日本語版

Matcha

concept / concept-china-matcha-standard-gbt34778

中国の国家標準『抹茶』（GB/T 34778-2017） / China national standard for matcha (GB/T 34778-2017)

On this page (4 sections)
  1. Other names
  2. Follow the connections
  3. Related entries (5)
  4. Safety and regulation (2)
↑

Short definition

The People’s Republic of China’s national standard 「抹茶」 (in translation: "matcha") (GB/T 34778-2017), issued on November 1, 2017 and effective May 1, 2018. According to a secondary source, it includes first- and second-grade classes based on numerical physicochemical criteria such as particle size, moisture, total ash, and theanine content.

A reader-facing overview for this entry is in preparation. What has been checked, and its sources, can be followed from the claim cards below.

Other names: 抹茶 (zh)

Follow the connections

Matcha →differs from→ matcha naming and process standard (Japan)

Structured claims — open a section to read each claim's confidence, evidence and limits

Safety and regulation (2)

Matcha is documented as having 2 grades, first and second. The stated physicochemical criteria are particle size (D60) no more than 18 μm, moisture no more than 6.0%, total ash no more than 8.0%, and total theanine at least 1.0% for first grade or 0.5% for second grade (based on a company blog’s reproduction of the standard’s table).contextual

Scope: The People’s Republic of China national standard GB/T 34778-2017, 「抹茶」 (in translation: "matcha").

Note: The paid full standard could not be checked directly. The values here are taken second-hand from a reproduction of the standard’s table in the 2018 company blog 『消観茶論』 (in translation: "Shokan Tea Discussion") by Tea Media Corporation and have not been verified against the primary standard. The issue date (2017-11-01), effective date (2018-05-01), classification code (ICS 67.140.10), and responsible department were confirmed in the official bibliographic database, the National Public Service Platform for Standards Information.

Context: Confirmed the existence, issue date (2017-11-01), effective date (2018-05-01), and responsible department of GB/T 34778-2017 in the official bibliographic database.
Limitations: The standard’s text is not publicly accessible (paid). The numerical criteria cannot be checked from this information source itself.
Source: 国家标准 GB/T 34778-2017 抹茶（书志情報） (国家质量监督检验检疫总局; 国家标准化管理委员会（发布）; 中华全国供销合作总社（归口）, 2017) · metadata only
Introduces the standard values for particle size D60≤18 μm, moisture ≤6.0%, total ash ≤8.0%, and total theanine of at least 1.0% for first grade and 0.5% for second grade.
Limitations: Not checked against the primary standard document. Transcription errors in the values cannot be ruled out. This is a company blog without peer review.
Source: 第32回：中国の国家標準『抹茶』の概要 (合同会社ティーメディアコーポレーション, 2018) · needs_verification
Show dataconcept-china-matcha-standard-gbt34778 —is_documented_as_having→ "2 grades, first and second. The stated physicochemical criteria are particle size (D60) no more than 18 μm, moisture no more than 6.0%, total ash no more than 8.0%, and total theanine at least 1.0% for first grade or 0.5% for second grade (based on a company blog’s reproduction of the standard’s table)."
claim: clm-gbt34778-numeric-grading / type: regulatory / updated: 2026-09-02
Matcha differs from matcha naming and process standard (Japan)contextual

Scope: A comparison of ways to define matcha (Chinese national standard versus Japanese industry standard plus ISO technical report).

Note: The Japanese sources (the Green Tea Labeling Standards and ISO/TR 21380) define 『抹茶』 (in translation: "matcha") only by production requirements such as the duration of shade cultivation of tencha and the grinding method, without numerical standards for concentration or content percentage. A secondary source reproduces the Chinese standard (GB/T 34778-2017) as including grades based on numerical physicochemical criteria such as particle size, moisture, total ash, and theanine content. The institutional designs differ in 『抹茶をどう定義するか』 (in translation: "how to define matcha"). The Chinese numerical values have not been independently checked against the primary standard.

Shows that the Chinese national standard has grading based on numerical criteria.
Limitations: The primary standard document has not been checked.
Source: 第32回：中国の国家標準『抹茶』の概要 (合同会社ティーメディアコーポレーション, 2018) · needs_verification
Context: Provides a comparison showing that the Japanese industry standard defines matcha only by production requirements and includes no numerical criteria.
Limitations: As above.
Source: 緑茶の表示基準 (公益社団法人日本茶業中央会, 2026) · full text checked
Show dataconcept-china-matcha-standard-gbt34778 —differs_from→ concept-matcha-name-standard
claim: clm-gbt-vs-japan-standard-differ / type: regulatory / updated: 2026-09-02

↑ Top of page · ← Encyclopedia (English entries)