MATSUThe short answer: MATSU ships producer-direct Japanese matcha to cafés, roasteries, hotels and retail brands in the Philippines, from Japan, in 1 kg units.
- Eight grades, $390–$1,050 per kg — a kilogram lands in the Philippines from $421 including tracked freight
- Minimum 1 kg per grade, in 100 g steps. No distributor account, no container quantities
- Typically 7–10 days from cleared payment, tracked door to door
- $99 Tasting Kit — three flagship grades, $113 delivered, credited in full against a first order
- Private label into your own tins or pouches — run size agreed per project
What a kilogram actually costs, delivered to the Philippines
Most matcha suppliers publish a per-kilo figure and leave freight to a quote round-trip. Below is the whole number for a single kilogram to the Philippines, produced by the same calculation that charges the card — the figure you read here is the figure you pay.
| Grade | Per kg | Freight | Our invoice | Your cost incl. import* | Per latte (3 g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagoshima Standard | $390 | $31 | $421 | ask | $1.17 |
| Uji Standard | $420 | $31 | $451 | ask | $1.26 |
| Uji Classic | $450 | $31 | $481 | ask | $1.35 |
| Kyoto–Kagoshima Premium | $530 | $31 | $561 | ask | $1.59 |
| Uji Premium | $550 | $31 | $581 | ask | $1.65 |
| Kagoshima Premium | $650 | $31 | $681 | ask | $1.95 |
| Uji Signature | $810 | $31 | $841 | ask | $2.43 |
| Izumo Reserve | $1,050 | $31 | $1,081 | ask | $3.15 |
* Our invoice covers the matcha and the shipping. The last-but-one column adds the local import charges described below, so you can compare against a domestic price list. It is a planning estimate, not a ruling — we do not collect or remit it. Where it reads ask, we have not verified the current rate and will not publish a figure we cannot stand behind.
At 3 g a latte, one kilogram pours about 330 drinks; whisked straight as usucha at 2 g a bowl it is closer to 500. A café selling 30 lattes a day works through a kilogram in about eleven days.
What we see from the Philippines
Almost every Philippine enquiry MATSU receives is a brand being launched rather than a café restocking. That changes what matters: unit economics on a 30 g retail tin, a label that can go on a shelf, and a minimum that does not require committing to a container.
The private-label route below is built for exactly that — a first run sized to a launch, not to a factory minimum.
Volume, and where the discounts start
Discounts begin at 5 kg (−10%), step to 10 kg (−15%) and 25 kg (−20%). Freight per kilogram falls as the box gets fuller, so the landed cost per kilogram drops faster than the headline discount suggests.
| Kagoshima Standard | Discount | Goods | Freight | Landed total | Per kg landed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | — | $1,170 | $57 | $1,227 | $409 |
| 5 kg | −10% | $1,755 | $76 | $1,831 | $366 |
| 10 kg | −15% | $3,315 | $126 | $3,441 | $344 |
Above 10 kg we price individually rather than publish a number — tell us the grade, the volume and the destination city and you get a written quotation.
Duty and tax — what you settle locally
The per-kg price is for the matcha itself; shipping is added on top and shown separately. Import charges are settled by you on arrival — they are not in our invoice and we do not collect them.
The Philippines applies import duty plus VAT on tea, and we have not verified a current figure. We will not publish one we cannot stand behind — confirm the rate with your broker before you set a retail price. Treat that as a planning figure, not a ruling: your broker and the tariff line of the day decide the actual amount. Every shipment carries a commercial invoice, a packing list and the lot code, which is what your customs desk will ask for.
Shipping into Metro Manila and beyond
Matcha leaves Japan by air, never by sea container, sealed in aluminium. Typical transit is 7–10 days from cleared payment, tracked the whole way — to Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and Quezon City alike.
Where a postal route is disrupted, we quote a courier alternative rather than let a paid order sit. If your delivery date is fixed — a launch, an event, a seasonal build-up — say so when you order and we will price the faster route alongside the standard one.
Private label — your brand, filled in Japan
We fill the grade you choose into retail tins or stand-up pouches, apply your label, and ship them ready to put on a shelf.
| Fill sizes | 30 g, 40 g, 50 g |
|---|---|
| Run size | agreed per project — tell us the quantity you need and we will confirm it |
| Unit price | grade price per kg × fill weight, plus a flat $3.00 per unit covering the container, filling and label application |
| Lead time | about two weeks from approved artwork; repeat runs are quicker |
| Freight | quoted per shipment — container weight changes the box |
Worked example: a run of 100 tins of 30 g Kagoshima Standard is 3 kg of matcha at $390/kg, so $1,170 of tea plus $300 of filling and packaging — $1,470, or $14.70 a tin, before freight.
Shelf life and storage
Unopened and sealed, matcha holds for 12 months from production. Storage on arrival decides more than transit does: cool, dry, out of the light, and refrigerated once a pack is opened. A quarterly reorder rhythm keeps a café inside the freshness window year-round.
Frequently asked questions
What does a kilogram of matcha cost delivered to the Philippines?
From $421 for Kagoshima Standard, including tracked freight from Japan — $390 for the tea and $31 for shipping. The ceremonial tier runs to $1,081 landed for Izumo Reserve. Import charges are settled locally and are not included.
What is the minimum order?
1 kg per grade, in 100 g steps, and you can mix grades. There is no distributor account and no annual commitment.
How long does delivery take?
Typically 7–10 days from cleared payment, tracked door to door. For a first stocking order, plan two to three weeks end to end.
Who pays import duty and tax?
You do, on arrival. The Philippines applies import duty plus VAT on tea, and we have not verified a current figure. We will not publish one we cannot stand behind — confirm the rate with your broker before you set a retail price.
Which grade should a café use for iced matcha lattes?
Kagoshima Premium at $650/kg holds its colour through milk and ice and is our best-selling grade for that job. Kagoshima Standard at $390/kg is the volume option and still pours green rather than grey.
Do you do private label?
Yes. The unit price is the grade price per kilogram times the fill weight, plus $3.00 per unit for the container, filling and label. Fill sizes are 30 g, 40 g and 50 g, and a run takes about two weeks from approved artwork.
Can you supply JAS-certified organic matcha?
The eight catalogue grades are not certified organic. JAS-certified organic matcha can be sourced through our Kyoto partner as a separate line — tell us the grade and volume and we will quote it.