (drop), Asagiri (morning mist), Hisui (jade), Bonsai (tree), Biwa (lake), Niwa (garden) and Hisseki (brush strokes). It mainly comes down to the glaze and shade – each piece of ceramic has a slightly different texture, so no two pieces look exactly alike. The flagship variant, chosen by most people, is the set with the Biwa bowl.

Matcha Finest Set in a 40g tin with a Biwa bowl

Our most popular starter variant – a 40g Finest tin, Biwa bowl, chasen, chashaku and a gift box. The dark, deep colour of the bowl contrasts beautifully with the vivid green of the infusion.

Check out the product: Matcha Finest Set with Biwa Bowl

The remaining variants work exactly the same way – only the bowl and the matcha grade change: Fuji, Fuji (Excellence), Asagiri, Asagiri (Excellence), Hisui, Hisui (Excellence), Shizuku, Shizuku (Excellence), Hisseki, Niwa and Bonsai. If you’re buying it as a gift, it’s a good idea to match the bowl to the recipient’s personality – Fuji for someone understated, Bonsai for a colour lover, Hisui for a fan of minimalism.

Set without a bowl – for when you’re restocking or already have your own

Not everyone needs another bowl. If you already have a full set of accessories – your own or one of ours – and just want to restock your matcha, choose the set made up of tins only. It’s the cheaper option per gram, since you’re not paying for ceramics you already own.

Matcha Set 4× Finest 40g tin

Four 40g tins of bold Finest matcha, without a bowl or accessories – just the supply. That’s enough for several months of regular drinking if you brew matcha daily.

Check out the product: Set 4× Matcha Finest

The same setup also exists in a milder class – Set 4× Matcha Excellence 40g. Both options are the simplest way to make sure you never run out of matcha mid-week.

Matcha Set – Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a matcha set cost?

With us you can start with a starter set (40g tin + matcha bowl + chasen + chashaku), move on to combined variants pairing two grades, and go all the way up to larger starter kits with several tins at once. It all depends on how much matcha you want to have on hand and whether you need accessories or just a supply.

Which matcha set should you choose for the first time?

A set with a single Excellence tin and a bowl – this is the gentlest introduction, with no risk that your first experience with matcha will be too intense. If you’d rather feel the drink’s stronger character right away, choose the Finest variant.

Is a matcha set suitable as a gift?

Yes, and it’s one of the more common reasons people reach for it in the first place. Every set comes in an elegant gift box, and the choice of bowl lets you tailor the gift to the recipient’s taste – from the understated Fuji to the colourful Bonsai.

How long does one tin of matcha from the set last?

A 40g tin is about 20 servings using a standard chashaku measure (approx. 1–2g per bowl). Drinking every other day, it lasts about a month; with a daily ritual – two to three weeks.

What’s the difference between a set with a bowl and a set without one?

A set with a bowl is a starter kit – everything you need from day one. A set without a bowl (e.g. 4× tin) is a pure matcha supply for someone who already has the accessories, whether from us or another source.

How to store matcha so it doesn’t lose its colour and flavour

Matcha is far more sensitive to light, air and heat than regular leaf tea – that’s exactly why it’s sold in sealed, opaque tins rather than paper sachets. Once opened, keep the tin closed, in a cool place, ideally in the fridge (just not next to onions or other strong smells – the powder easily absorbs them). Use up an opened tin within 4-6 weeks – over time, the vibrant, emerald green fades to a more olive shade, and along with the colour, some of the fresh flavour disappears too. If your matcha starts looking like a dull green instead of an intense emerald, it’s a sign that it’s time for a new tin.

Before you click “add to cart”

One thing we’re asked most often: matcha doesn’t need milk or sugar to taste good – if it seems too intense after the first cup, the usual culprit is the wrong water-to-powder ratio, not the matcha itself. Start with less powder than your intuition suggests, and increase it gradually. This is exactly the same mistake we made ourselves when brewing for the first time – and exactly why every one of our sets includes a bowl and a whisk inside, not just a tin of powder.