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An honest review of PerfectTed matcha powder — the brand that achieved supermarket ubiquity across Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Boots. We test whether the quality matches the distribution.
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PerfectTed Is the UK's Most Accessible Matcha Brand — But Is It Good?
PerfectTed has achieved something no other matcha brand has managed in the UK: you can buy it during your weekly Tesco shop. Founded in 2020 and backed by investor Steven Bartlett following a Dragon's Den appearance, PerfectTed is now stocked at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Boots, and most major pharmacies. That distribution reach is remarkable. The question is whether the matcha inside the tin justifies its position.
Our honest verdict: PerfectTed is a solid mid-range matcha that performs best in lattes. It is not true ceremonial grade despite how it's often marketed, but at its price point (around £9.99–£11.99 for 30–40g), it delivers decent everyday quality that outperforms most of what sits next to it on the supermarket shelf.
Quick Summary
| Product | Price | Our Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| PerfectTed Original Matcha Powder | £9.99 / 30g | ★★★★☆ | Everyday lattes, beginners |
| PerfectTed Premium Matcha | £11.99 / 40g | ★★★★☆ | Lattes, smoothies, baking |
| PerfectTed Ready-to-Drink Cans | £2.49 per 250ml | ★★★☆☆ | On-the-go convenience |
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Brand Background: Who Are PerfectTed?
PerfectTed was founded in 2020 by Teddie Levenfiche and Levi Hunneyball, two founders who spotted a gap in the UK market for high-quality matcha in everyday retail channels. After appearing on BBC's Dragon's Den, they secured a six-figure investment from Steven Bartlett, which helped fuel the brand's rapid supermarket expansion.
What distinguishes PerfectTed from most matcha brands is their retail strategy. Rather than competing at the premium, direct-to-consumer end of the market against JENKI and Ippodo, PerfectTed positioned itself as the quality upgrade over supermarket own-brand matcha — a genuinely smart play that has given them unparalleled UK shelf presence.
They source from Japan, primarily from Kagoshima — a reliable origin that sits below Uji in prestige but well above the Chinese-grown powders that dominate budget shelves.
Detailed Reviews
PerfectTed Original Matcha Powder: ★★★★☆
£9.99 for 30g (£0.33/g)
The Original is PerfectTed's everyday matcha — the tin you see most frequently on supermarket shelves. The powder is a respectable green, not the vivid jade of true ceremonial grades but clearly above the yellowish-olive of cheap alternatives. The colour tells you something meaningful: it's been shade-grown properly, the processing is decent, and it hasn't been sitting in a warehouse for six months.
Whisked straight with hot water, there's a mild grassiness with some sweetness and a slight bitterness on the finish. That bitterness confirms this is a latte-grade product rather than pure ceremonial — it doesn't have the layered umami sweetness you get from Ippodo or JENKI's ceremonial range. Drink it straight and it's pleasant enough; use it in a latte and it performs considerably better.
In a latte with oat milk, PerfectTed really earns its reputation. The flavour is assertive enough to cut through the milk without turning harsh, the colour stays a confident green, and the finish is clean. If you're making daily matcha lattes at home and want to grab your powder with the weekly shop, this is the most convenient option in the UK by a significant margin.
Pros:
- Available in Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Boots — genuinely convenient
- Consistent quality batch to batch
- Good latte performance for the price
Cons:
- Not true ceremonial grade despite some marketing language
- Slightly bitter when drunk straight without milk
- Kagoshima sourcing is good but not Uji premium
Buy PerfectTed at Tesco · Buy on Amazon UK
PerfectTed Premium Matcha Powder: ★★★★☆
£11.99 for 40g (£0.30/g)
PerfectTed's Premium offering is a slightly larger tin at a modestly higher price point. The colour is marginally brighter than the Original and the flavour profile is cleaner — a touch less bitterness and a slightly more pronounced sweetness.
In practice, the difference between Original and Premium is subtle enough that many people wouldn't notice it in a latte. Where it makes a more meaningful difference is drunk straight: the Premium has less of that grassy edge that makes the Original borderline for straight drinking. It's still not ceremonial-grade complexity, but it's more approachable without milk.
For anyone who drinks matcha both straight and in lattes and wants a single tin that works for both purposes, the Premium is the better buy. The price-per-gram is actually slightly lower than the Original, which makes the decision straightforward.
