Matcha Guide: Arkadia vs Criollo vs Ceremonial — What’s the Difference?
Matcha has gone from niche Japanese tea ceremony drink to one of the most popular menu items in Australian cafés. And for good reason — it’s packed with antioxidants, gives you a clean energy boost without the jitters, and tastes incredible when prepared well.
But not all matcha is created equal. If you’ve ever wondered why a matcha latte tastes completely different from one café to the next, it usually comes down to the product they’re using. At East Coast Roast, we work with three different matcha options to suit different needs. We use 2 different types of Matcha at our 2 sites because of sligh differences in our typical customers. The 3 we use are Arkadia Matcha, Criollo Matcha, and Simply Native Ceremonial Matcha.
Here’s a breakdown of each one, what makes them different, and which might be right for your café or your cup.
Arkadia Matcha — The Café Staple
Arkadia is one of the most recognised names in the Australian café scene, and their matcha latte powder is a go-to for good reason. It’s a ready-to-make blend — matcha green tea combined with milk solids, a touch of sugar, and subtle aromatic flavours to create a smooth, creamy latte that’s easy to prepare and consistently delicious.
Best for: Cafés that want a reliable, crowd-pleasing matcha latte with minimal fuss. It’s fast to prepare (just add water or milk), consistent every time, and customers love the smooth, slightly sweet flavour profile.
What to know:
- Pre-blended with milk solids and sweetener — no extra ingredients needed
- Uses the finest grade of Japanese matcha green tea (shade-grown, hand-picked, stone-ground)
- 99% fat free and free from preservatives, artificial colours, and sweeteners
- Works hot, iced, or blended
- Great entry point for customers who are new to matcha
Flavour profile: Smooth, creamy, subtly sweet with a gentle matcha flavour. Think of it as the “matcha for everyone” option — approachable and easy to drink.
It’s quite sweet, we supply this to a few customers we aren’t currently using it in our cafés but we do use the Matcha chai at Nerang.
Criollo Matcha — The Organic Middle Ground
Criollo sits in the sweet spot between a convenient café blend and a pure ceremonial matcha. It’s an organic matcha option that uses quality Japanese matcha with organic ingredients, giving you a cleaner, more natural product without sacrificing ease of preparation.
Best for: Cafés and customers who want an organic, higher-quality matcha latte without the complexity of working with pure matcha powder. It’s perfect for health-conscious customers who care about what goes into their drinks.
What to know:
- Certified organic ingredients
- A step up in matcha quality from standard café blends
- Cleaner ingredient list — no artificial anything
- Still easy to prepare in a busy café environment
- Noticeably more vibrant green colour than standard blends
Flavour profile: Richer and more “matcha-forward” than Arkadia, with a natural sweetness and a cleaner finish. You can taste the quality difference, especially in an iced matcha.
This is the Matcha we use at our Nerang cafe. You can also buy this matcha online at our store. .
Simply Native Ceremonial Matcha — The Premium Choice
This is the real deal. Simply Native Ceremonial Matcha is a pure, ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha — no fillers, no sweeteners, no blending agents. Just stone-ground tencha tea leaves from Japan, produced the traditional way.
Ceremonial grade means it’s made from the youngest, most tender tea leaves from the first harvest. These leaves are shade-grown for weeks before picking, which boosts the chlorophyll (giving it that electric green colour) and increases the L-theanine content (the amino acid that gives you calm, focused energy).
Best for: Cafés that want to offer a premium matcha experience. This is your menu headliner — the matcha that makes people come back. It’s also the best choice for traditional matcha tea (whisked with just hot water) or for customers who know their matcha and want the good stuff.
What to know:
- 100% pure ceremonial grade matcha — nothing else added
- Vibrant, electric green colour that stands out in any drink
- High in L-theanine for calm, sustained energy without the coffee jitters
- Rich in antioxidants — matcha contains up to 137x more catechins than regular green tea
- Requires a bit more care in preparation (best whisked or blended, not just stirred)
Flavour profile: Rich umami, naturally sweet, smooth and full-bodied with absolutely no bitterness. This is matcha as it’s meant to taste — complex, refined, and nothing like the powdered stuff you might have tried before.
This is the matcha we use at our Ashmpore, when only the best will do! But it’s VERY expensive so keep that in mind. Retail it sells for $40 for 100g pouches which is effectively $400 per kg, very expensive!!
Quick Comparison
| Arkadia Matcha | Criollo Matcha | Simply Native Ceremonial | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Pre-blended latte mix | Organic matcha blend | Pure ceremonial grade |
| Ingredients | Matcha + milk solids + sweetener | Organic matcha + organic ingredients | 100% pure matcha |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐ Just add water/milk | ⭐⭐⭐ Easy preparation | ⭐⭐ Best whisked or blended |
| Flavour | Smooth, sweet, creamy | Richer, natural, clean | Complex umami, full-bodied |
| Best For | High-volume cafés, matcha newcomers | Health-conscious customers, organic menus | Premium menu items, matcha purists |
| Price Point | $ | $$ | $$$$ |
Matcha in Action
Want to see what you can create with matcha? Check out some of the drinks we’ve been making at our café:
Which One Should You Choose?
There’s no wrong answer here — it depends on what you’re going for:
- Want consistency and speed? Go with Arkadia. It’s proven, easy, and customers love it.
- Want to offer an organic option? Criollo gives you that clean, premium feel without complicating your workflow.
- Want to stand out with a premium matcha menu? Simply Native Ceremonial is the one. It’s the difference between a good matcha latte and an incredible one.
Many of our wholesale partners carry two options — something like Arkadia for their standard matcha latte plus Simply Native for a premium upsell. It’s a great way to capture both ends of the market.
Get Set Up
We supply the Arkadia and Criolo matcha options to cafés across the Gold Coast. Whether you’re looking to add matcha to your menu for the first time or upgrade what you’re currently using, we can help you find the right fit.
Text : 0494 190 800
Email: Email us at our contact form here
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February 20, 2026 1:13 pm