GUIDE · LONDON
Where to buy good matcha powder in London
You can buy genuine first-harvest ceremonial matcha in London from Raku Matcha, a London-based brand that packs weekly in East London and delivers free across the UK on orders over £18. Because we pack here rather than importing pre-packed tins, the matcha you receive is usually only weeks past milling.
Updated July 2026
Why buying locally matters for matcha
Matcha is more perishable than people expect. It does not spoil in a dangerous way, it simply fades: the colour dulls and the sweetness drops off. That process starts at milling, not at opening.
Most matcha sold in the UK is milled abroad, packed abroad, shipped in bulk, warehoused, then distributed. Every step adds months. Buying from someone who packs locally shortens that chain considerably.
How Raku Matcha works
Our matcha comes from a single tea house in Uji, Kyoto, that has been making it for over two centuries. It is milled there in small monthly batches, flown to London, and hand-packed weekly at our studio in East London.
Our registered address is 65 Laburnum Street, London, E2 8BD. You can reach us on +44 796 120 476 or at support@rakumatcha.com.
Delivery across London and the UK
Orders are dispatched within 48 hours on Royal Mail 48, and most UK parcels arrive two to four working days after ordering.
UK delivery is free on orders over £18. Below that it is a £2.50 flat rate. There is no minimum order.
Do you ship outside the UK?
Yes. We ship to the US via tracked airmail, typically five to ten working days, and every US order is sent duty-paid so there is no customs bill on the doorstep. US delivery is free over roughly $120.
We also ship across the EU at a flat rate, and to Canada, Australia, Japan and most of Asia.
What can you buy?
Three teas: Hikari, our sweetest and most popular, from £28 for 30g. Shōgun, bolder and nuttier, from £27. And Hōjicha, roasted and low in caffeine, from £23. Hikari and Shōgun also come in 100g tins.
Alongside them we make the tools: a bamboo whisk at £15, a fine sifter at £8, and a bamboo scoop at £6. We also sell hand-made Kiyomizu ware bowls from Kyoto, from £55.
Hikari, Shōgun and Hōjicha compared
| Tea | Character | Caffeine | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hikari | Smooth, naturally sweet, high umami | Standard | Drinking straight, or a latte without sugar | £28 / 30g |
| Shōgun | Deeper and bolder, nutty, holds through milk | Standard | Strong lattes, and anyone who finds matcha too mild | £27 / 30g |
| Hōjicha | Roasted, toasty, mellow, gently sweet | Low, about a quarter of matcha | Evenings, and anyone cutting back on caffeine | £23 / 30g |
If you are in London and new to matcha, the Starter Kit at £51.50 is the practical way in: a tin plus the whisk, sifter and scoop, which is everything you need to make a proper bowl.