I’ve had my eye on Simpson & Vail’s Blueberry Matcha Green Tea for a while. Guess what? We finally got our hands on it! YAY! It was well worth the wait, too!
Matcha, Blueberry Flavor, and Cane Sugar are the 3 ingredients in Blueberry Matcha Green Tea from Simpson & Vail. One of the most important things I need to mention in this review is that the use of the cane sugar is perfectly done. Many flavored matchas tend to over do it with the sugar or sweetener. Not Simpson & Vail! They used this cane sugar to accompany NOT overstep and it’s much appreciated!
The Blueberry flavor is nicely done, too! It’s a pleasing medium-strength blueberry flavor. The sugary-sweet blueberry taste is what lingers well after the last sip.
The Matcha base they use is top notch when it comes the the taste quality, too! I can’t wait to try the other flavored matchas S&V offers. Be on the look out for the Vanilla one, specifically!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description
We’ve found these great flavored matcha blends that we’re excited to offer to you! Each blend combines high quality matcha powder with cane sugar and natural flavor to create a delicious taste sensation. Try in your recipes for sweets, lattes, smoothies, iced beverages and more. Available in 1 oz. silver zip-lock bags.
Wildly popular in Japan, the matcha blueberry blend is becoming a favorite choice at tea and coffee shops across the country!
Ingredients: Cane sugar, matcha, natural flavor
Brewing: Add 1 tbsp of Blueberry Matcha to 6-8oz of water or milk and mix using a blender or shaker.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Genmai-Matcha Matsujirushi from Steepster. . . .
Steepster is a website for tea lovers. If you are not on the website and you love tea, I recommend joining immediately because ultimately it is what fueled my love of all things tea and introduced me to the world beyond DAVIDsTEA and Teavana. It is essentially a forum to connect with other tea lovers, write tea reviews, and discuss all things tea. It is through this site that I met wonderful friends, experienced tea swaps, and discovered traveling teaboxes, which is how I came across this tea.
For those who don’t know what a traveling teabox is, it is a box packed full of a variety of teas that is passed from person to person. Everyone can take as much or as little as they like from the box, making sure to replace what they take with samples of their own teas, keeping in mind things like quality, price, age, type, etc. It gives people a chance to try a whole bunch of new things without committing to more than just a sample.
As a Canadian, I am part of the Great Canadian Traveling Tea Box, which is one of the very few that operates outside the United States. It travels around Canada (and occasionally to the states) to the various Steepster members signed up to participate. Now it is my turn with the box and when I saw this inside, I couldn’t help but grab a taste. First of all its a genmaicha, which I love, but it is also a matcha-coated genmaicha, which means some desperately needed caffeine. And on top of all that, it is one of the few tea offerings by Steepster and since I never took advantage of the Steepster teas in the past, I was all the more intrigued.
I brewed it up as per the package instructions, 2 minutes at 185F, and the end result is a light yellowish-green brew that is slightly cloudy from the matcha dusting. It resembles lime juice now that I think about it. It does not taste like lime juice though and thank goodness for that. It is smooth. Very smooth…and goes down easily. It also manages to be light while simultaneously being quite flavorful. There is a great roasted (barley?) flavor from the popped rice and rather than coming off grassy, this has more of a slightly bitter herb quality to it. Yet, though it seems as if it should be savory, there is a sweetness here (thanks to the base) to round out the tea.
Personally, I am really enjoying this tea. It is so simple and yet so complex. It is also very familiar while being new and unique, like an old friend who I only just met.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Steepster
Description
These teas are no longer available but click below to learn more about Steepster
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Gingerberry from Sportland Tea Co. . . . .
I’m a fan of Sportland Tea Co.
I recently tried their Endurance Blend, which is matcha and citrus and I really loved the flavor, and the way it made me feel, so I was very excited to try the Gingerberry tea. The tea is green in it’s dry form, and then after brewing it becomes reddish from the hibiscus.
This blend has matcha, ginger root, Hibiscus, ginseng, lemongrass, lemon balm, cinnamon and orange peel. I usually prefer hibiscus tea iced, and I will definitely be making this over ice next time, but to be honest it’s pretty tasty warm. The hibiscus isn’t overpowering. I can taste the citrus from the lemongrass and orange peel. The cinnamon isn’t really coming through, but I’m sure it’s adding something in the background. This tea is citrus-y and a little floral from the hibiscus with a nice tart tang.
This tea would be a great tea to drink in the summer, or after a really hard workout. Hibiscus is cooling to the body, and also very hydrating.
I also love Sportland tea’s matcha blends because their matcha is very smooth, it doesn’t clump up like a lot of other matcha teas I’ve tried. No one likes to drink a huge clump of matcha!
