Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Green Papaya powder is made from Raw Wild-Harvested Green Papaya. This is because, important nutrients are contained in this fruit which eventually dissolve as the fruit begins to ripen. In its raw form, green papaya powder includes chymonpapain and papain. These are very crucial in helping the body to work down proteins and also assist the digestive system.
Learn more about this flavored Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a very timely review because we will be hosting a giveaway of this EXACT Matcha in two weeks! That’s right, a full 30g package – all shiny and new! – filled with this Green Papaya flavored Matcha. The specifics for this particular Matcha is: Imperial Quality Matcha with Distinctive Flavoring level. A value of $27.98!
But, let’s get on with the review, shall we?
This tea represents the first flavored Matcha that I ordered with the Imperial quality Matcha specification. I chose it because Green Papaya tends to be a sour fruit flavor, and I thought that the Imperial Matcha would soften the acidic note just enough to make it palatable for me. I tend to have a rather sensitive palate when it comes to sour flavors, but, this combination is really nicely balanced. Tart? For sure. But, not too tart. The tartness hits the palate toward the finish and lingers on the tip and sides of the tongue for quite a while in the aftertaste.
The Matcha powder is noticeably a brighter shade of green than the Classic Matcha grade that I’m used to with these flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea. It also whisks up frothier. I’ve got to tell you, I’m quickly becoming an Imperial Grade convert here … I might just start changing how I order my flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea…
It also tastes sweeter and richer than the Classic Matcha, and the vegetative tones are smoother and more chocolate-y than they are kelp-y or vegetal.
The green papaya flavor is indeed tart … sour even. But as I said before, there is a good balance between tart and sweet with the Imperial Matcha. I don’t know that the Classic Grade of Matcha could have pulled this off with quite as much finesse.
The overall bowl of Matcha is really quite a delight to sip. I admit that when I first ordered this flavor, I doubted my choice after I placed it, but now I am very glad I did. This is excellent! And don’t forget to watch for our giveaway of this product – starting in just a couple of weeks!
Amaretto Matcha (White Base) from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White Matcha
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Amaretto, with its distinct taste can be made truly special by adding a spalsh of exotic oriental Matcha. The resulting Amaretto Matcha has a new fresh flavor that is more heightened and very pleasurable for the adventurous palate. When wanting to make many snacks or desserts to stand out in an assortment of their equals, adding a touch of this exceptional Matcha treat can both surprise and delight it many takers with its sweet sharp taste. With Amaretto Matcha, any culinary delight can be a special experience in new tastes and adventures for the palate.
Although Amaretto Matcha can be restricted to mainly adults, it is very adaptable depending on the quantity and where it is being used. Its hint of almonds and apricots can make it acquire a large following of delighted fans. In any social setting this delectable treat can quickly become the party favorite because of its deeply satisfying taste and flavor. Its mellowing effect makes it the perfect early evening treat when a person just wants to unwind and rewind the successes of their busy day. Amaretto Matcha can be considered the silver lining in any day where a healthy boost of tastiness is required to turn it around.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This matcha flavor is very true to the Amaretto Liquor without the heavy liquor aroma or flavor / burn. I know that may not make a lot of sense. Alcohol has a burn to it, a warmth, and its own aroma as well as flavor. What I am trying to evoke is that with this matcha you get everything you would expect from a true amaretto flavor without the alcohol. I probably should have just said it like that.
Regardless, this is an excellent flavor selection.
Now I got mine in a white base. I prefer green matcha base in all flavors I have tried thus far, and I have tried a lot of them. However it is nice to have a couple of your favorite flavors in white base for when you want a matcha in the evening like I did today.
The white base does not mix as easily. I will say that. It takes a bit more whisk work than green, and does not whisk up as frothy. Other than that, there is no problem with a white matcha base. It just takes a tad bit more effort.
If you are not familiar with Amaretto flavor it is predominantly nutty. Amaretto is made with almonds and apricot, specifically the pits. Interesting isn’t it! I love fresh apricots but care for only a few apricot flavored teas. I love amaretto matcha! Now with that said I personally do not detect much if any of an apricot flavor in amaretto, this or any other amaretto. To me its more of what the blend of almond and apricot creates which is something wonderful unto itself.
I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and if you are from that time era you may recall the oh so often sipped on Amaretto Sour. I used to drink those down like water. That however is another story. The point is this matcha flavor is excellent, in a white base, green base, or for the more adventurous, Red Leaf Tea also offers oolong, and black tea bases as well.
Gingerbread Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
The highly intoxicating taste of gingerbread when mellowed by Matcha produces a treat that is both compelling and delicious. The pungent aroma of Gingerbread Matcha is enough to attract curious and adventurous takers to partake of its wonderful delights. This minty treat is perfect for any audience who want to feel alive and fresh in every sense in their body. It is an exceptional cold weather drink that brings back the pep that the cold has numbed out. It is also great for its cooling effect when the weather is too hot for comfort. Its spicy undertones makes this delectable snack stand in a class of its own.
Learn more about this flavored Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! Gingerbread!
Is there any cookie (baked good? Bread? Cake?) that says Christmas more than gingerbread? To be honest, I didn’t eat gingerbread as a kid. My gramma would bake a huge assortment of different cookies at Christmastime, and she’d even make sugar cookies in the shape of gingerbread men. But she never really made gingerbread – or at least, I don’t recall her doing so.
So I don’t remember ever really eating gingerbread as a kid. I remember eating gingersnaps though, and I loved those! And this Matcha has a gingersnap-pish kind of appeal to it – YUM!
