I’m a matcha enthusiast.
I love being able to try out different matcha from different regions and companies to see the unique differences that each one holds.
I was a little surprised that there was no aroma in the dry powder but the liquid holds nice vegetal and umami notes. Those notes also help develop the deep umami notes in the flavor along with some unique vegetal notes. Cut green beans and other fresh vegetal notes.
Deep and soft notes on the tongue mostly but the initial touch is sharp. Somewhat metallic.
Almost ruins the rest of the experience for me but the smoothness of the powder transfers over to a nicely balanced cup with very little silt and some astringency.
This will make an awesome Molotov Matcha.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green/Matcha
Where to Buy: Matcha Project
Description
Produced from the very first harvest of Spring in Japan, our organic Master’s Supreme Ceremonial Matcha is crafted using only the most prized and tender baby tea leaves of Spring.
Our Master Blender has selected tea leaves from two different regions (Shizuoka & Kagoshima) in order to create a flavor profile that is perfectly balanced, smooth, and exceptionally delicious.
These baby tea leaves undergo a strict shading schedule prior to harvest where they are covered by black tarps for three weeks. This blocks nearly all sunlight in order to increase the richness & umami flavor of the matcha, while eliminating any unpleasant bitterness.
The leaves are then harvested, processed, dried, and finally ground into powder using the traditional and extremely time consuming stone grinding method, which has been used for 100s of years.
The result is this truly incredible and enjoyable matcha blend!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Notes on Matcha Super Premium Ceremonial Grade/Sorate
If you really want to test your matcha mettle you should try to drink a single cultivar for a few days and then switch it up to a different one.
I have been drinking okumidori the last few days which is more nori forward or at least I thought it was until I tried this samidori. The marine flavor is not just forward, it is in your face. Bits of nori mixed with umami sea notes. It starts very smooth and ends up a bit silty but the bits aren’t unpleasant.
The overall mouthfeel is very smooth. The matcha coloring is just a very slight shade off of the highest grade I have in my fridge but it still is nice jade green.
The powder is smooth to the touch.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Sorate
Description
Exclusively grown from the rolling hills of Uji, Japan, this Matcha is known for its savory and full taste. The exquisite flavor is a result of the leaves being produced from this rich soil.
Since 17th century, the tradition has been passed down from generation to generation.
Samidori breed.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Matcha from ZenTei . . . . .
In the last wave of summer weather, I brewed up a cup of matcha from ZenTei. It was an easy choice, after my eye caught a glimpse of its beautiful packaging on my tea shelf. This matcha is a hand-ground, organic green tea.
The powdered tea is smooth and green, though a bit muted in color. Matcha is best at its freshest and greenest, and I should note that I’m tasting this sample after a friend, so it’s possible my sample was just a little past its prime.
In the warm weather, I tried this iced, unsweetened and without milk. The matcha is very vegetal, leafy, and grassy. This is a culinary grade matcha, so it’s best when paired with other flavors in baking, or when mixed with juice smoothies, or in a foamy milk latte.
I definitely preferred this tea as an iced latte with vanilla almond milk. The sweet, nutty, frothy milk helped add more dimension to the grassy matcha, and added a touch of much-needed sweetness.
This is a versatile tea. Mix it in your next batch of cookies, prepare it in a traditional whisk and bowl, or shake it up in a milkshake bottle. Just don’t shake up a hot latte or you’ll be dealing with a matcha bomb; cold water matcha-shakes only. Perfect for a high-caffeine, iced latte, pick-me-up on a hot summer morning.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha
Where to Buy: ZenTei
Description:
Culinary-Grade Matcha has a stronger tea flavor than a traditional Ceremonial-Grade and allows the Matcha flavor to shine through even if mixed with other ingredients. Traditionally whisked into a frothy beverage, Matcha can be blended into smoothies, green tea lattes or green tea lemonade. Matcha is also perfect sprinkled over fruit or yogurt, added to salt to create a savory seasoning, mixed into baked goods recipes or added to ice cream.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Yerba Mate Matcha Tea from The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co. . .
I haven’t had too many Yerba Mate Matcha’s to date so I always welcome them when the come along. Recently I sipped on Organic Yerba Mate Matcha Tea from The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co. In short, it was a pleasant sipping experience.
