Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: DōMatcha
Tea Description:
Certified organic by JONA (Japan Organic and Natural Foods Association), this premium, organic ceremonial Matcha is the purest and most sustainable way to enjoy the ancient Matcha tradition. Our DoMatcha™ Ceremonial Organic Matcha is produced in Kagoshima, Japan.
Learn more about this Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
One question I’m asked often by tea drinkers is: What is the best Matcha available? When I first started out as a tea reviewer, my answer to that question was always, immediately, unequivocally: DōMatcha.
Since that time, I have sampled MANY different Matcha teas, and I’ve enjoyed many of Matcha teas that I’ve tried. Like other products, I can say that I liked some more than others. And now, the aforementioned question regarding what Matcha is the best is a bit more difficult to answer because my experience has allowed me the unique opportunity to sample many amazing Matcha teas. But, DōMatcha remains right up there close to the top of the list. And this Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha from DōMatcha is one of the best that you’ll ever taste.
It has a bright, fresh, and lively flavor to it. It tastes remarkably fresh. When prepared traditionally – scooped, sifted and then whisked with a chasen until completely incorporated – it becomes a frothy, bright green liquid that keeps its froth until you finish the bowl. (Not that finishing the bowl takes long with this stuff – it tastes so good that it’s difficult to stop sipping!)
I love that the powdered green tea stays sustained in the liquid until I take that last sip. I don’t get a gritty or chalky sort of texture from any sip. It stays smooth and sweet and delicious until I’ve finished the bowl.
It tastes sweet and vegetal. I experience a “bittersweet” sort of taste from it, similar to what I’d experience if I had bitten into a bar of high quality dark chocolate. It’s not “bitter” but there is contrast to the sweetness of the leaf. The palate feels enlivened as I sip it, and I can feel the liquid go to work and begin to invigorate me. This is the stuff!
I love that this is organic. I love that it’s a ceremonial grade Matcha so it works with a koicha preparation (thick soup) or usucha preparation (thin soup). I prefer somewhere in between, and I don’t usually do precise measurement when I prepare Matcha. I scoop some out, sift it, and then pour in hot water, whisking the mixture into a thick paste, and then add water until I’ve reached my desired consistency.
A really superb Matcha – this is one that I’d continue to recommend to those who are looking for a top-notch Matcha. It’s the good stuff!
Muzha Tikuanyin Oolong Tea from T-Oolong Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: T-Oolong Tea
Tea Description:
This Premium Muzha Tikuanyin tea is competition grade. The tea is handpicked, handcrafted and produced from Tikuanyin varietal. The production method of Taiwan TKY is complicated as the tea leaves must be repeatedly rolled and cloth twisted and then charcoal roasted for several days. The aroma and taste is this tea is fruity and sweet with this attractive and lovely Tikuanyin fragrance. It is rich and complex, and stands up very well to multiple infusions.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My first cup (the first two infusions after a quick rinse) of this Muzha Tikuanyin Oolong Tea from T-Oolong Tea was lighter than the subsequent cups, but it was still very flavorful. I could taste the charcoal roast, nutty notes, and a sweet, fruity tone come through.
But the second cup (infusions 3 & 4) is where the taste really came alive with this tea. It is so delicious and roasty-toasty. The nutty flavors and the fruity notes are coming through stronger now. There is a creamy, buttery taste to this, but instead of a typical cream/milk/butter type of taste, this is more reminiscent of browned butter. Sweet and toasty! The creamy notes accentuate the nutty tones, and the fruit flavors evoke thoughts of sweet stone fruit. This cup started out really smooth, and as I neared the end of the cup, I started to notice a mineral-y sort of taste and texture toward the finish.
With my third cup (infusions 5 & 6), I noticed more of the mineral notes begin to emerge, although I wouldn’t say that this was an overly “mineral-y” cup at all. It was deliciously sweet with notes of fruit and nut. It was less creamy than the second cup, though, and I noticed more astringency with this cup. The flavor was still deliciously toasted.
I was hesitant to actually publish this review since this tea is currently sold out on the T-Oolong Tea website, however, I decided to still offer the review in case my readers might be interested in watching T-Oolong Tea for when this tea might be back in stock … it’s definitely worth checking for because this is a really delightful tea!
Organic Matcha Chai Green Tea from Aftelier Perfumed Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Aftelier Perfumed Teas
Product Description:
Our Organic Matcha Chai Tea is grown under diffused sunlight in Nishio, Japan, where the leaves are then ground into a fine vibrant emerald-green powder. I create our exceptionally delicious green Chai tea by flavoring the naturally creamy and sweet ceremonial-grade organic matcha with Aftelier Chef’s Essences: vanilla absolute from Madagascar, organic cinnamon from Vietnam, organic pimento berry from Jamaica, and organic cardamom from India.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was very excited to try this new Organic Matcha Chai Green Tea from Aftelier Perfumed Teas, because I have really enjoyed the perfumed teas that I’ve tried from Aftelier Perfumed Teas in the past and this was a Matcha Chai! YUM!
One thing that stands out to me about this tea is the ingredient list. This is not your “usual” run of the mill chai spices. There are a couple of “usual suspects” here, like the cinnamon and cardamom, and vanilla is another flavoring that is often used in chai blends these days. But pimento berry (aka allspice)? And no ginger or clove?
Not to say that these changes are bad … they’re just different and it’s my job to spot things like that and point them out.
