Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Steepster Select
Tea Description:
Sencha leaves are expertly mixed with popped brown rice and milled matcha powder. A most comforting and delicious afternoon tea. You won’t find a greener tea anywhere!
Taster’s Review:
During my years as a tea reviewer, I’ve tried several different Genmaicha with Matcha type blends like this Genmai-Matcha Matsujirushi Green Tea from Steepster. It’s essentially a Genmaicha blend that has been dusted with Matcha powder. As the tea brews, the Matcha mixes into the hot tea and it becomes part Genmaicha and part Matcha.
And, it surprises me to say this, but this may just be the best Genmaicha with Matcha blend I’ve yet to try. I’m not sure why that is, perhaps it’s because the Genmaicha here has a base of Sencha leaves rather than Bancha. I don’t know if that’s the reason, but I do know that this tastes exceptionally good!
The flavor is much of what I’d expect from a Genmaicha: roasty-toasty and warm, but with that strong note of freshness from the green tea. The Sencha is light and refreshing with just a hint of bitterness that contrasts with the sweetness of the rice notes as well as the sweetness from the Matcha. It’s absolutely more sweet than bitter, with just hints of bitterness popping up around mid-sip that offer something a little different for the palate to explore.
And of course, it’s the Matcha that makes this different from your ordinary, run-of-the-mill Genmaicha. The Matcha makes the tea a little smoother and richer. It’s a thicker consistency, so the palate enjoys a smooth, velvet-y texture.
This is really a refreshing drink. I drank most of it while it was hot, but since the temperatures are reaching the 90s these days, I decided to let some of it cool so that I could see how it tastes chilled. And it makes a tasty iced beverage too. It’s very invigorating!
Sea Buckthorn Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Sea buckthorn has its origins in the high Eastern hills of India, Russia and China. This hardy plant can also be credited for checking the soil erosion within the mountainous climate it is grown on. It also grows in great abundance and provides a steady source of revenue for its local farmers. Sea buckthorn has been well documented in Eastern folklore as having very many remedial benefits from past times as long ago as the 18th century.
Learn more about this flavored matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
If you’re like me, you’re wondering what a Sea Buckthorn is. Apparently it’s a berry that’s loaded with health benefits. I ordered this Sea Buckthorn Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea out of curiosity, though, not because it was going to be healthy. That’s never my motivation for my tea orders … I drink tea because I like the taste, not because it’s healthy. That it IS healthy – that’s a bonus!
So I went into this experience not knowing what to expect from it. After preparing it traditionally: scooping out the matcha with a chashaku into a fine mesh strainer that I use to sift the matcha, then I sift it directly into the chawan and pour hot water over the matcha while whisking with my chasen. The matcha had very little froth, much less than I usually have with a matcha and what little froth was present dissipated within moments after I finished whisking.
My first sip: hmm, I taste a tart, tangy berry taste and a citrus-y taste that is especially noticeable in the aftertaste. It’s as if a berry, a lemon and a lime have somehow had a lovechild. That’s what I taste from this Sea Buckthorn flavored Matcha. It tastes lemon-lime-ish with a distinctive berry-like note. It’s very bright and flavorful, tart with whispers of sweetness. There is a “slickness” to the texture that melds in a harmonious way with the natural creamy texture of the matcha. There is a tangy astringency toward the tail that I rarely experience with a bowl of matcha.
The “usual” matcha flavors are not real obvious to the palate with this bowl of matcha. I do taste a light buttery taste and I think more than anything, what the matcha does is soften and sweeten the fruit. From what I can learn of this berry, it is quite a tart berry and I think that the sweetness of the matcha is helping to curb some of that tartness because this isn’t an overly tart tasting drink. It is tart … but not as tart as I think it might be if there was more sea buckthorn flavoring.
As it is, I have selected the “distinctive” level of flavoring with the classic grade of Matcha. I think that this was a good choice, because I’m getting a pretty good idea of what sea buckthorn tastes like. A stronger level of flavoring would have likely been too tart for my palate. However, if I were to purchase this in the future, I might choose a delicate level of flavoring because I would like to taste more of the Matcha. The distinctive level is just right to learn more about what this fruit tastes like … but I think that for future use, I’d rather have more matcha flavor and less fruit.
This is a tasty matcha. Not my favorite from Red Leaf Tea, but, they can’t all be my favorite, now can they? But I like it and am happy I had the opportunity to try it.
Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha from DōMatcha
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!
Lucuma Flavored Matcha Green Tea from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Lucuma powder comes from South America and especially the country of Peru. It has been used by the ancient civilizations of South America; in particular it has been a staple for the ancient Incas. The cream colored powder has a luxurious taste that borders on maple and makes it a fine treat for the whole family especially young children who have a love for all things sweet.
To add to the sweet taste of Lucuma, Matcha lends its velvety appeal. The resulting Lucuma Matcha makes an unforgettable beverage that can be taken with meals or in between meals as a delectable treat.
Learn more about this flavored matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
Pic from Wikipedia, click on the pic to go there.
