🍵Calling All Matcha Fans! 8 Uji Matcha Powders + Beginner Tea Ware Sets, at Official Store Prices — Plus a Forwarding Guide
📌 TL;DR
・These Rakuten Japan stores don’t ship to Malaysia: all 8 stores in this guide ship to Japan addresses only — order yourself on Rakuten Japan first, then forward it home via Buy&Ship’s Japan warehouse.
・8 picks: 6 authentic Uji matcha powders (Yamamasa Koyamaen, Marukyu Koyamaen, Itohkyuemon, Morihan, Kyoto Hekisuien, Tsujiri Ichihonten) and 2 beginner tea ware sets, each with origin, grade and a reference price in JPY and MYR.
・Buy&Ship’s double promo runs alongside it: a ¥500-off-¥5,000 coupon (first 2,500 orders, up to 4 uses per member, valid through September) + an unconditional RM4 shipping discount on any Rakuten Japan (incl. brandavenue) order declared between 4–20 September.
・Bundle for better value: order your matcha powder and tea ware together and consolidate them into a single forwarding shipment back to Malaysia, so you’re not paying shipping separately for each item.
Japanese matcha has become a global favourite in recent years, whether you’re sipping it as tea, baking with it, or whisking up a matcha latte — and none of that works without a tin of genuinely good Uji matcha powder. The catch is that most Rakuten Japan stores only ship within Japan, so buying long-established names like “Yamamasa Koyamaen” or “Marukyu Koyamaen” at the official store price usually means going through a forwarding service.
This guide rounds up 8 bestselling matcha powders and beginner tea ware sets from Rakuten Japan, along with a rundown of matcha grades, its benefits, and a complete walkthrough of forwarding your order home via Buy&Ship’s Japan warehouse — so you can get your hands on good tea without ever booking a flight.
Contents (click to jump)
→ Buy&Ship x Rakuten Japan Exclusive Offers
→ What Is Japanese Matcha? A Grade Guide
→ Matcha’s Benefits
→ 6 Authentic Uji Matcha Powders
→ 2 Beginner Matcha Tool Sets
→ Shopping Tutorial: How to Shop Rakuten JP & Ship to Malaysia
→ FAQ
Buy&Ship x Rakuten Japan Exclusive Offers
| Buy&Ship x Rakuten Japan Exclusive Offer 1 | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Promotion type | Rakuten Japan Marketplace shopping coupon | |
| Valid | 2026/09/01 00:00 – 2026/09/30 23:59 (Japan time) *Note: times shown are Japan time, 1 hour ahead of Malaysia time | |
| Minimum spend | Spend ¥5,000 in a single order to get ¥500 off | |
| Eligible stores | Over 50,000 stores on Rakuten Japan Marketplace | |
| Terms | Limited to the first 2,500 eligible orders, while available 💡 Up to 4 uses per Rakuten member Stackable with Rakuten points, applied after the minimum spend is met Cannot be combined with other coupons If an order is cancelled, the coupon is returned to your account Only valid on Rakuten Japan orders shipped to a Buy&Ship Japan warehouse address. | |
| Coupon link | Click to Claim | |
| Buy&Ship x Rakuten Japan Exclusive Offer 2 | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Promotion type | Rakuten Super Sale RM4 Instant Shipping Discount (No Min. Spend) | |
| Valid | 4 September – 20 September | |
| Who’s eligible | Any Buy&Ship forwarding member (limited spots, first come first served) | |
| What you get | Declare a shipment containing a Rakuten Japan item (rakuten.co.jp or brandavenue.rakuten.co.jp) during the promo period, and the “Rakuten Super Sale unconditional RM4 shipping discount” will be emailed and credited to your account within 5 business days of declaring. | |
| How to qualify | During the promo period, a single Rakuten Japan forwarding order must meet these conditions: The declared shipment must include a Rakuten Japan item, and you must provide the matching rakuten.co.jp or brandavenue.rakuten.co.jp product link when declaring. | |
| Terms | One redemption per member during the promo period. See the full Terms & Conditions. | |
What Is Japanese Matcha? A Grade Guide
Matcha is made from “tencha” — tea leaves grown under shade cloth, then steamed, dried and de-veined before being ground into a fine powder on a stone mill. Because you drink the leaf powder itself rather than steeping and discarding it like ordinary green tea, matcha retains more of the tea’s polyphenols, catechins, chlorophyll and dietary fibre, giving it a richer flavour with a balance of sweetness and gentle bitterness.
How Is Matcha Different from Green Tea?
