Organic matcha wholesale, certified and explained.

JAS organic and USDA organic are recognized as equivalent

Japan's organic standard is JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards), administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The United States runs the National Organic Program (NOP) under the USDA.

Since 1 January 2014 the two countries have operated an organic equivalence arrangement: JAS certified organic products can be sold as organic in the United States, and USDA certified organic products can be sold as organic in Japan, without needing a second certification. The arrangement has been expanded since — livestock and processed products with livestock ingredients were added in July 2020, and alcohol beverages in 2025.

For a tea buyer this is the useful part: a JAS organic matcha does not need to be re-certified to USDA in order to be labeled organic in the US. What it does need is the right documentation at import.

The NOP Import Certificate is not optional any more

This is where organic programs most often get stuck, and it is worth knowing before you place an order.

Under the USDA's Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule — published in January 2023 and fully in force since 19 March 2024 — every organic shipment entering the United States must be declared as organic and be covered by an electronic NOP Import Certificate.

• The certificate must be issued from the USDA Organic Integrity Database.
• It must be issued by the certifier of the exporter, not the importer.
• It must be issued before the date of export — it cannot be produced retroactively once the shipment has left.
• It records the quantity and origin of the organic product, so the figures have to match the rest of the entry paperwork.

Practically, that means the organic chain has to be agreed before the container is booked. A supplier who can't name the certifying body that will issue the certificate is a supplier whose shipment may not clear as organic.

What to ask any organic matcha supplier

• Which body certifies the farm, and which certifies the processing and packing facility? They are often not the same.
• Can you see a current certificate, with the scope and expiry visible?
• Is the specific product you're buying inside that scope — including the packing format?
• Who issues the NOP Import Certificate, and at what point in the process?
• If you blend or repack in the US, is your own facility certified? Handling an organic product can require certification of your operation too.

None of these are unreasonable questions, and a supplier used to export work will answer them without friction.

Organic is a claim, not a flavor grade

Worth separating in your head: organic certification tells you how the leaf was grown and handled. It does not tell you the cultivar, the harvest, the shading period, or how finely the tencha was milled — and those are what determine whether the matcha tastes good in your drink.

A certified organic matcha can be excellent or mediocre. Evaluate the powder on its own terms alongside the certificate, using the same checks described in our ceremonial grade guide.

The organic lines we supply

Two lines are organic as standing products, and both are built for milk-based drinks rather than the tea bowl:

• Organic Ceremonial Barista — Shizuoka. Selected to keep vivid color and umami in oat and dairy lattes. The organic choice for a signature latte menu.
• Organic Cafe — Kagoshima. Smooth and mellow for everyday lattes, boba, and flavored drinks, and the practical starting point for a busy menu or a multi-location operator.

Our top first-flush Uji ceremonial grade is organic on the current lot, but that depends on the harvest, so ask for the certificate covering the lot you are quoted rather than assuming it carries across. The full range is on the lineup page, and matcha for cafes covers dosing and milk.

How we handle organic requests

Organic availability depends on the harvest and the producer, so we don't make blanket claims about our full range on this page. Tell us the market you're selling into, the claim you need to make on pack, and your volume — we'll confirm what's available and make sure the certification chain works end to end before anything ships.

Before committing to volume, request a free sample kit: two grades, four sealed 10 g sachets, with origin, harvest, cultivar, lot number, and milling date on every sachet. Ask for the organic pair and we will send the certificate and the lot test results with it.