Why certifications matter more than ever

When matcha is scarce and prices keep rising, the paperwork behind each tin matters as much as its color. Global demand has stretched supply, and some sellers have responded by blurring grades or cutting corners on quality control.

For a café, the matcha in your latte carries your name. Your customers are asking more questions too: where it comes from, whether it is organic, and whether it has been tested. Certifications and lab documents let you answer those questions with evidence.

This guide explains which certifications and test documents are worth asking for, and what Shizutea can provide for your business.

The three kinds of certification buyers should know

Matcha certifications fall into three groups. Each answers a different question about the product.

Organic: JAS is Japan's official standard

JAS Organic is Japan's government-backed organic standard. Products certified under it are inspected from field to packaging, and only certified products may carry the JAS organic mark. Organic matcha is still rare: only a small share of Japanese tea farms are certified organic.

Food safety: the factory matters

A great tea field means little if the powder is processed in an unhygienic facility. FSSC 22000 is an internationally recognized food-safety certification used by global food brands. JFS-B is a Japanese food-safety standard developed by the Japan Food Safety Management Association. Both require documented hygiene controls, hazard analysis and regular audits.

Lab testing: proof for each batch

Certifications describe a system. Lab tests describe the actual product you receive. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) records test results for a specific lot, so you know that the powder in your hands met the standard.

What Shizutea provides

Shizu Tea bridges the gap between Japanese farms and global businesses, supplying authentic matcha for grocery stores, cafés, and ceremonial use. Here is what stands behind our products.

Certified factories

All Shizutea products are manufactured in factories certified under FSSC 22000 or JFS-B. Your matcha is processed under an audited food-safety system, not just a well-meaning one.

JAS Organic products

We offer JAS Organic matcha for cafés that want to put "organic" on the menu with confidence.

We can share a COA (Certificate of Analysis) that reflects these test results, so you have documentation for your own quality records or for your customers.

Pesticide residue reports for EU-bound products

For non-organic products intended for the EU market, we can share pesticide residue test reports. The EU sets some of the world's strictest limits on pesticide residues, so these reports help importers and cafés in Europe meet local requirements.

FDA registration number for US-bound products

Food shipped to the United States must come from a facility registered with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Importers need this registration number to clear goods through US customs. Shizutea can provide the FDA registration number for our products, so your shipments to the US go through smoothly.

A quick checklist before you choose a supplier

When you compare matcha suppliers, ask these questions:

1. Is the factory certified under a recognized food-safety standard such as FSSC 22000 or JFS?
   
2. Can the supplier provide a COA with microbiological results?
3. If you sell in Europe, can they share a pesticide residue report?
   

4. If you import into the US, can they provide an FDA registration number?

Talk to us

At Shizutea we are happy to meet you in person to talk through our products, sourcing and documentation. If you would like a samples or details on our organic line, contact us and we will get back to you.