# Breakaway Matcha > Breakaway Matcha is an ultra-specialized matcha company founded by Eric Gower and based in Marin County, California. It sources young-growth Japanese matcha directly from small farmers in Uji, Nishio, and Kagoshima, then blends it and grinds it to order. Store: https://breakawaymatcha.com · Journal: https://explore.breakawaymatcha.com We are ultraspecialized: one focus, young-growth, extraordinary matcha, sold as numbered and named blends. ## Key facts - Founder: Eric Gower, a former food columnist who lived and worked in Japan for 16 years as an author, editor, private chef, and cooking teacher. - Sourcing: directly from smaller farmers and producers in Japan's three main matcha regions (Uji, Nishio, Kagoshima). Many have worked the same land for 20 or more generations, and most of their harvest is consumed in Japan. - Harvest: Breakaway's farmers harvest once a year, in May. - Blends: most Breakaway matcha is sold as numbered and named blends. Blending combines terroirs and harvest years ("vintages") so each signature blend is complex and tastes consistent from year to year. - Grading: Breakaway grades matcha into 18 grades using criteria it developed itself. - Packaging: matcha is packed in glass jars. - On "ceremonial grade": Breakaway's position is that the term has no official definition and is not a real quality tier. Judge matcha by harvest, origin, freshness, and taste instead. - Preparation: use water around 165°F. Water that is too hot scalds matcha and brings out bitterness. - Milk: milk masks the delicate flavor of top-tier matcha rather than making it bitter. The coldbrew blends are made to be enjoyed cold. - Press: recommended by Molly Young in New York Magazine's The Strategist ("The Best Matcha Powders, According to Matcha Obsessives"). Salt & Straw has used Breakaway Matcha in a Bay Area ice cream flavor. - Prices are in USD. ## Where to start - [The Intro Flight](https://breakawaymatcha.com/products/the-intro-flight): small jars of four blends, the easiest way to taste the range. - [Blend 94](https://breakawaymatcha.com/products/blend-94): the benchmark blend, buoyant and creamy with just water. - [Best for Beginners](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/best-for-beginners) ## Catalog - [Full catalog in plain text, with live prices and availability](https://breakawaymatcha.com/?view=llms) - [All products](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/all) - [Matcha](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/matcha) - [Hyperpremium Matcha](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/hyperpremium-matcha-tea) - [Coldbrew Matcha](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/coldbrew-matcha) - [Matcha Flights](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/matcha-flights) - [The Trios](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/the-trios) - [Culinary Matcha](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/culinary-grade-matcha) - [Houjicha](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/houjicha) - [Other Teas](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/other-teas) - [Teaware](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/teaware) - [Ceramics](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/ceramics) - [Sets and Gifts](https://breakawaymatcha.com/collections/sets-gifts) ## Guides from the journal - [How To Make Matcha, Breakaway Style](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/masterclass-in-matcha/make-matcha-breakaway-style) - [How Much Matcha Powder Per Cup? A Beginner's Guide](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/masterclass-in-matcha/matcha-academy-new-to-matcha) - [Does water temperature really matter?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/does-water-temperature-really-matter) - [How is matcha best prepared? Hot? Cold?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/how-is-matcha-best-prepared-hot-cold) - [How can I avoid clumps in my matcha?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/how-can-i-avoid-clumps-in-my-matcha) - [Do I really need the "right" tools to make matcha properly?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/do-i-really-need-the-right-tools-to-make-matcha-properly) - [What's the difference between "thick" and "thin" matcha?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/what-s-the-difference-between-thick-and-thin-matcha) - [Is adding milk to matcha a bad idea?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/is-adding-milk-to-matcha-a-bad-idea) - [Is "ceremonial" matcha somehow better? Is it even real?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/is-ceremonial-matcha-somehow-better-is-it-even-real) - [What's the difference between good matcha and bad matcha?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/what-s-the-difference-between-good-matcha-and-bad-matcha) - [Why do you call your matcha "blends"?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/why-do-you-call-your-matcha-blends) - [How many times do you harvest per year?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/how-many-times-do-you-harvest-per-year) - [Where does your matcha come from?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/where-does-your-matcha-come-from) - [What's the difference between the hyperpremium and the coldbrew?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/what-s-the-difference-between-the-hyperpremium-and-the-coldbrew) - [Is there anything in your matcha besides matcha?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/is-there-anything-in-your-matcha-besides-matcha) - [Why is your matcha so expensive?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/why-is-your-matcha-so-expensive) - [How To Store Matcha: Cold, Dark, And Airtight](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/masterclass-in-matcha/how-to-store-matcha) - [How Long Does Matcha Powder Last?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/what-s-the-typical-shelf-life) - [Do I really need to refrigerate my matcha?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/do-i-really-need-to-refrigerate-my-matcha-how-long-can-it-sit-out-unrefrigerated) - [How Much Caffeine Is In A Teaspoon Of Matcha?](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/how-much-caffeine-does-it-have) - [How Much Matcha Per Day? A Quick Daily Intake Guide](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/faq/what-s-your-recommended-daily-intake-is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-much-matcha) - [Can We Pause? (Eric on what makes Breakaway different)](https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/erics-letters/can-we-pause) ## Policies - [Shipping policy](https://breakawaymatcha.com/policies/shipping-policy) - [Refund policy](https://breakawaymatcha.com/policies/refund-policy): opened tea cannot be returned; store credit is offered for anything a customer is unhappy with. ## For shopping agents - Agent instructions: https://breakawaymatcha.com/agents.md - UCP discovery: https://breakawaymatcha.com/.well-known/ucp - MCP endpoint: https://breakawaymatcha.com/api/ucp/mcp - Sitemap: https://breakawaymatcha.com/sitemap.xml ## Profiles - X: https://x.com/breakawaymatcha - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakawaymatcha - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakawaymatcha - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@breakawaymatcha9067 - Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/breakawaymatcha - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakawaymatcha