Ippodo Matcha Grades Explained: All 9, Ranked by Price (2026)
Ippodo sells nine matcha grades, from Hatsu-mukashi at ¥40/g to Kanza at ¥750/g. What each tastes like, which work as koicha, and which to buy first.
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Join DiscordIppodo's matcha names are hard to tell apart if you don't read Japanese, and the grades sit close together on price. Underneath, the lineup is simple: nine year-round grades, all in the same 20 g box, which Ippodo itself sorts into three strength bands. This guide covers every grade, on the prices that took effect on 1 October 2026, with Ippodo's own tasting notes. It also explains which ones are worth buying for usucha, lattes and koicha. Ippodo is one of the brands we track for stock at Matcha Alert Club.
What are the Ippodo matcha grades?
There are nine, and Ippodo groups them by strength rather than by a numbered grade. The rich band, from most to least expensive, is Kanza, Kuon, Ummon-no-mukashi, Shoin-no-mukashi and Sayaka-no-mukashi. The balanced band is Kan-no-shiro and Ikuyo-no-mukashi. The light band is Wakaki-shiro and Hatsu-mukashi. Everything comes in a 20 g box, so the box price is a fair comparison. Ikuyo-no-mukashi and Sayaka-no-mukashi are also sold in 100 g online-only bags. Ippodo also releases seasonal blends, Nodoka in spring and Tsukikage in autumn, but these are not part of the year-round ladder.
| At a glance | Ippodo |
|---|---|
| Year-round grades | Nine, all sold in 20 g boxes |
| Price range (from 1 Oct 2026) | ¥800 to ¥15,000 per box, ¥40 to ¥750 per gram, before tax |
| Ippodo's own strength bands | Rich (5 grades), balanced (2), light (2) |
| Best first purchase | Ikuyo-no-mukashi, ¥1,400 (~$0.48/g) |
| Koicha grades | Every grade except Wakaki-shiro and Hatsu-mukashi |
| Shelf life | 180 days unopened, per Ippodo product pages |
How much does each Ippodo grade cost?
On the price list in force from 1 October 2026, a 20 g box costs anywhere from ¥800 to ¥15,000 before Japanese consumption tax. That is ¥40 to ¥750 per gram. The steps are uneven. The bottom six grades sit between ¥40 and ¥200 per gram, then the price jumps to ¥450 for Kuon and ¥750 for Kanza. The US-dollar figures below use roughly ¥147 to the dollar (mid-market, September 2026). Treat them as a guide, because your checkout total also depends on tax, shipping and your card's exchange rate. The full old-versus-new breakdown is in our post on the Ippodo October 2026 price increase.
| Grade | Price, 20 g box | Per gram (~US$) | What Ippodo says it tastes like | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatsu-mukashi | ¥800 | ¥40 (~$0.27) | Refreshingly sharp, bittersweet | Lattes, matcha with sweets |
| Wakaki-shiro | ¥1,000 | ¥50 (~$0.34) | Light, grassy, a little astringent | Morning usucha, baking |
| Ikuyo-no-mukashi | ¥1,400 | ¥70 (~$0.48) | Refined, mild, refreshing | First tin, daily usucha |
| Kan-no-shiro | ¥2,000 | ¥100 (~$0.68) | Airy, mellow, slightly bitter finish | Daily usucha, iced matcha |
| Sayaka-no-mukashi | ¥2,800 | ¥140 (~$0.95) | Refined, just enough richness | Richer daily bowl, premium latte |
| Shoin-no-mukashi | ¥4,000 | ¥200 (~$1.36) | Sweet, full-bodied, velvety | Thick usucha, first koicha |
| Ummon-no-mukashi | ¥5,000 | ¥250 (~$1.70) | Prominent, full-bodied umami | Koicha, guests, special bowls |
| Kuon | ¥9,000 | ¥450 (~$3.06) | Clean umami, crisp, strongly fragrant | Koicha |
| Kanza | ¥15,000 | ¥750 (~$5.10) | Deep, bold umami, rich fragrance | Koicha only |
Which Ippodo grade should you buy first?
Buy Ikuyo-no-mukashi first. At ¥1,400 it is the cheapest of the balanced grades, which Ippodo describes as refined, mild and refreshing. It is easy to whisk well, and it holds up in milk if half your matcha ends up as a latte. The light grades cost less, but Ippodo describes both as sharp or astringent. That suits a latte or a bowl next to something sweet better than plain usucha. If you try Ikuyo-no-mukashi and want more depth, skip Kan-no-shiro and go straight to Sayaka-no-mukashi. That is the step where the cup changes most for the money.
What do the rich grades taste like?
