Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Pure Matcha
Tea Description:
Matcha, which means powdered tea. Has been enjoyed for over 800 years. Our Premium Ceremonial Grade Matcha is stone ground in the ancient way to produce the finest quality Matcha. Unlike regular green tea leaves which are removed after brewing. Matcha is whisked with water and consumed entirely. This ensures that Pure Matcha drinkers consume almost ten times a higher concentration of green tea anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibers.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
And what better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a bowl of Matcha? Well, I suppose since it IS an Irish holiday, a cup of Irish Breakfast might do nicely, or, perhaps a plate of corned beef and cabbage, but that is something I DO NOT eat for reasons that I do not wish to discuss. (Horrifying memories from my childhood, let’s just leave it at that)
So, I guess there are really more appropriate ways to celebrate St. Patty’s Day, but, Matcha works for me.
This is really a beautiful Matcha. It is bright green, and froths up nicely. I like that the froth remains until I’ve finished the bowl … and I also like that the Matcha stays mixed until I reached the bottom of the bowl.
The flavor is outstanding. With most Matcha teas, even the ones that I consider to be top-notch, I’ve experienced a hint of bitterness to the cup. Usually this is just a savory bitterness that I find to be quite palatable and actually nice to help offset some of the sweetness. But with this Matcha, I noticed no bitterness at all. And I didn’t miss it – not at all.
This Matcha has such a pleasant sweetness – it isn’t overwhelming or cloyingly sweet, but it is mildly sweet with a mellow vegetal tone. Delicious buttery taste to it with a smoothness to match. It is rich and thick and very delicious.
If you’re a Matcha fan, you really MUST try Matcha from Pure Matcha. It is certainly one of the best that I’ve tried.
Royal Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Product Description:
137 times more antioxidants than any other green tea!
Enjoy the splendor, color and intoxicating smell of Royal Matcha green tea. Let its beautiful hue and lovely scent invigorate your senses.
This really is a royal tea of green tea leaves ground by granite to make a fine powder for your enjoyment and is easily prepared. Its stone ground preparation also affords it all the nutrition it naturally possesses without compromise making it one of the highest quality teas available.
Learn more about this tea here.
Product Review:
HAPPY NEW YEAR! And what better way to ring in the new year than with a bowl of Matcha? It will give you a power-packed punch of energy to get going on those new years resolutions!
This is an very good ceremonial grade Matcha from Red Leaf Tea. The color is a bit darker than some Matcha, it whisks up to a deep jade color. It is thick and rich, and it has a remarkable buttery note to it that I seldom notice in Matcha. It has some rich, chocolate-like background notes, and very little vegetative taste which I find uncommon for a Matcha as well, as the vegetal taste is usually what I notice first. Instead, I am tasting more earthiness than vegetative taste, and a well balanced bitter-sweet flavor.
It has a slightly chalky note to it which was particularly noticeable within the first two or three sips, but, each sip after that was quite smooth and very enjoyable. No sediment at the bottom of the bowl, which was nice to see.
Overall, a tasty Matcha. I think that this would be a good choice for someone who is looking for a less vegetative Matcha. This one has some really distinctive flavors that are quite interesting and enjoyable.
Matcha from Aiya, Part 3: Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Aiya
Product Description:
The USDA organic certified counterpart of our ceremonial drinking Matcha holds true to its organic nature. Internationally certified organic methods of manufacturing and packing bring your consumer a level of quality that is rare even in the Japanese green tea market!
Taster’s Review:
This is my third and final review of this Matcha from Aiya series.
This Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha is very similar to the conventional Ceremonial Grade. They both froth up nicely, although I think I remember a bit more froth with the conventionally-grown version. But there is still LOTS of froth with this one.
It is also thick and creamy like the conventionally-grown, but just as with the froth, I seem to remember a slightly thicker body from the conventionally-grown variety. And like the conventionally-grown Ceremonial Grade Matcha, this does not impart that chalkiness that I would sometimes experience from what I now realize were lesser quality Matcha teas. Aiya offers only the best with the three selections I’ve reviewed in this series.
This does have that bittersweet “Matcha” taste and an intense vegetal flavor, but I find that the vegetal taste here is a bit sweeter than in the conventional Ceremonial Grade (which was a bit more of a savory kind of vegetative taste).
That being said, I must say that the two Ceremonial Grade Matcha teas display very similar characteristics, so I think that choosing between them would be based upon whether or not having an Organic Matcha is something that is important to you.
If you like Matcha – you really MUST try Aiya. I think that it is the BEST of the best!
Matcha from Aiya, Part 2: Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Aiya
Product Description:
Aiya’s flagship product, the ceremonial drinking grade of Matcha is perfect for daily consumption. This daily treat contains the highest color quality, nutrient value, and taste for the average consumer.
Taster’s Review:
After my first tasting of Aiya’s amazing Matcha, I looked forward to trying their Ceremonial Grade Matcha with eager anticipation!
I could tell the difference between this and the Premium Grade Matcha immediately when I started whisking. This one had a noticeably thicker consistency. It is VERY frothy; frothing up more than the Premium Grade.
The color is a similar vivid green, but because of the thicker appearance of this tea, it looks less translucent than the Premium Grade … and the Premium Grade DID NOT look all that translucent. This is a very bright, bold green color.
Even though this Matcha is thicker and creamier than the Premium Grade, it still does not impart a chalky aftertaste or texture on the palate. It just tastes smooth and creamy, a bit like a thin smoothie. Very unified; unbroken.
The flavor is a bittersweet flavor that I have come to associate with high quality Matcha … but this is even more intensely flavored. The vegetative flavor is strong!
As I have now tried two different Matcha offering from Aiya, one significant thing I have noticed about these products is that the Matcha remains well-incorporated. Very often, with Matcha, it becomes separated while sipping and some of the Matcha particles fall to the bottom of the chawan, requiring another whisk to maintain the flavor. But with this Matcha, that additional whisking is not necessary. This stuff stays mixed … and the froth doesn’t dissipate either! This remains creamy, thick and frothy until the very last drop!
Matcha from Aiya, Part 1: Premium Grade Matcha
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Aiya
Product Description:
For the true tea connoisseur, Aiya’s premium Matcha provides a level of quality that is typically reserved for high-class Japanese tea ceremonies. While daily consumption is encouraged, this grade is typically reserved for special occasions.
Taster’s Review:
I have been on a fabulous Matcha journey, courtesy of Aiya! This is the first of three delicious Matcha teas that I will be exploring on this journey.
The first thing I noticed about this Matcha was the color as I started to whisk. It was so vivid! Such a bright, beautiful color of green. I don’t typically smell a Matcha when it’s dry … having done this before and getting my nostrils full of Matcha powder, it is not a mistake I am likely to make again. But now that it’s whisked, I smell a pleasant fresh fragrance. It smells lightly grassy, and even somewhat like freshly steamed vegetables.
This Matcha froths up nicely. The flavor is sweet with a sharp, savory bitter tone. It is a very pleasing contrast of flavors. The texture is smooth and creamy, and that creaminess also translates into the flavor, creating a taste sensation that is something like creamed veggies. The flavor is very vibrant, and there is no chalkiness in the aftertaste.
Another notable quality is how energizing it is! After finishing my chawan of this Matcha, I felt like I could go and run a marathon with energy to spare! Amazing!