Safety & Transparency
Why SALON DE MATCHA Is
Publishing Its Heavy Metal Test Results.
"Made in Japan" "Ceremonial Grade" "Organic" The matcha you chose, trusting those very words, was found to contain heavy metals such as mercury. News stories and social posts to this effect are now circulating among matcha lovers around the world.
Of course, not all matcha is affected. But as the global matcha boom has grown, countless brands have emerged worldwide — and with them, a widening gap in quality.
Furthermore, the words “Japan Made” alone do not tell the full story of where a matcha was grown or how it was managed throughout its production. What we truly want to know is: Who is the farmer behind it? What kind of soil was it grown in? What quality control measures were in place throughout the process?
Yet these details are often difficult to see from packaging or a website alone. As the founder of SALON DE MATCHA, I could not view this issue as someone else’s concern. Because we proudly offer matcha cultivated in the rich natural environment of Kagoshima and carefully produced by dedicated farmers, I found myself asking a difficult question:
What if heavy metals were detected in the matcha I sell? Could I truly look a customer in the eye and say, “Please enjoy it with confidence”?
That question stayed with me.
Honestly, I was anxious until the results arrived.
What we seek to deliver is not simply delicious matcha. We believe that true value comes from two things working together: a taste you want to enjoy every day, and a quality you can trust every day.
Only when both are present does a bowl of matcha become something truly meaningful. That is why we chose not to rely on assumptions or good intentions. Instead, we chose to verify the facts through independent third-party testing.
Why "Proof of Safety" Matters Now
The safety of matcha cannot be judged by appearance or taste alone. Soil conditions, water quality, fertilizer management, the hygiene of production equipment — if even one of these is poorly controlled, there is a possibility of heavy metals or harmful substances finding their way in.
In other words, "looking premium" and "being safe" are two entirely different things. That is why we chose to verify with data, not with intuition.
Third-Party Testing by a Global Laboratory
This analysis was commissioned to Eurofins Food Testing Japan K.K., part of a world-leading testing and analysis group. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Eurofins is a global company conducting analysis across food, pharmaceuticals, environment, and cosmetics in countries around the world.
The sample was MIRAI, the signature matcha of SALON DE MATCHA. Four categories of heavy metals were analyzed.
Analytical Report — AR-26-YP-002819-01 | SALON DE MATCHA
| Heavy Metal | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury (Hg) | Direct Mercury Analyzer MA-3000, TDA-AAS | <0.05 mg/kg |
| Arsenic (As) | AOAC 2013.06 mod., ICP-MS | <0.1 mg/kg |
| Cadmium (Cd) | AOAC 2013.06 mod., ICP-MS | <0.02 mg/kg |
| Lead (Pb) | AOAC 2013.06 mod., ICP-MS | <0.1 mg/kg |
Tested by Eurofins Food Testing Japan (Kanto) | Analyzed June 4–10, 2026 | Report issued June 19, 2026
Every category came in below the Limit of Quantification (LOQ). The result was "Not Detected".
The report lists figures such as "<0.05", which means "less than 0.05 mg/kg" — below the threshold the instrument is able to detect. In other words: nothing was found.
The Farmers Behind Our Safety
The tencha that becomes MIRAI is cultivated by a contracted tea farm in Kagoshima Prefecture. This farm holds JAS certification and ASIAGAP, with an established record of exporting to Europe — meaning rigorous quality control is part of its daily practice.
Certification
JAS & ASIAGAP certified farm
Export Track Record
Proven exports to Europe
(meeting strict standards)
3rd Party Testing
Eurofins Food Testing Japan
All 4 heavy metals: ND
Because residual pesticides and radioactive substances are already managed at the production stage, this round of testing focused specifically on heavy metal analysis.
At SALON DE MATCHA, our commitment to quality extends beyond the tea itself. We carefully select the tins and packaging materials used to deliver our matcha, based on quality standards that take food contact safety into consideration.
Transparency Is Our True Luxury
A refined tin. The beautiful color of the matcha. A polished brand story. These things matter, of course. But the true luxury we believe in is this: being able to see the reasons you can trust.
Safety is not something to be taken for granted. It becomes trust only once it is proven.
Founded by a working journalist, SALON DE MATCHA will continue to openly publish its test results and production background, sharing this information with you — so that every single bowl of matcha can be enjoyed with complete peace of mind.