The three words you will see
What each grade term usually means.
These are buyer-facing categories, not legal grades. Use them to frame the conversation, then confirm the measurable spec.
Latte / culinary grade
The workhorse for milk drinks, iced lattes and bakery. Buyers usually want bright clean green, smooth umami, low harsh bitterness, and stable colour behind milk. This is where most café and private-label volume sits.
Premium whisking grade
For straight usucha, retail tins and customers who whisk. Aroma, umami, texture and finish matter more than milk colour stability. Usually the higher-price tier.
"Ceremonial"
A marketing word, not a regulated class. It signals a high-end drinking matcha, but the only way to know what you get is the cup and the spec sheet. Treat it as a starting brief, not a guarantee.
What to request instead
Particle size (micron), shade-grown or tencha base note, colour measurement, and a tasting against your target serve. Those turn a vague grade into a repeatable specification.