5 Best Matcha Sets to Make Teatime More Magical
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If you’ve ever dreamed of jetting off to Kyoto to sip a cup of tea in a serene Japanese garden, the best matcha sets can give you a similar experience in the comfort of your own home —no passport required.
Every matcha set contains all the elegant tools you need to master the art of (literally) whipping up the frothy, caffeinated drink, like a bamboo whisk and holder, tea scoop, mesh sifter, and preparation bowl, plus a jar of matcha powder. A matcha set for beginners and advanced crafters can turn your morning pick-me-up into a meditative ritual you look forward to every day — it might even make you bid adieu to your daily cup of coffee.
After careful consideration, we’ve ranked the best matcha sets to make your mornings more zen.
Ceremonial Matcha Set
This ceremonial matcha set from Senbird Tea instantly wowed us with its beautiful, minimalist packaging, which had a designated place for each tool and the instructions for making both traditional usucha-style matcha and a trendy matcha latte. The matcha set’s polished presentation alone would make it a sought-after gift for a tea lover.
But this kit isn’t just about style — it’s got substance, too. It comes with a 1-ounce tin of ceremonial-grade matcha powder sourced from family-owned tea farms in the Uji region of Kyoto, Japan. The powder is as silky as cornstarch and is the *perfect* shade of Kermit the Frog green.
Given the quality of the matcha powder, it’s no surprise this ceremonial matcha set is chock full of elegant, high-quality tools, as well. We were particularly impressed by the handcrafted ceramic mixing bowl. It’s glazed in a zen-inspired creamy white color, has gently curved sides with wide ribs that allow your fingers to grip it comfortably, and has a wide mouth that’s lovely to sip from.
The whisk is a winner, too. It has a whopping 100 tines to whip matcha into a smooth froth. The whisk nestles perfectly atop the included stand, which can restore its shape and provide a place for it to dry upright. The set also includes a mesh sifter and tea scoop, so you’ve got everything you could possibly need to make matcha on the daily.
Overall, we think the quality of the powder and the complete set of well-made tools make this set well worth its nearly three-figure price tag. Just looking at the set makes us want to stop whatever we’re doing and make a cup of the good green stuff.
Ceremonial Matcha Set
senbirdtea.com
$99.99
10-Piece Matcha Set
This 10-piece set from Joiish contains almost everything you need to make matcha. It comes with the essentials, plus some useful bonuses — a tea towel and mat, measuring cup and spoon, and a handy stand for your scoop. All that’s missing is the matcha powder itself (but don’t worry, we’ve got recommendations for the best matcha powders to try!).
Despite missing the key ingredient, we love that this set includes so many decent-quality tea-making tools at a very affordable price. The mixing bowl features a spout that makes it easy to pour your matcha into a teacup in case you don’t want to sip right from the bowl. The bamboo whisk has 96 bristles, so it should froth up your matcha into a bubbly beverage in no time. We also liked that you can choose three different color options for your tools: ivory white, light green, or zen gray. Pair it with your kitchen decor, and you’ll want to leave it on display all the time.
Customers say this matcha set seems like it will last for years. Says one reviewer, “I have made literally 107 cups of matcha since buying it. I’ve left the whisk in water for multiple days on end, and it has held up. Amazing.”
10-Piece Matcha Set
amazon.com
$34.99
Ceremony Matcha Set
Between its pretty patterned box and blushing pink tools, the ZENRC Ceremony Matcha Set is worth buying based on looks alone. If Barbie had a vacation dreamhouse in Kyoto, it would undoubtedly include this cheerful matcha set.
Open the box, and you’ll find a complete set of matcha-making tools, including a whisking bowl with a convenient pouring spout, a 100-prong bamboo whisk and stand, a mesh sifter, and a scoop. It also comes with a tea towel and an organic bamboo tray, in case you want to impress a houseguest by serving them a cup of homemade matcha. Just be sure to stock your pantry with a jar of ceremonial-grade matcha powder — it doesn’t come with this kit.
