Sourcing from China

How to work with a Chinese matcha supplier — without the guesswork.

China grows and processes a large share of the world's matcha. The difference between a smooth first order and a painful one is not the country — it is what the supplier can show you per lot: the tencha base, the measurable spec, and the documents.

Chinese matcha sourcing referenceAsk for the lot, not the label

A source-connected supplier names the garden and the processor. A trader names a price and a lead time.

What to verify

Four things a China matcha supplier should be able to show.

None of these require a factory tour on day one. They require the supplier to be connected to the actual source, not reselling a bag they cannot trace.

1. The tencha base and shade

Matcha is ground tencha (shade-grown leaf). Ask where the tencha is grown and how long it is shaded. The answer tells you more about cup character than any grade word.

2. A measurable spec

Particle size (micron), colour measurement, moisture and a tasting against your target serve. These turn a vague "premium" into a repeatable specification you can reorder.

3. Per-lot residue and microbial reports

For EU/US food import you need pesticide residue screened against the relevant MRL and microbial counts (TPC, coliforms) on the actual lot, not a generic certificate.

4. Traceable lot number

The sample, the spec sheet and the bulk order should share one lot number so the cup you approved is the cup you receive.

Source-connected, not a middleman

A source-connected supplier is directly tied to the gardens and the certified processors it works with, and can name them. That is different from a trading desk that aggregates bags from unknown mills. For a private-label or café programme, the traceability is what protects your brand if a lot is questioned.

What "certified" should mean

Request the scope that applies to your market: ISO 22000 / HACCP food-safety systems and, where relevant, EU or US Organic. Certificate numbers and the valid scope are confirmed during buyer onboarding — they are not published as a generic badge because each lot and facility must be verified.

Start a Product BriefSee Chinese Matcha

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