With my first few sips, though, I was not really all that impressed with what I was tasting. It tasted ginger-y, sure, and I could taste cinnamon and maybe a hint of molasses. But I didn’t taste that bake-y, bready, cookie kind of taste that I wanted from something called “gingerbread.” So I thought for a moment, and decided to add a splash of milk to my chawan … this did the trick! The milk brought out all the delightful bake-y flavors that I craved, and desired, from this Gingerbread Matcha.
The flavor is strongly ginger, but it isn’t a super hot or peppery kind of ginger, it is a sweeter ginger. I also taste cinnamon, as I mentioned, and a molasses-y kind of sweetness (if you want to enhance this, try adding a bit of brown sugar to your chawan). And with the milk, this becomes a delightful Gingerbread Matcha Latte that would rival the gingerbread lattes from the local coffee shops. Sure, those are made with coffee and this with green tea, but, this has that same creamy, delicious, gingerbread-y taste that you’d expect from a gingerbread latte. And it’s not as heavily sugared as most of those lattes from the coffee shop … even if you do add a little bit of brown sugar to it!
And even though the flavor of the “gingerbread” is strong here (I opted for the distinctive level of flavoring for this batch of Matcha, along with the classic grade of Matcha), the flavor of the Matcha is not overwhelmed. I taste the vegetative notes here, although they are not as strong in some of the other flavored Matcha that I’ve tried from Red Leaf Tea. So that is to say that the ginger and other spices do play a certain role here in muting out a little of the Matcha flavor, but, certainly not all of it. The vegetative tones are more like butter here than grassy or vegetable, but there are faint vegetal notes as well. The buttery tones meld perfectly with the aforementioned bake-y flavors, giving this gingerbread a rich, buttery undertone.
A really delightful treat!
Red Sunset from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
For those looking for a delicious pick me up during their day, the Red Sunset tea blend is the ideal choice! This rare tea from Europe starts with a premium loose leaf black tea that is bold and loaded with flavor. The sweet taste and floral undertones to this blend are provided by the addition of rose petals, safflower, and natural fruit flavors. The natural sweet flavor combined with a bold taste of black tea makes Red Sunset an excellent choice for the coffee or soda drinker looking for a healthier alternative that still contains caffeine.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea is quite unexpected, in the very best way!
When I first opened the package, I couldn’t help but notice the aroma. This is extraordinarily fragrant! Almost overwhelmingly so … to the point that I found myself a bit worried as I brewed it, because I feared that it would come off as a cup of perfume rather than a cup of tea!
That’s not to say that I dislike the fragrance – it’s actually quite lovely. It is very strongly ROSE but with the fruit essence in there too, it smells not so much like a Rose Congou or other rose teas that I’ve tried … instead, it smells like a fruit salad that has been doused with rose water. It’s really quite a beautiful scent, although it is very strong … almost to the point of being an olfactory nerve assault.
And while I did worry that this would taste a bit too much like perfume, it doesn’t – not at all! The rose flavor is definitely there, but when combined with the luscious flavor of fruit and the black tea, it creates a very pleasing flavor that offers a delicious balance of fruit and flower.
Red Leaf Tea does not elaborate on the fruit flavor that is used in this blend, and because of the strong essence of rose it is difficult to discern exactly what fruit flavor I’m tasting … one minute, it tastes a bit like peach, and then another minute, I could swear I’m tasting a sweet citrus. It sometimes tastes a bit like mango, too. It’s a difficult fruit note to pin-point, but I kind of like the mystery of it, because it allows my palate to explore a lot of different possibilities.
A really tasty surprise, this Red Sunset Tea! I’ve enjoyed it immensely!
Maple Syrup Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
The widely popular maple syrup can be likened to the combined tastes of both honey and caramel. Adding the toning touch of oriental Matcha makes this sweet delight more balanced and delectable. Maple Syrup Matcha can be used in many settings both for normal days and special occasions. On an ordinary day, Maple Syrup Matcha makes the perfect mood enhancer especially on many languid days that can be very dreary. On special occasions, the sweet scent and taste of Maple Syrup Matcha is enough to draw large crowds of enthusiastic followers.
Learn more about this Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
There are few flavors that SCREAM autumn louder to me than Maple. The warm yet sweet flavor of Maple, the leaves from the Maple trees … just everything about maple is just so autumnal.
Maple is one of my very favorite sweet flavors! I didn’t always love maple, or so I thought, when I thought Maple = Pancake Syrup. I didn’t know there was such a thing as REAL maple syrup … and so my only real experience with maple was the flavoring in the pancake syrup that they sell in the grocery store.
After I had my first real experience with REAL maple, I was in love! Sweet without tasting like processed white sugar, maple has an earthy taste to it that really appeals to me. And this Maple Syrup Matcha is a delightful representation of the Maple flavor that I love!
It is sweet and maple-y without tasting too sugary. The flavor of the Matcha – sweet, slightly earthy and vegetative, with hints of chocolate in the background – seems a perfect pairing with the rich, sweet flavor of maple! They just work together so well! The flavor is sweet, slightly vegetative, earthy and very comforting – something that makes you feel all warm and cozy just by sipping it.
For this particular batch of Matcha, I went with the classic grade of Matcha and the Robust flavoring. Usually, I go with the Distinctive level of flavoring, but since my experience with maple flavoring in tea has been sometimes disappointing when it comes to a lack of maple flavor, I went with Robust because I really wanted to taste the Maple. And I TASTE it. I think I would have been safe with the distinctive level here, but, I am loving how strong the maple flavor is with the robust, so I think I’ll stick with it for future orders.
The first time I tried this flavored Matcha, there was a slight artificial-ness to the taste, slightly chemical. It wasn’t a strong flavor and it did not intrude upon my enjoyment of the Matcha, but at the same time, I wasn’t pleased it was there. However, today, as I sip it, I don’t notice the chemical flavor nearly so much! I don’t know why that is! All I do know is that I love it more now than when I first tried it! YUM!