Customers are in love with the color and quality of this matcha set. Says one reviewer, “The pink is absolutely adorable and doesn't fade! All the materials included are of very high quality, and after 10+ uses, the matcha whisk has not degraded in quality at all.”
Not into pink? You can also buy the same set in apple green, ivory white, or stately black.
Ceremony Matcha Set
amazon.com
$35.89
Ceremonial Matcha Gift Set
New to the ritual of matcha? Art of Tea’s Ceremonial Matcha Gift Set is for you.
This matcha-making set stands out from the crowd by packaging its matcha powder into pre-measured packets for single-serving cups. This convenience takes the guesswork out of how much matcha powder to put into the bowl—a boon for beginners.
Art of Tea also has another version of the matcha set that includes a 1.4-ounce tin of matcha powder if you’d prefer to measure it yourself (and have almost double the total amount of matcha for a slightly higher cost). Regardless of which one you choose, you’ll get four sleek matcha-making tools, including a hand-blown double-walled mixing bowl, a bamboo whisk with a matte black holder, and a measuring spoon. We only wish it had a mesh sifter, too.
Says one reviewer, “This was a wonderful set to start me on my matcha journey.”
Ceremonial Matcha Gift Set
artoftea.com
$67.00
Dr. Weil Matcha Kari Complete Matcha Tea Set
If organic ingredients are a must for you, go for the Dr. Weil Matcha Kari Complete Matcha Tea Set. Its centerpiece is a 1.06-ounce jar of USDA-certified organic matcha powder (ceremonial-grade, of course!) made from tea leaves grown in Uji. It’s sure to give you a very smooth, mildly sweet cup of matcha filled with umami notes.
Inside the kit, you’ll also find beautifully crafted tools, including a tranquil gray mixing bowl, a whisk emblazoned with “Matcha Kari,” and an accompanying stand, a mesh sifter, and a bamboo scoop. Be careful with that pretty bowl, though — customers report that it breaks easily. It’s a reminder to make matcha slowly and patiently, resisting the urge to rush the ritual.
While we’re sure you’ll love the tools, customers say the matcha powder was the thing they loved most about this set. Says one reviewer, “The powder is definitely 100% ceremonial grade as the color is bright green, and you get ‘tea drunk’ from it.”
Dr. Weil Matcha Kari Complete Matcha Tea Set
amazon.com
$59.99
Health Benefits of Matcha
Matcha doesn’t just taste great — it may also provide some health benefits.
Like coffee, it’s packed with a type of antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). It helps protect our cells from oxidative stress, which occurs when there’s an imbalance of unstable molecules (known as free radicals) in the body, explains Claire Rifkin, MS, a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of the telehealth private practice Claire Rifkin Nutrition. These free radicals are unavoidable — they come from everyday environmental factors like pollution and UV rays — but antioxidants can help keep them at bay.
“When our bodies are exposed to these stressors, it can lead to increased production of free radicals, which, if unchecked, may cause cellular damage, which is a contributing factor in the development of various diseases,” Rifkin explains. “Antioxidants like EGCG can neutralize free radicals, thereby reducing oxidative stress and potentially lowering the risk of certain health issues.”
Several small studies, including a 2017 trial and a pilot study three years earlier, suggest that matcha may improve some cognitive functions, like reaction time and attention. In addition to a brain boost, drinking matcha might also show your heart health a little love. Matcha is nutritionally similar to green tea, which has been associated with positive cardiovascular health.
And not to shade coffee, but matcha has some compelling psychoactive effects that might make you want to swap your daily cuppa Joe for its jade-shaded cousin from Japan.
“While both coffee and matcha contain caffeine, the caffeine found in matcha is metabolized differently in our body due to the presence of L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation without drowsiness. This results in a more sustained feeling of energy without the jitters or crash often associated with coffee,” says Rifkin.
All the caffeine with no crash? Move over, coffee — we’re joining Team Matcha.
What to Consider
Matcha sets can be incredibly elaborate or fairly simple — and both can be used to make a mellow, earthy beverage in that signature shade of green. Here are some things to keep in mind as you shop for a set to keep or gift.
