Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Lavender Matcha’s delectable taste is unforgettable because of its hint of mysterious origins. This special Matcha is quite enjoyable in many dressings, sauces and favorite deserts. This gives them the added flavor and color to differentiate them from refreshment offerings of similar treats. Lavender Matcha is a rare treat that marks the subtle floral differences in many fine dishes. It is the kitchen’s aromatic friend.
Learn more about this Lavender flavored Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
I love lavender! I love floral teas anyway, but lavender is one of my favorite floral tastes in a tea. So I was excited to try this Lavender Matcha.
For this particular Matcha, I went against my “usual” go-to ordering specifications, and ordered the basic/starter Matcha with a delicate level of flavoring. I do love lavender, but with floral tastes, if the floral note is too strong in the tea, it ends up tasting more like soap or Aunt Hilda’s perfume than it does tea. And I want tea in my chawan … not soap!
Oh wow! It SMELLS so good! When I cut open the pouch and started scooping the matcha into my sifter, the beautiful fragrance of lavender filled my nostrils and the entire room! Wow! Such a wonderful aroma! It is so strong though, that I worried that it might be TOO strong … that the lavender might be too strongly flavored and end up tasting a bit like soap rather than like a delicately flavored Matcha as I intended.
Lavender is typically a flower/scent that is used to help enhance a sense of calm and relaxation, and is often used in night time blends to help encourage a good night’s rest. So I thought that a combination of lavender and Matcha would be interesting (for lack of a better word to use) since I find Matcha to be very invigorating. With the calming quality of lavender, and the stimulating quality of Matcha, does it just sort of even out … offering maybe a state of relaxed invigoration? These are the things that I ponder as I wait for the kettle to heat my water.
And even though I did worry about the level of flavoring, I think that the delicate flavoring is just PERFECT. At least for me, as a lover of lavender, it’s perfect. It tastes strongly of lavender, but, it doesn’t taste soapy. It tastes like lavender and Matcha!
The Matcha seems to take on an entirely different taste with the lavender … it still has it’s vegetative taste, but it somehow tastes fresher … slightly grassy but in a fresh, sweet spring grass kind of way. It tastes sweeter. I usually state a bittersweet kind of flavor from the Matcha, but I don’t taste that here. It just tastes SWEET. Beautifully, deliciously sweet.
And the lavender has a sharpness to it that really seems to perk up the palate in a unique way that I find refreshing. And I do feel that sense of calm from the lavender, but I also feel the invigorating power of the Matcha … it is really nice and quite a beautiful way to enjoy Matcha. I think I might get some ingredients to make ice cream soon and try THIS matcha as an ice cream! I’ll be sure to keep you posted on that!
Hazelnut Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
The well loved flavor of popular hazelnuts when combined with oriental Matcha can make a truly delectable treat for its many takers. Since it is has a very close and cosy relationship with chocolate, Hazelnut Matcha can make a very popular treat for many social gatherings for young children. Its sweet nutty yet chocolate-like taste makes it an easy favorite among the younger generations who love sweetening their lives with equally sweet treats like Hazelnut Matcha. This is the perfect treat for those languid days when life should be infused with pure sweetness.
Learn more about this Hazelnut flavored Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
OH wow! Oh wowie WOW wow!
From the moment I opened the pouch I could smell the hazelnut. I didn’t even have to lift the package to my nose to smell it, it was so strong that the fragrance filled the kitchen as soon as I cut open the pouch! It smelled roasty and deliciously nutty … deliciously, mouthwateringly HAZELNUT! I could feel myself starting to drool as my taste buds started to anticipate the flavors that await me in a frothy bowl of Hazelnut Matcha!
And it is astonishingly good! Much, much better than I expected it to be. It tastes hazelnut-y, of course, and I did expect that, but, I guess I didn’t expect to be as fond of this hazelnut flavored tea as I am. I love hazelnut, sure, it’s one of my favorite nuts, and I’ve been drooling over the thought of Hazelnut Matcha since I noticed this flavor among the many flavors of Matcha on the Red Leaf Tea website. And I figured I’d like it. But I didn’t think I’d love it quite this much.
The hazelnut offers a strong, nutty flavor that is sweet and toasted. Really, all that’s missing is the crunch of the nut and a lightly salted exterior … although I think you probably could remedy the salted part by the teensiest pinch of salt added to the chawan just before whisking. I didn’t do that – didn’t even think about it until I wrote it just now. But next time I have this delicious Matcha, I will definitely try it with a pinch of salt and see how it fairs.
As it is though, using just hot water and about twenty seconds of whisking – this tastes remarkable. It tastes like hazelnuts! But the flavor of the Matcha is not overwhelmed. It is a bit weaker than in previous Matcha flavors that I’ve had – and this was ordered according to the default, go-to settings that I usually order my Matcha: basic/starter grade Matcha and a distinctive level of flavoring. Unlike the other flavored Matcha though, the hazelnut flavor outshines the Matcha (it’s usually my experience that they are pretty evenly matched with the distinctive level of flavoring). But I’m not complaining, because the hazelnut is so delicious here, that I am loving every sip of it. However, if you want a more balanced flavor, you might want to try the delicate level of flavoring for this particular Matcha.