Another thing that is definitely different with this Matcha Chai from some other Matcha Chai blends that I’ve tasted in the past is that this is a VERY high grade of Matcha. This is apparent in the color of the powder, the bright, vivid jade hue of the liquid, and all that frothy foam on the top of my freshly prepared bowl of Matcha!
It’s also apparent in the flavor. I can taste the quality of the Matcha – it is sweet and slightly vegetative, with a delicious buttery tone. It’s so creamy and smooth.
The spices are on the milder side of “chai” – that is to say that this is not a spicy chai … it is warm with cinnamon, cardamom and allspice, but it isn’t peppery or spicy-hot. It’s a very “autumnal” sort of taste … like spiced cider or something (but without the apples). The vanilla adds a luscious creaminess which enhances the natural creamy quality of the Matcha.
The Matcha isn’t grainy on the palate … it’s very smooth and silky. And even though the product description of this tea states that its
It is normal for a bit of the powder to remain in the bottom of your cup…
the Matcha stays incorporated in the water. There was no sediment when I reached the bottom of the bowl. Of course, if I had let it sit for a while, there may have been a different result. But as it is, it was so delicious that I finished the bowl before I could finish typing the review.
This is REALLY good. If you’re a fan of Matcha … this is one to add to your shopping list. Oh … and it’s a lot of fun receiving a package of tea from Aftelier too! Their packaging makes me feel special. It’s like receiving a beautifully wrapped gift rather than getting an order in the mail. Gorgeous packaging for a superb product … this company really delivers!
Mocha Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Mocha Matcha with its chocolate undertones and grassy essence can turn any ordinary day into a rare trip for their palate. Its fine coffee taste with the promise of sheer enjoyment make Mocha Matcha a favorite treat for all hours of the day and night when a person needs to relax and recline. Its understated hints of chocolate also make it a great choice for special occasions when people are looking for a smooth and even flavor that will be perfectly satisfying for them.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yummy! This Mocha flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea is quite a treat for this former mocha maniac! Every morning before work, my indulgence used to be a cup of tasty chocolate-y, creamy mocha. That is … until I realized that it was the coffee that was making me feel nauseated at around 11 am. Once I cut out the mochas and the coffee … I didn’t get that 11 am icky ill feeling.
But this Mocha Matcha allows me to enjoy the deliciously creamy, chocolate coffee-ish flavor of a Mocha without the side effects that I’d otherwise experience with a cup of Mocha. In addition, I get the health benefits – all the antioxidants and the minerals – of the green tea leaf from the Matcha! That sounds like a win-win for me!
For this batch of flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea, I went with my usual specifications: the classic grade of green Matcha with the distinctive level of flavoring. And it’s just PERFECT! This tastes a lot like something I’d buy at the corner coffee shop, but at a fraction of the price! I prepared it “latte-style” today, using milk instead of water which enhanced the “mocha-esque” qualities of the flavoring. The result is a sweet, creamy, coffee shop treat!
The distinctive level of flavoring here gives a good balance between mocha taste and matcha. I taste the grassy/leafy taste of the Matcha – the notes of vegetation – but it’s not an overwhelming grassy taste. The natural cacao undertones of the Matcha meld beautifully with the chocolate notes of the mocha flavoring. The chocolate notes … well, of course, the chocoholic in me wants MORE chocolate always, but, I like the level of chocolate flavor here. It s chocolate-y but it doesn’t overpower the coffee notes.
This is a sweet, creamy, delicious mocha like beverage. There is just enough bitter taste from the coffee to keep it interesting. The chocolate and coffee notes complement each other very well, and I like the way they entice the best flavors from each other. The matcha tastes smooth, with a lovely creamy texture.
Another HIT from Red Leaf Tea. This is one I’d recommend to someone who – like me – can’t enjoy that morning mocha because of the 11 am discomfort. This has the flavor of the mocha without the pain! Like I said … it’s a win-win!
Strong Earl Grey Tea from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
Using a GBOP grade of black tea for this earl grey, and blending it with extra bergamot essence makes creates an infusion especially well suited for london fogs or for those seeking a strong bergamot flavor in their tea. Much stronger than the classic, malty notes, and a lively cup.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
If you’ve been reading my tea reviews for any length of time, you are probably well aware of my love for Earl Grey. I am WILD about Earl Grey as well as the many variations on this classic favorite, so, when I learned about this Strong Earl Grey Tea from Shanti Tea, you know I had to try it!
And I’m SO happy to be tasting this amazing Earl Grey. I have my favorite Earl Grey teas – and after having recently learned that one of my very favorites is no longer available – I think I may have just found one to replace that one. This is a remarkable Earl Grey tea!
The bergamot is indeed strong – this tea is very appropriately named! It tastes tart with a really delightful citrus tang to it, but, I’m happy to report that it doesn’t taste like perfume. There is a really skillful balance here. It offers a strong bergamot essence without tasting like the perfume-ish elements of bergamot. I taste the citrus here, not so much the flowery taste of the bergamot.
The black tea is rich and slightly malty, and offers a very pleasing backdrop for the bergamot. I think … if I were to change anything at all about this tea, it would be that I would like a slightly richer black tea base to support the bergamot – something more “filling” like perhaps a Fujian black. But, aside from that, I’m finding myself very pleased with what I’m tasting here.
This is a really REALLY good Earl Grey – if you’re a fan of Earl Grey like I am, I highly recommend trying this one.