Here’s how matcha compares to ordinary green tea (like sencha):
| Comparison | Green tea (e.g. sencha) | Matcha |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf source & brewing | Picked, steamed, rolled and dried, then steeped as whole leaves and the liquor is drunk | Shade-grown young leaves, dried and ground straight into powder, drunk together with the powder |
| Nutrient intake | Only water-soluble compounds are extracted | You consume the leaf powder itself, so catechin, chlorophyll and fibre intake is more complete |
| Colour & taste | Light, refreshing colour, suited to everyday brewing | Vivid green, a richer mouthfeel, also widely used in tea ceremony, desserts and baking |
One thing to watch for: some products labelled “green tea powder” are simply ordinary green tea ground up, without the shade-growing and stone-milling process behind real matcha — the quality and aroma won’t compare to genuine matcha. When shopping, check that the product is clearly labelled “matcha” rather than “green tea powder”.
Matcha Grades: Ceremonial vs. Culinary
Matcha broadly falls into two grades:
- Ceremonial grade: made from the youngest tea buds, with a finer powder, brighter green colour and lower bitterness — meant for drinking on its own. The “usucha” (thin tea) and “koicha” (thick tea) grades mentioned above both fall here, with koicha typically priced higher as it uses even younger leaves.
- Culinary grade: a stronger, more bitter flavour at a more affordable price, best suited to matcha lattes, ice cream, cakes and other desserts or drinks rather than drinking on its own.
Beyond this, many stores also use their own house grading names, such as “Hatsumukashi”, “Gomukashi”, “Toyomukashi” or “Unkaku” — these are each store’s own grading system, not an industry-wide standard. Within one store, a name that ranks higher (e.g. “Hatsumukashi”) usually means a higher grade, so it’s best to check that store’s own grade chart rather than comparing names across stores.
Matcha’s Benefits
Because matcha is the whole leaf ground into powder, you take in more of the tea leaf itself compared with green tea that’s steeped and strained. Matcha contains catechins (an antioxidant common in green tea), L-theanine (an amino acid associated with a calming effect) and caffeine — which is one reason some people choose matcha over coffee for an energy lift.
That said, matcha does contain caffeine, so pregnant women, people sensitive to caffeine, or anyone with a related health condition should check a suitable intake with their doctor first. This article isn’t medical advice.
6 Authentic Uji Matcha Powders
All 6 matcha powders below are in-stock items from Rakuten Japan stores. Please check the product page for the latest stock and pricing.
1. Yamamasa Koyamaen “Ogurayama” Uji Matcha (30g)
From long-established Uji, Kyoto tea house Yamamasa Koyamaen, this usucha-grade matcha is smooth and fragrant with low bitterness, suited to everyday drinking or baking matcha desserts. The 30g tin is easy to store and a solid starter pick for anyone new to matcha.
Rakuten Japan price: RM101 (JPY3,850)
2. Marukyu Koyamaen “Unkaku” Uji Matcha (40g)
Marukyu Koyamaen is another long-established matcha specialist in Uji, Kyoto. “Unkaku” works for both usucha and koicha, with a rich, lingering sweetness. The 40g tin can holds up well in storage, and it’s one of the go-to picks for many tea ceremony practitioners.
Rakuten Japan price: RM198 (JPY7,560)
3. Itohkyuemon “Tenjo” Uji Matcha (20g)
Founded in the Tenpo era, this established Kyoto tea house stone-mills its tencha with care, giving a fragrant aroma and a lingering sweetness. The compact 20g tin also makes a nice gift or souvenir.
Rakuten Japan price: RM171 (JPY6,534)
4. Morihan “Hand-Picked Matcha” Uji Matcha (30g)
Sourced from a premium Uji matcha estate and hand-picked by skilled tea makers, this is a rich, full-bodied matcha with a pronounced sweetness afterward — a match for anyone chasing authentic flavour and provenance.
Rakuten Japan price: RM99 (JPY3,780)
5. Kyoto Hekisuien “Hatsumukashi” Uji Matcha (30g)
A brand under Ochanofujii, “Hatsumukashi” is one of the house’s higher grades, with a delicate, floral profile. It’s also the most affordable of the 6 picks here, making it a good way to try premium Uji matcha without committing to the price tag.
Rakuten Japan price: RM59 (JPY2,268)
6. Tsujiri Ichihonten “Toyomukashi” Uji Matcha (30g)
A koicha-grade matcha with a rounded, distinctly sweet finish. Beyond drinking it on its own, it also works well in matcha lattes and matcha chiffon cake — the most versatile of the 6 picks here.
Rakuten Japan price: RM106 (JPY4,050)
2 Beginner Matcha Tool Sets
Besides the matcha powder itself, whisking a proper bowl needs a few basic tools too — a matcha bowl, a chasen (bamboo whisk) and a chashaku (scoop). Both sets below bundle everything a beginner needs in one go, ideal for anyone trying matcha at home for the first time.