Yum! To my knowledge, I’ve never tasted lucuma fruit or lucuma powder. Prior to ordering this tea from Red Leaf Tea, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a “lucuma.” But now that I’m tasting this Lucuma Flavored Matcha Green Tea … I wish that I knew how to get my hands on some lucuma. This is tasty!
It’s very sweet. As the description above suggests, there are maple-y tones to this. It’s a mellow tasting fruit, at least, it is in Matcha form! Here I taste light, fruity notes with a maple sweet undertone. It is quite pleasant to sip.
I prepared this Matcha traditionally. First, I scooped out the Matcha and sifted it into my chawan. (By the way, Red Leaf Tea flavors their Matcha to order, and they sift each Matcha before they package it up and ship it out to their customers. I sift mine again, mostly out of habit. It’s not a habit I want to slip out of because not all vendors sift their Matcha!) Then I added the hot water (170°F), and whisked until the Matcha was completely incorporated and the surface of the Matcha was covered with a soft froth.
My specifications for this Matcha are my “usual” – a distinctive level of flavoring for the classic grade of green Matcha. The powder is dark green, and the liquid produced when the tea powder is whisked into water is a deep, dark green with a light, seafoam green froth on top. This Matcha frothed up pretty nicely, but the foam disappeared pretty quickly.
The flavor is very smooth and sweet. It’s a very gentle flavor. I think that my specifications were right on target for this particular flavor: I can still taste the sweet, buttery, creamy taste of the Matcha but I can also taste the notes of the unusual maple-sweet fruit. Because the lucuma fruit has such a mild flavor, you might want to bump the flavor level up to “Robust,” but I like this the way it is. I experience a lot of fruity notes dancing on my palate in the aftertaste. It’s really difficult to describe the flavor of the aftertaste in a way that would compare them to other fruits, because this aftertaste simply tastes “fruity.”
What I am also enjoying about this particular Matcha flavor is that I’m not experiencing any of that chemical-y taste that I sometimes notice with other flavored Matcha. Bonus! Overall, this is a very mild tasting Matcha – even the Matcha itself tastes mellower than Matcha usually tastes. This might be a good starter “flavored” Matcha for someone who is new to Matcha.
Butternut Pie Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
The full bodied and bold Butternut pie taste gets its true edge of excitement with the addition of oriental Matcha to turn it into a truly thrilling culinary delight. Nothing comes close to the sensation that creamy Butternut pie Matcha delivers to its many takers. This delectable delight can be wildly popular across any age groups because it distributes different unique benefits depending on who is enjoying it. To the young in age, this bold tasting treat delivers sweet satisfaction and a yearning for more. To the young at heart this cherished treat delivers youthful enjoyment and leaves an unforgettable aftertaste.
Learn more about this flavored matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s Matcha Latte time, and for this afternoon’s Matcha Latte, I decided to go with a flavor that’s perfect for fall: Butternut Pie Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea! Having previously tried Red Leaf Tea’s Pumpkin Pie flavored Matcha and reviewing it, I felt confident that I’d also enjoy this butternut squash variety. After all, butternut squash tastes very much like pumpkin.
And this is really good. In fact, I think that I might like this Butternut Pie Matcha better than the aforementioned Pumpkin Pie Matcha. I get a more clearly defined flavor of the butternut squash here than I recall tasting with the pumpkin pie – although in fairness to that flavored Matcha, it has been a while since I have tasted the Pumpkin Pie Matcha. But, I remember the Pumpkin Pie Matcha to have a bit more spice to it than this does … here, I taste a stronger note of butternut squash and not so much of a spice note.
Some of the more note-worthy flavors I’m tasting with every sip are the sweet notes of squash with hints of a nutty flavor, and a low note of a buttery, pastry-like flavor. I taste the sweet, vegetative note of Matcha and it melds beautifully with the squash notes. The sweetness of the squash seems to enhance the natural cacao notes of the Matcha, and you know I’m loving that!
This particular batch of flavored Matcha was crafted using the classic grade of Matcha from Red Leaf Tea, and a robust level of flavoring. My usual go to specifications are the classic grade of Matcha with a distinctive level of flavoring, however, I received a sampling from a friend who chose the robust level of flavoring, and I’m actually really glad that she did! I like how the butternut notes really shine through.
That said, I am finding that the robust level of flavoring does obscure the flavor of the Matcha just a wee bit. Not enough for me to really complain about because I can still taste the Matcha, and because the flavor of the Butternut Pie is just so tasty that it’s difficult to find fault with this chawan full of Matcha goodness.
As I mentioned above, I did prepare this as a latte, using mostly water to prepare the Matcha in the traditional way: first, I measure and sift the Matcha into my chawan, and then I pour in a small amount of hot water and whisk until the water is incorporated, then I add the rest of the water and whisk until the consistency is smooth. Then I added a small amount of warmed half & half to the chawan and stirred in the half & half with a fork. The Latte came out smooth, rich and creamy, with a nice amount of froth on top. The final ratio of water to half & half ended up being about 3 parts water to 1 part half & half.
This would be tasty prepared traditionally (without the half & half) but, I find that the addition of the dairy helps to bring out a sort of creamy, almost ‘whipped cream’ element to the drink and I really enjoyed that – it made for a delicious autumnal treat!