In July 2026, Ceremony launched its new Single Estate Blend, bringing a ceremonial-grade matcha sourced exclusively from one tea estate in Kagoshima, Japan, to the South African market. While many matcha drinkers believe the highest quality powders come from one single cultivar, Japan’s most respected tea masters have long understood that a thoughtful blend can create a beautifully complex powder worthy of the formal tea ceremony.
Ceremony’s newest blend brings together two of Japan’s most exceptional cultivars, Okumidori and Saemidori. The result is a matcha that is naturally sweet and impressively high in L-theanine, the unique amino acid that works alongside caffeine to deliver calm, sustained energy without the sharp peaks and crashes often associated with coffee.
Understanding Matcha Cultivars
Every matcha powder begins with a tea plant, but, just like wine or coffee varieties, different cultivars express distinct personalities. Their genetics influence everything from colour to aroma to sweetness, and even bitterness.
Saemidori, meaning ‘clear green’, is celebrated for its emerald colour, delicate sweetness, and elegant floral aftertaste. Complementing it, Okumidori is a cultivar that takes longer to mature, allowing its leaves more time to build up the amino acid content that contributes to its signature umami-rich body. Together, the two cultivars create a rounded matcha that is elevated enough for a formal tea ceremony, yet also approachable for first-time matcha drinkers.
Even the finest ceremonial grade matchas require careful preparation. At the Ceremony Matcha Bar along the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town, every cup is made using traditional techniques designed to bring out the tea’s full-bodied flavour. Fortunately, recreating a cafe-quality matcha is easier than you might think.
The tools
Before you begin, it’s worth investing in a few traditional matcha tools. A chasen, or bamboo whisk, is essential for properly suspending the powder in water and helping to create a layer of fine, velvety foam. You’ll also need a chawan, the wide tea bowl used to whisk your mixture.
To measure your matcha, use either a chashaku (a traditional bamboo scoop), a teaspoon measurement, or an accurate digital scale. If you’re making a latte, a milk steamer will produce a silky, warm milk texture.
Make a warm Ceremony matcha latte at home
The matcha latte is a modern interpretation of the traditional application, offering a more approachable way to enjoy the tea. The measurements mentioned below are merely a guide. Adjust them to suit your preferences, adding more milk for a creamier cup.
A Step-by-Step Guide
– Measure your matcha. Add 3 grams (about one teaspoon) of Ceremony matcha powder to a small bowl, traditionally known as a chawan. Because Ceremony’s matcha is stone-ground to an exceptionally fine texture, sifting isn’t necessary.
– Add warm water. Pour 40 ml of filtered water, heated to 70-80 °C, over the powder. Adding boiling water directly to the delicate powder can burn the tea leaves and create an unpleasant astringency or bitterness, masking the matcha’s natural sweetness.
– Froth your milk. Steam or froth 120 ml to 160 ml of your preferred milk on the warm setting until silky. Ceremony recommends adding oat milk when preparing a warm latte using their Single Estate Blend, although coconut milk or coconut water works just as well for an iced alternative. The more milk you add, the creamier and richer your matcha will taste.
– Whisk with confidence. Use a bamboo chasen (matcha brush) to whisk the matcha briskly in a zigzag motion. After about 30 seconds, a layer of fine, velvety green foam will coat the surface.
– Assemble your drink. Pour your frothed milk into a mug of your choice, and add your matcha mixture to finish. A high-quality powder like Ceremony’s Single Estate Blend shouldn’t require added sugar, particularly when paired with naturally sweet oat or coconut milk. That said, a touch of natural sweetener can be added at this final stage.
Enjoy. Stir, watch the layers melt into one another, sip, and relish in the ritual.
Order your own matcha-to-go at the Ceremony Matcha Bar at 213 Beach Road in Sea Point, or shop their new cultivar online at ceremonymatcha.co.za. Follow Ceremony on Instagram.