Pros:
- Better value per gram than the Original
- Slightly cleaner flavour, more versatile
- Good for lattes and acceptable for straight drinking
Cons:
- Still not a replacement for genuine ceremonial grade
- Premium branding is doing some heavy lifting
PerfectTed Ready-to-Drink Cans: ★★★☆☆
£2.49 per 250ml can
PerfectTed's RTD cans are where the brand's energy-drink positioning becomes most apparent. The can contains matcha alongside adaptogens and other functional ingredients, depending on the variant. It's sweet, carbonated, and immediately accessible — more of a soft-drink-adjacent product than a straight matcha experience.
Compared to JENKI's RTD cans, which taste firmly of matcha and almost nothing else, PerfectTed's version leans harder into the energy-drink end of the spectrum. That's a deliberate product decision and it appeals to a different consumer — someone who wants matcha's health associations without the complexity of preparation.
The matcha flavour is present but secondary. If you're buying this for the matcha experience, you'll be underwhelmed. If you're buying it as a cleaner alternative to energy drinks, it delivers on that promise. For matcha purists, skip it. For curious beginners or non-drinkers who want something functional and caffeinated, it works.
PerfectTed vs the Competition
| PerfectTed | JENKI | PureChimp | Ippodo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per gram | £0.30–£0.33/g | £0.65/g | £0.23/g | £1.20–£3.25/g |
| Origin | Kagoshima | Uji + Kagoshima | Japan | Uji, Kyoto |
| Grade | Latte-ceremonial | Ceremonial / Latte | Ceremonial (entry) | Ceremonial (premium) |
| UK retail availability | Very wide | Limited + direct | Amazon | Direct only |
| Best for | Convenience, lattes | Daily drinkers, quality | Budget | Connoisseurs |
| Straight drinking | Passable | Excellent | Acceptable | Outstanding |
| Latte performance | Very good | Excellent | Good | Not recommended |
Where PerfectTed wins: No other brand matches it for in-store accessibility. If you've run out of matcha and need it today without waiting for online delivery, PerfectTed is the one you can actually buy.
Where PerfectTed loses: On flavour depth, sourcing transparency, and ceremonial-grade quality. JENKI outperforms it meaningfully on all three at roughly double the price per gram.
Who Should Buy PerfectTed?
PerfectTed is a good buy if:
- You make matcha lattes daily and want to grab powder with your weekly shop
- You're new to matcha and want a low-commitment, accessible first purchase
- You need matcha today and can't wait for delivery
PerfectTed isn't the best choice if:
- You drink matcha straight and want genuine ceremonial complexity
- You want the cleanest sourcing and maximum quality per gram
- You're willing to order online for meaningfully better flavour
Where to Buy PerfectTed in the UK
PerfectTed is available in most major UK supermarkets:
- Tesco — in the tea and coffee aisle, typically around £9.99–£11.99
- Waitrose — often stocked in the health-food section
- Sainsbury's — tea aisle at most larger stores
- Boots — the wellness section
- Amazon UK — often with Prime delivery for next-day
For the best price per gram, Tesco and Sainsbury's tend to run the most frequent multi-buy deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PerfectTed matcha good quality?
PerfectTed is a good mid-range matcha that performs best in lattes. It's sourced from Kagoshima, Japan, and offers decent quality for its price point. It's not true ceremonial grade for straight drinking, but it's a significant step up from generic supermarket own-brands and budget Amazon options.
Is PerfectTed ceremonial grade matcha?
PerfectTed's marketing sometimes uses ceremonial-adjacent language, but the product itself sits in latte-grade territory. It lacks the deep umami sweetness and minimal bitterness of genuine first-flush ceremonial matcha from Uji. For ceremonial-grade drinking, look at JENKI or Ippodo.
Where is PerfectTed matcha from?
PerfectTed sources from Kagoshima, Japan. Kagoshima is a legitimate, quality-producing region in southern Japan — not as prestigious as Uji (Kyoto) but well above the Chinese-grown options common in budget matcha.
How does PerfectTed compare to JENKI?
JENKI's ceremonial grade costs roughly double per gram but delivers meaningfully better flavour: more complex umami, no bitterness, suitable for both straight drinking and lattes. PerfectTed performs well in lattes and wins decisively on convenience and availability. For a daily latte, PerfectTed is a reasonable trade-off. For quality drinking, JENKI is worth the extra cost. See our full JENKI review.
Can you buy PerfectTed in Tesco?
Yes. PerfectTed is one of the most widely stocked matcha brands in UK supermarkets. You'll find it in Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, and Boots, usually in the tea and coffee aisle or the wellness section.
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