Choose Aoarashi if you mostly drink matcha lattes and like a bright, assertive green flavor. Choose Isuzu if you drink matcha with water as often as with milk and prefer a creamy, mellow cup. Both are Marukyu Koyamaen matchas from Uji, sold in 40g tins.
It's one of the questions we hear most, and it's a fair one.
Both are from Marukyu Koyamaen in Uji, Kyoto, one of the most respected matcha houses in Japan. Both come in 40g factory-sealed tins. Both make a good latte and a good bowl. So why does choosing between them feel so hard?
Because they have different personalities. Once you know which one you are, it's easy.
Aoarashi: the bright one
Aoarashi tastes awake. It has a refreshing, lively green character that cuts cleanly through milk, which is why it's our first answer for anyone who drinks matcha lattes. Whisked with water, it's crisp and straightforward, the kind of bowl you make standing up in the kitchen before the day starts.
Choose Aoarashi if:
- You mostly drink matcha with milk
- You like a clear, assertive green flavor
- You want a tin you can keep refilling (we pack Aoarashi in 40g and 100g refills)
Isuzu: the gentle one
Isuzu is softer around the edges. Open the tin and the aroma is fresh and green, but the cup itself is creamier and more mellow, with a little umami depth, a gentle bitterness and a clean finish that leaves a trace of spring-green sweetness. It has a light body that makes it pleasant to sip slowly.
Choose Isuzu if:
- You drink matcha with water as often as with milk
- You prefer smooth over bold
- You're stepping up from café matcha and want something more refined without going all the way to koicha
Side by side
| Aoarashi | Isuzu | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Marukyu Koyamaen, Uji | Marukyu Koyamaen, Uji |
| Character | Bright, refreshing, assertive | Creamy, mellow, gently sweet |
| Best for | Lattes first, usucha second | Usucha and lattes equally |
| Tin size | 40g (about 20 bowls) | 40g (about 20 bowls) |
| Larger format | 100g bag and SAINTCHA-packed refills | 100g original bag |
Or don't choose
Here's the secret: plenty of matcha drinkers keep both. Aoarashi for the iced latte on a busy weekday, Isuzu for the quiet bowl on Sunday. If you buy them together in Build a set, each tin is $2 less, and the pair gets you about three quarters of the way to free US shipping.
Not sure yet? Try the 30-second Get fitted quiz, or read how to read the whole Marukyu Koyamaen lineup.