Authentic Tools
Having the right tools is essential if you want to make an authentic cup of matcha at home. The best matcha sets contain the tools you’ll need to get the job done right, including the following:
Chasen, or matcha whisk: Traditionally, a chasen is made from a single piece of bamboo that’s been delicately sliced to dozens of curved tines that are slightly splayed. It’s used to whip matcha powder with hot water and smooth out any clumps.
Kusenaoshi, or whisk keeper: Typically made of wood or ceramic, this hollow tool is used to reshape the whisk and provide a place to store it standing up. It resembles a small lampshade and has holes on top and bottom.
Chawan, or tea bowl: These bowls come in lots of different shapes and sizes. They’re used to mix the matcha powder with water. You can also sip your matcha right out of the bowl or pour it into a tea cup.
Chakoshi, or tea strainer: Sift your matcha powder through the mesh of this stainless steel tool for a smoother beverage.
Chashaku, or bamboo scoop: This tool, which looks like a little hockey stick, is used to scoop the appropriate amount of matcha powder from the jar and press it through the strainer.
Do you need all of these tools to make matcha at home? Absolutely not — some matcha sets might be missing a strainer or scoop, so you might need to use similar items you have at home. Others contain alternative tools (like a milk frother instead of a whisk) that can still deliver an amazing drink, albeit less traditional. If you’re looking for a way to experience not just tasty matcha but also the ritual of making it, look for a matcha set that has a complete set of traditional tools.
Quality of the Matcha
Another thing you’ll probably find in your matcha set is a jar or package of the green tea powder used to make the drink. Not all of these powders are created equal, though.
For the best-tasting drink, you’ll want ceremonial-grade matcha. This bright green, finely textured powder is made using the first harvest tea leaves, which gives it a high concentration of L-theanine and chlorophyll. Matcha made with ceremonial-grade powder is subtly sweet, smooth, creamy, and potent, with a hint of bitterness.
The other option you might see is culinary-grade matcha powder. Since it’s usually made from the leaves of tea harvested later in the season, it usually costs less than ceremonial-grade matcha but may have a more bitter taste. Culinary-grade matcha also tend to have lower concentrations of chlorophyll and L-theanine and a higher variation in color, ranging from deep forest green to a swampy greenish-yellow.
It’s usually better to use culinary-grade matcha as an ingredient in matcha-flavored foods, like wellness cookbook author Candice Kumai’s famous vegan matcha chocolate chip cookies, rather than whisking it with water to make a drink — that’s what the ceremonial-grade stuff is great for.
How Often You Plan to Sip Matcha
Another important thing to think about is how often you plan to sip matcha. This shouldn’t make a major difference in which matcha set you decide to buy, but it could make an impact on your well-being.
Matcha contains more caffeine per gram than coffee and other green teas. Given that the L-theanine in matcha slows that “buzzy” feeling you get from other caffeinated drinks, it’s easy to feel like you can drink cup after cup without getting jittery or crashing. However, it’s still important to be mindful of your caffeine intake.
“The average cup of matcha contains 70 milligrams of caffeine, which is well below the 400 milligram limit recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” Rifkin notes. “That being said, if you find yourself experiencing things like shakiness, rapid heart rate, or trouble sleeping after drinking matcha, then you may want to cut back.
The caffeine content becomes an even bigger consideration if you have certain health conditions or you’re pregnant. It’s never a bad idea to check in with a medical professional about how much caffeine is too much for your body. For most people, a cup or two of matcha per day should be perfectly fine.
How We Selected
We scoured major online retailers for the best matcha tea sets. We read reviews of dozens of sets and took a careful look at what each one contained. Sets that had all (or at least most!) of the essential tools were short-listed. We also got hands-on with the Senbird Tea Ceremonial Matcha Set to get a better feel for the tools of the trade.
After taking into account how customers felt about their purchases and the quality of the items in different kits, we came up with an assortment of five gift-worthy matcha sets that any tea lover will adore.
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