This is a great tea for when you need a little pick me up, but you don’t want a ton of caffeine. According to their website, this tea increases mental alertness and energy levels, and boosts circulation! And it’s also anti-inflammatory. I definitely feel energized after drinking it, but not in a harsh caffeinated way. I really love these matcha blends, and I can’t wait to try more of their amazing blends!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green/Matcha
Where to Buy: Sportland Tea
Description
Sportland Tea Co.’s performance blend is a unique mix of matcha green tea and herbs. With ginger, hibiscus, and ginseng, this blend is a tart, yet sweet and vibrant option any time of the day.
Drink during a workout, long run, or one of ‘those days’ at the office. Try it over ice for an even more refreshing and hydrating option!
Health Benefits
- High in antioxidants
- Increases energy levels
- Prevents respiratory inflammation
- Settles stomach
- Anti-inflammatory
- Boosts circulation
- Raises mental alertness
Key Ingredients
- Matcha
- Ginger root
- Hibiscus flowers
- Ginseng
- Lemongrass
- Lemon balm
- Cinnamon
- Orange peel
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Maple Matcha from DAVIDsTEA. . . . .
I am a huge fan of matcha. I drink a matcha latte every morning. I take two-three matcha-spoonfulls (.5tsp each) and mix it with a little over a half cup of hot water, using a matcha bamboo whisk. Then I add it to a glass of hot milk and add a tbsp of agave to sweeten it up. Mega yum! Matcha gives me a great energy boost and it also has a lot of health benefits which makes me happy.
Back in the fall I was a huge fan of DAVIDsTEA’s Pumpkin Pie Matcha. It was so good! So, when I saw their new Maple Matcha I knew I had to try it. I was a little put off by the fact that is says “low caffeine”, because matcha is not a low-caffeine beverage. I am going to assume that there must be a lot of sugar and flavor in order for the matcha to be diluted enough to be considered low-caffeine. Nonetheless, I gave it a go, preparing my usual way as I stated above.
The matcha didnt smell very maple-y, to me. Honestly, I couldn’t really detect maple in the scent. Once I turned it into a latte, I started to be able to taste maple. I would liken this to matcha pancakes covered in maple syrup. For me, this is a good thing, but I know some people aren’t into things being overly sweet. This certainly does not need sweetener. The matcha part isn’t very strong so I really can tell it is diluted, which confirmed my earlier suspicions. This would be great for someone who is just starting to get accustomed to matcha and is experimenting with flavors as it isn’t very strong.
In conclusion, if you like sweet matcha lattes that have been lightly touched with maple syrup, you will enjoy this treat! As for me, I will finish my 2oz tin but most likely will not repurchase. I am glad I tried it, though!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha
Where to Buy: DAVIDsTEA
Description
We gave this all-natural matcha the Canadian treatment with a sweet drizzle of maple.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
My Mornings With Matcha Muscle. . . .
Just about every day I make a matcha smoothie to enjoy on my hour long commute from my house to taking my kiddos to school to work. I’ve tried different variations of smoothie recipes. Some turn out pretty amazing and others not so much. I’ve found that having the right matcha really makes all the difference in the world.
The other day I finally stumbled upon the perfect recipe for me:
1 teaspoon of Matcha Muscle
3 tablespoons of yogurt
2 tablespoons of psyllium husk (for additional fiber)
2 tablespoons of CACafe Coconut Green Tea Powder
1/2 can of canned pears
Dash of Cream
Almond Milk
Sprinkled in Cinnamon and Ginger
Blend all ingredients with Ice and pour into your favorite traveling mug.
I am in no way a master at making matcha smoothies but this mix is heavenly! The smoothie is sweet with a hint of spice from the cinnamon and ginger. The Matcha Muscle adds the perfect base, adding in a rich smoothness and a hint of vegetal notes. I love how smooth the matcha is without any sort of bite and the fact there is added pea protein in the mix just makes me even more thrilled with this matcha.
Later in the day, I did try the Matcha Muscle by itself and I was just as impressed. Smooth, creamy, silky, without any sort of after bite. Just delicious.
Over the last few days, I’ve found that I just can’t get enough of this matcha and love how there isn’t that noticeable bitter aftertaste that can sometimes accompany this beverage. Works perfectly in smoothies and by itself. Next on the list is baking with it. I have a feeling I’ll be making some Matcha Shortbread Cookies very son.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Matcha Muscle
Description
Our original herbal blend of all-natural Japanese Matcha and 100% organic pea protein. When mixed with water it has a full bodied, creamy vegetal flavor with a lingering sweet finish. Each serving contains 10 grams of protein and a full dose of Matcha making it a perfect addition to any shake, smoothie, or cold pressed juice. Containing powerful amino acids and caffeine Matcha Muscle provides 3 to 4 hours of sustained energy without the familiar coffee crash.