7. Ujitawara Seichajo Matcha Starter Set (Matcha + Bowl + Whisk + Scoop)
A 4-piece set covering matcha powder, bowl, whisk and scoop in one go. The bowl is hand-fired Mino ware, so each one has slightly different texture — a good all-in-one pick if you want to skip choosing every piece separately.
Rakuten Japan price: RM104 (JPY3,980)
8. Easyliving 7-Piece Tea Ceremony Set
A more complete 7-piece set with a wider range of tools, suited to anyone ready to practise the basic steps of tea ceremony properly. The store also offers several combinations, so you can mix and match to fit your budget and needs.
Rakuten Japan price: RM138 (JPY5,280)
Rakuten Japan Member Unboxings & Reviews
Over 800 customers have used Buyandship to score great deals on Rakuten Japan and shared their unboxing experiences! Check out real member reviews to easily find the best-value items and your next favorite buys.
Note: prices, stock and exchange rates are subject to change with market conditions — please refer to Rakuten Japan’s website for the latest listing.
Shopping Tutorial: How to Shop Rakuten JP & Ship to Malaysia
Step 1
Go to Buy&Ship website to log in or register as a member.
Step 2
Fill in your first and last name, email address and set your account password. Click “Sign Up” once details are completed.
Step 3
Browse on Rakuten Japan — you can click the “Shop Overseas” button on any of the recommended items above to go straight to the store page, or search “matcha” yourself to discover more. Once you’ve found something you like, add it to your cart or check out immediately.
Step 4
Go to your shopping cart, select “茨城県 (Ibaraki Prefecture)” as the shipping location from the upper right corner.
Check and make sure correct items are added into cart, and proceed.
Step 5
Sign into your Rakuten account. If you’re not a Rakuten member, you can register as a member below by filling in the form.
Learn more: Step-by-Step Guide on Rakuten and How to Register As Member
Step 6
Fill in delivery address. Go to the “Overseas Warehouse Address” on your Buy&Ship member centre and select “Japan” to view the information of Buy&Ship’s Japan warehouse.
In the name session, please enter your name and Buy&Ship membership number (e.g. MYXXXXXX). For the “フリガナ“, you need to convert your name into Japanese Katakana (click here to convert). Once it’s converted, copy and paste it onto the name bar.
Step 7
You can choose whether to register as a member on Rakuten. If you don’t want to register, you can click the second box “楽天会員に登録しない”.
It’s highly recommended to register as a member if you shop often on Rakuten as you can save payment and shipping details on your account for faster checkout next time, and earn points!
Set your password if you proceed with registration.
Step 8
Proceed onto payment page, fill in your credit card information to settle the payment, and then click “次へ”.
Step 9
Confirm your order information, and then click “OK” (the red box shown). You’ll receive email confirmation once order is submitted.
Step 10
Once you’ve received a shipping notification email from Rakuten, go to your member centre and declare the shipment on Buy&Ship to receive your package as soon as possible!
FAQ
Q1. Can usucha-grade and koicha-grade matcha be swapped for each other?
You can, but the taste will differ. Usucha-grade matcha has lower bitterness, so making koicha with it can taste too thin; koicha-grade matcha is stronger, so making usucha with it will taste heavier than intended. We’d recommend checking each store’s suggested usage before you buy.
Q2. Which address should I use when ordering?
Use Buy&Ship’s Japan warehouse address, and add your member number to the name field so your parcel is matched to your account once it arrives. Remember to declare your shipment in the app once the seller ships it.
Q3. Can I combine multiple items into a single forwarding shipment?
Yes. As long as your items all arrive at the same Buy&Ship Japan warehouse address, you can consolidate them into a single shipment and forward everything to Malaysia in one go.
Terms & Conditions for “Rakuten Super Sale RM4 Instant Shipping Discount”
- This promotion only applies to forwarding orders where the declared shipment includes a Rakuten Japan item (with a rakuten.co.jp or brandavenue.rakuten.co.jp link attached).
- The “Rakuten Super Sale RM4 Instant Shipping Discount” will be emailed and automatically credited to eligible members’ Buy&Ship accounts within 5 business days of declaring a Rakuten Japan item.
- Limited to 200 redemptions, while available.
- Limited to one redemption per registered Buy&Ship user during the promo period.
- Cannot be combined with other shipping discounts or coupons — only one promo code per shipment.
- Not valid on Direct Shipping orders.
- Buy&Ship reserves final decision on any disputes and may change the content or terms of this promotion at any time without notice.