The Matcha is bittersweet and vegetative, but I do notice a bit less of the savory bitterness. The hazelnut cancels out some of the savory notes of the Matcha, but there is just enough in there to offer up some contrast to the bowl. Mostly, though, what I taste is HAZELNUT. It is strong, and it really does meld beautifully with the Matcha. I can even taste a hint of buttery taste to this … just a hint … and it really makes the whole set of notes come together in a really tasty way.
I love this flavor … another winning taste from the Matcha wizard at Red Leaf Tea!
Cookies & Cream Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
A person who has not sampled a Cookies and Cream Matcha delicacy, does not know what they are missing. This is because; this wonderfully creamy delicacy stands a world apart because of its popular appeal irrespective of age or station in life. Cookies and Cream Matcha is a sweet treat that has been tempered by Matcha’s distinct difference and can be enjoyed by the very young because of its creamy resonance and older people because of its Matcha twist. Cookies and Cream Matcha can easily holds its own among the well-loved desert favorites.
Learn more about this Cookies & Cream Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh My Goodness! This is SOOOO good!
I feel like I should start out by stating that I’m not a big fan of cookies & cream. I don’t really like the ice cream flavor, or the candy bar. I LOVE Oreo cookies, especially the double stuff ones. Oh… and they have a fudge covered coconut cream Oreo cookie thing that is just incredible. But usually, I’d prefer my ice cream and Oreo cookies eaten separately, and not have the cookies crumbled up in my white chocolate bar. I just don’t get that flavor. It doesn’t translate into YUM for me.
So I wasn’t too sure about ordering it. But something inside me told me that I HAD to try it. Not sure why. Maybe because even though the idea of cookies & cream ice cream doesn’t sound all that appealing to me, the idea of Oreos in my Matcha is very appealing.
And this is amazing. This really does taste like I might have dipped an Oreo cookie in my matcha … rather than the cookies & cream ice cream that I don’t really care for all that much. All that’s missing is the cookie texture. But the cookie TASTE is there … I can taste the bake-y, cake-y, chocolate-y cookie taste as I sip this, along with the rich, gooey cream of the cookie. This is like liquified Oreo cookie in my Matcha. And it’s really delicious!
The Matcha tastes sweet and vegetal – and I notice that I don’t taste a lot of the “bittersweet” that I sometimes taste with Matcha. The only thing I can come up with is that the cookies & cream flavoring have cancelled out the bitterness – and leaving only a sweet, delectable, decadent taste that is dessert worthy! Seriously, one does not need dessert after indulging in this treat! And … even better still, it’s a low-fat, low-calorie and HEALTHY indulgence! Winning!
I ordered this with my “default go-to” settings: the classic starter/basic Matcha with the distinctive level of flavoring … and this is just perfect. I don’t think I’d want to have more flavor in this, because as it is, there is a delicious balance between the sweet, vegetative taste of Matcha and the sweet, creamy, cookie taste of the flavoring. I think that more flavoring would be … too much. But I don’t think I’d go less either. Distinctive delivers the perfect balance for me.
However, I do think that this would be interesting to try with some of the other options. White tea Matcha base, perhaps, or maybe the black tea Matcha base? I love that Red Leaf Tea offers you all these options, so that you can customize your Matcha experience to be exactly what YOU want … just the way you want it. And there are SO many flavors to choose from, you’re bound to find something that you’ll like … probably more than just one or two!
This is absolutely awesome. You’ve gotta try it!
Bavarian Cream Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
From the castles of 18th century French royalty, comes the delightfully delicious Bavarian cream. This vanilla flavored treat also makes an excellent accompaniment to many other desert favorites like fruits, nuts or even coffee. It is also wonderful with chocolate and many other coatings and fillings for cakes. Its warm and creamy taste refreshes the taste of any great tasting treat making it an easy choice for all family members. The very young energetic ones would love its well known and loved vanilla essence in the mouth while the senior citizens would adore the way it melts in the mouth. It is the palate’s dream come true.
Learn more about this Bavarian Cream Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
Red Leaf Tea has two vanilla flavored Matcha: French Vanilla Matcha and Madagascar Vanilla Matcha. And while looking for a vanilla-y tasting Matcha to include in my line up of Matcha flavors, I found myself debating about which of these to try first. Then, I noticed this Bavarian Cream Matcha! And while it probably isn’t as strongly VANILLA as either of the previously two mentioned flavors, this may be just what I was looking for on the blending front.
