12 Questions to Ask a Matcha Supplier Before You Sign
A one-page checklist for European importers, wholesalers and private-label brands buying matcha from Japan — updated for the EU residue limits that changed in March 2026 and the organic rules that change at the end of the year.
Why now
- Supply is tight. Kyoto's first-flush tencha averaged ¥17,797/kg on the market this season, up from ¥5,402/kg in 2024. Several established producers have limited sales or stopped taking new wholesale accounts.
- EU residue limits are tightening. Since 7 March 2026 the EU limits for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in tea are 0.05 mg/kg. A cut for chlorfenapyr — the residue most often found in Japanese export tea — is expected from autumn 2027.
- Organic paperwork has a deadline. The EU–Japan organic equivalence runs to 31 December 2026. An extension is agreed but not yet formally adopted.
What's in the checklist
- Supply and allocation — new overseas accounts, minimum orders, lead times
- Origin and product — where the tencha was grown and ground, harvest, cultivar, grinding
- Residues and contaminants — what a usable COA looks like, and the substances that most often fail EU limits
- Paperwork and cost — organic certificates of inspection, the EPA origin statement, price validity and samples
Get the checklist
The checklist is being reviewed and will be released shortly.
To receive it as soon as it's ready, email [email protected] with your name, company and where you are in sourcing Japanese matcha (exploring, requesting samples, negotiating a first order, or already importing).
To receive it as soon as it's ready, email [email protected] with your name, company and where you are in sourcing Japanese matcha (exploring, requesting samples, negotiating a first order, or already importing).
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