But let’s expand on that a bit. I took 1 flat teaspoon of matcha to a tea bowl and mix with a couple of drops of water to make a smooth paste then whisked more water to fill my matcha cup. I followed the instructions on the company website. Personally – I could taste a strong Yerba Mate first and foremost. So it tasted like a green grass and green pea type taste to me. It was a little bitter but the bitterness was welcome. According to the company website it’s best for mornings which makes sense because Yerba Mate is a natural energy booster. (More on that below) It does have an intense flavor.
Next time I am thinking about adding a slight squeeze of lemon juice to it. Another way I can see myself drinking this is iced. This was a pleasant sipping experience. I look forward to experimenting more with this and sharing it with the other Sororitea Sisters!
Now let’s get to the additional information about Yerba/Yerba Mate and how it works in this Matcha Blend.
The caffeine found in Yerba is said to provide a coffee-like buzz but without the unpleasant jitters or the crash afterwards. It’s a myth that is does not contain caffeine and the stimulating effects come from a compound called Mateine, In actual fact the term Mateine is actually coffee and it said to have derived from the Mate plant. Yerba also contains theophylline and theobromine similar to cacao, which are natural vasodilators and helps relax blood vessels and is used to combat high blood pressure. Yerba is said to have over 90 per cent more antioxidants than green tea, with immune boosting capabilities, it can also slow aging, reduce stress and insomnia. Using Yerba as as Matcha is a fast, and efficient way of squeezing it in to your every day routine, whether you sprinkle it on your cereal, smoothies or soups or use it as an every day drink. Using the whole Mate leaf will put a spring in your step for the whole day!
All of this info is also mentioned on the company website! I found the additional info wonderful! I LOVE learning!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate/Matcha
Where to Buy: The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co.
Description
Yerba does contain caffeine! However, the caffeine in Yerba is said to provide a coffee- like buzz but without the unpleasant jitters or the crash afterwards. It is a myth that is does not contain caffeine and the stimulating effects come from a compound called Mateine, In actual fact the term Mateine is actually coffee and it said to have derived from the Mate plant. It also contains theophylline and theobromine similar to cacao, which are natural vasodilators and helps relax blood vessels and is used to combat high blood pressure. Yerba is said to have over 90 per cent more antioxidants then green tea, with immune boosting capabilities, it can also slow ageing, reduce stress and insomnia. Using Yerba as as Matcha is a fast, and efficient way of squeezing it in to your every day routine, whether you sprinkle it on your cereal, smoothies or soups or use it as an every day drink. Using the whole Mate leaf will put a spring in your step for the whole day!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Focus Vanilla Mint from Sportland Tea Co. . . .
This company has caught my eye before so I was very excited to finally try one of their teas.
This company has blends geared towards athletes. I am an athlete I play volleyball regularly and am very active in general and I love tea so my interest is definitely peaked. This blend is called a Focus Blend since with the caffeine it would help you focus more. This blend is very simple with matcha, yerba mate, peppermint and vanilla. The smell surprisingly light not overly peppermint. It has a nice fresh smell, lightly grassy from the matcha. Once brewed the peppermint smell was definitely stronger but still not overwhelming.
Man this is delicious. I am a sucker for vanilla and mint together and it really works in this blend. I don’t really taste the yerba mate at all which is great for me because sometimes yerba mate can come across a little too herby for me. The matcha is the strongest flavor but it is not bitter at all. I think the vanilla really mellows out the matcha so it is very smooth.
The mint really comes out in the aftertaste. This is a very refreshing blend I like it a lot. Sadly this blend appears to be sold out at the moment but I put in my email because I would love to have some of this on hand. I am checking out some other blends on their website that definitely sound interesting as well, a roasted oolong and rooibos blend with cloves, star anise and orange peel. Yes count me in!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha/Yerba Mate
Where to Buy: Sportland Tea Co.
Description
Sportland Tea Co.’s focus blend is a stimulating mix of matcha green tea and yerba mate.
With mint and vanilla for a smooth and delicious flavor, this blend offers a naturally sweet option to those looking for a boost of caffeine. Get the laser focus you are looking for!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
