23 matchas tested for pesticides and heavy metals: this one came out on top

Almost every matcha calls itself pure, premium or ceremonial. But what is actually in the pouch? To find out, 23 matchas went through exactly the same tests in an accredited laboratory. Chaé's matcha was one of them, and it ranked first overall.

How the test was done

• 21 matcha brands were bought on the European market, the way any customer would buy them.
• Two teas from our Japanese tea supplier were added. One of them is exactly the same matcha we sell as Chaé Ceremonial Matcha Yame.
• All 23 samples went to an accredited laboratory (ALS) and were analysed with the same methods for pesticides and heavy metals such as lead, chromium and aluminium. Declared origin and colour were compared as well.
• Each sample consisted of several packs from one batch. The matchas were bought in September 2026; the results came in October 2026.

The other brands stay anonymous. The aim is to show what is on the market, not to single anyone out.

What the lab found

Not all "matcha" comes from Japan

Five of the 21 market products stated China or South Korea as their origin, or gave contradictory information about where they came from. All five were sold as matcha.

Insecticides in "organic" matcha

Two teas carrying an organic logo contained insecticide residues at up to 130 times the level used for organic products. An organic logo on its own is no guarantee.

Big differences in heavy metals

Lead levels differed fourteen-fold between the lowest and the highest sample, and chromium twenty-five-fold. The highest lead levels were found in two products that declared China as their origin. For the sample with the most aluminium, a daily serving of 2 g would account for almost half of the tolerable weekly intake set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), from matcha alone.

Colour says a lot

A simple colour measurement, done in about a minute, matched the lab results surprisingly well. Vivid green matcha generally performed better than dull, olive or yellowish powder.

And ours?

Based on all results combined, Chaé's matcha, single cultivar Saemidori from Yame in Japan, ranked number 1 of 23 overall.

What to look for when buying matcha

• Clear Japanese origin: a region such as Uji, Yame or Kagoshima, and ideally the cultivar. "Premium matcha" alone says nothing.
• Colour: bright, vivid green. Dull or yellowish powder is often a lower grade.
• Lab reports: ask the brand for an accredited lab report that names the batch. A serious brand can show you one.
• Don't rely on logos alone: as this test shows, an organic logo is no guarantee of a clean product.

More tips in our guide How to recognise real ceremonial matcha.

About this test

In the interest of transparency: the test was commissioned and paid for by our supplier, and its own teas were included. The analyses were carried out by an accredited laboratory using the same methods for every sample. The weighting of the overall ranking was set by the supplier and published openly. This is not an official inspection, and each brand was tested on one batch, so other batches may give different results.

Frequently asked questions

Is organic matcha always free of pesticides?

Not necessarily. In this test, two matchas with an organic logo contained insecticide residues far above the level used for organic products.

How can I tell whether my matcha comes from Japan?

Check the pack for a specific region and, ideally, the cultivar. If the origin is vague or missing, ask the brand.

Is the tested matcha the same one Chaé sells?

Yes. The tested tea is exactly the same matcha as our Ceremonial Matcha Yame.

Discover Chaé Ceremonial Matcha, Yame. Tested, not told.