On Ippodo's own descriptions, the rich grades get sweeter, thicker and more fragrant as the price climbs. Sayaka-no-mukashi is a refined cup with just enough richness and a slight spring-vegetable bitterness. It is also the only rich grade Ippodo lists for lattes. Shoin-no-mukashi is sweet, full-bodied and velvety. Ummon-no-mukashi has prominent umami, and Ippodo's staff suggest making it thick for "a kick like an espresso". Kuon is grown under heavy shade from young leaves to curb astringency, and it has the strongest fragrance in the range. Forum drinkers agree on Ummon in particular. One TeaChat member described it in 2009 as "unbelievably green" with a complex, sweet aroma, and said it worked as both usucha and koicha. The name was romanised Unmon at the time.
Which Ippodo grades work for koicha?
Kanza is the one Ippodo says to drink as koicha. Kuon, Ummon-no-mukashi and Shoin-no-mukashi are the realistic koicha choices for most people. Koicha uses about 4 g of matcha to 30 ml of water, double the powder and half the water of usucha, so any bitterness in the powder is magnified rather than diluted. Ippodo's product pages list every grade except the two light ones as suitable for koicha. In practice, the balanced grades are better used as a thick usucha than as true koicha. If you are learning koicha on a budget, Shoin-no-mukashi at ¥4,000 is the cheapest grade we would actually make thick.
Is any Ippodo grade in stock right now?
When we checked Ippodo's global store on 1 October 2026, the day the new price list took effect, every matcha grade showed as unavailable. That includes the 100 g bags and the To-Go packets. This is now the normal state, not a one-off. Ippodo has run purchase limits since August 2025 and has changed prices or pack sizes several times since then. Restocks arrive in batches, and the popular boxes sell through within hours. You can see the current state of each grade on our Ippodo brand page. Any grade that is out of stock there is the one worth setting an alert for.
Sources
- Ippodo Global: matcha collection (strength bands and box prices, checked 1 October 2026)
- Ippodo product pages: Kanza, Kuon, Ummon-no-mukashi, Shoin-no-mukashi, Sayaka-no-mukashi, Kan-no-shiro, Ikuyo-no-mukashi, Wakaki-shiro, Hatsu-mukashi
- Ippodo: Oct./Nov. 2026 revisions to product specifications and pricing (1 September 2026)
- TeaChat: Matcha comparison (forum thread, 2009)
- TeaChat: Which matcha to choose? (forum thread, 2011–2013)
FAQ
Which Ippodo matcha is best for beginners?
Ikuyo-no-mukashi. At ¥1,400 for 20 g it is the cheapest grade in Ippodo's balanced band, and Ippodo describes it as refined, mild and refreshing, so it is forgiving if your whisking is still uneven. It also works in a latte. If you already know you like a stronger cup, Sayaka-no-mukashi at ¥2,800 is the step up.
Which Ippodo matcha is best for koicha?
Kanza and Kuon are the grades Ippodo positions for thick tea, and Ippodo says Kanza is best savoured as koicha. Ummon-no-mukashi and Shoin-no-mukashi are the more affordable koicha options and also make an excellent thick usucha. Ippodo lists every grade except Wakaki-shiro and Hatsu-mukashi as suitable for koicha, but the cheaper balanced grades will taste noticeably more bitter when made thick.
What is the difference between Ummon-no-mukashi and Sayaka-no-mukashi?
Ummon-no-mukashi costs ¥5,000 for 20 g against ¥2,800 for Sayaka-no-mukashi, and the money buys more umami and body. Ippodo describes Ummon as prominent and full-bodied and suggests making it on the thick side, while Sayaka is a refined, moderately rich cup with a hint of spring-vegetable bitterness. Sayaka is also the only rich-band grade Ippodo lists for lattes.
Why are all Ippodo matcha grades sold out?
Demand for premium Uji matcha has outrun supply since 2024, and Ippodo has used per-customer purchase limits and repeated price revisions since August 2025 to manage it. When we checked on 1 October 2026, the day the latest price rise took effect, every matcha on Ippodo's global store showed as unavailable. Restocks arrive in batches and sell through quickly, so a stock alert is the practical way to catch one.
How long does Ippodo matcha keep?
Ippodo lists a 180-day shelf life on its matcha boxes, counted from packing and assuming the seal is intact. Once opened, matcha loses colour and aroma within weeks, so buy the 20 g box rather than the 100 g bag unless you drink matcha every day. The bags are not cheaper per gram anyway: Ikuyo-no-mukashi is ¥70/g at both sizes.
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Sources
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/collections/matcha
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5038731
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5030631
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5010131
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5018231
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5010331
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5010431
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha6105023
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5010831
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/products/matcha5010931
- https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/blogs/news/20260901
- https://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t=9086
- https://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t=15401