You see, these flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea aren’t just great tasting on their own, but, they also open up a whole world of flavor blending possibilities. Sure, Red Leaf Tea does offer a service where they’ll create a custom blend for you, I think it’s fun to experiment on my own, and trying different flavor combinations. For example, recently, I tried blending some of the Watermelon Matcha with the Strawberry Matcha with great success. I blended it at a 2:1 ratio (2 parts watermelon to 1 part strawberry) and this brought out the best of both flavors. The sweet, juicy flavor of the watermelon was perked up, brightened with the delicious tangy note of the strawberry, while the sweetness of the strawberry was not overshadowed. This was a serious bowl of Matcha deliciousness!
But, let’s get back to the flavor at hand: this Bavarian Cream Matcha. Just imagine the possibilities of flavor blending with the creamy, custard-y flavor of Bavarian Cream! I’m already envisioning how it will taste with the Strawberry Matcha, or the Boysenberry… or my yet to be tried Hazelnut Matcha!
On it’s own, this tastes amazing. It is sweet, creamy and custard-like. The fact that it is paired with Matcha adds to the rich and creamy taste and texture of it. It tastes like a dessert! And I found myself thinking, as I marveled over how good it tastes … how on earth could this be healthy? But it IS! Matcha is one of the healthiest teas out there because it’s pure leaf. You aren’t extracting the properties of the leaf via infusion, you’re getting the whole, pure leaf in every sip. You’re consuming the whole leaf and all of its beneficial properties!
For this package of Bavarian Cream Matcha, I went with my go-to “default” settings, which is Basic/Starter Matcha – this classic Matcha is delicious and rich, and while there are higher quality Matcha available from Red Leaf Tea, I find that this Matcha works well with the flavors, offering a pleasing balance between delicious Matcha and flavor. I also selected the “Distinctive Flavoring” as I usually do, because I think that this setting allows me to taste a strong, distinctive flavoring without overpowering the flavor of the Matcha. I get a good balance of both with this choice.
I don’t know that this is necessarily my favorite Matcha flavor from Red Leaf, mostly because I’ve tasted quite a few by now and it seems like I’ve enjoyed every one of them – some more than others – and it’s become too difficult to determine a winner from them all. My favorite thing about this is that with Red Leaf Tea’s Matcha incentive program I have the ability to try them all without going bankrupt!
Cotton Candy Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Cotton Candy Matcha’s sugary flavor makes the perfect sweet snack for any dull day. This is because, this supremely sweet flavor is ideal for those who love all sweet things and relish their uplifting quality. The sheer variety of Cotton Candy Matcha makes it an instant favorite for those who want to sample the sweet delights that can be enjoyed by their palates. This is an excellent flavor for occasions of the young and young at heart who want to enliven their taste buds with something pleasurable.
Learn more about this Cotton Candy Flavored Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
Well, as you all know by now, I’ve been on a Matcha kick! And I’ve also been really enjoying the rewards of it – I’m more energetic and alert as a result! I’ve been drinking at least one bowlful of Matcha every day – you know, kind of like the oat cereal challenge that you see on television, only a bowlful of Matcha instead of a bowlful of oats – and I’ve been more energized throughout the day, able to get more stuff done! I feel less sluggish and more ALIVE!
And really, a big part of the thanks for this is Red Leaf Tea and their Matcha Incentive program. I keep earning rewards for my thoughts on each of the Matcha I try, and this means, more money with which to buy … more Matcha… which when I drink it and write about it, I earn more rewards! It’s WONDERFUL!
This Cotton Candy Matcha was ordered with my “default settings” – I usually order a small sized (30 gram) package – and this is really quite a lot of Matcha! – with the basic/starter Matcha and distinctive flavoring (which costs a little extra, but really so worth the extra expense). You also have the option to order it in a tin or in a mylar pouch, and I always choose the pouch. The pouch is not resealable, but, that’s OK because I have a lot of tins at my disposal. If you do not, though, you really need to think about how you’re going to store the Matcha and it might be worthwhile for you to order it in the tin.
The taste is amazing. It tastes like it should be sold out of one of those little food carts at the carnival! It tastes just like Matcha and Cotton Candy, in one bowl. All that’s missing is the fluffy, cottony texture of the cotton candy, as well as that little bit of sugary crunch … but really, I’m willing to trade that in for the health benefits of Matcha!
The Matcha tastes very much like what I expect from Matcha: vegetative notes, a slight buttery taste beneath that distinct bittersweet Matcha taste, although with the cotton candy flavor the emphasis here is on the sweet, with only hints of bitterness that offer a little bit of contrast. The cotton candy tastes – well, like cotton candy! Sweet – like cooked sugar, with a slight caramel note to it. It has a light fruitiness to it, just like a typical “unflavored” pink cotton candy would have. I think Walter would prefer blue cotton candy (yeah, I’m a Fringe nerd), but, I think he’d still enjoy this.
Really, there’s not a lot more that I can say about this Matcha except for YUM!