Tag: matcha

No comments

Roasted Matcha and Mochi Muffins from Third Culture Bakery

  By

Continuing my previous review of Third Culture Bakery teas, today we have Roasted Matcha! Isn’t Roasted Matcha just Hojicha Powder? Hojicha is made from roasted Sencha or Bancha. Matcha is made with Tencha, which is specifically grown for Matcha. That said, this is a Roasted Tencha Matcha. I can understand why I haven’t had Roasted Matcha, it isn’t as common and search results confuse it with Hojicha. Matcha Powder and Preparation The smell is closer to cutting hardwood than roast. Roasted Matcha has a warm brown colour showing off the rich roasting job. The first few tries with this tea… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Aozora Matcha from Naoki Matcha

  By

Today’s tea is a Single-origin organic Matcha from the Isagawa region of Shizuoka, Japan – Naoki Matcha’s Aozora Matcha. I’ve had a couple of Naoki Matcha’s Master Collection, the most recent one being Mame Matcha, and they are fantastic. The powder smells fantastic! It is sweet and grassy with a vibrant green hue. It is recommended that this matcha be sifted first and to use 65c / 150F water. I failed both. I used a paste method, adding a little water and whisking till smooth, then slowly topping up with 71c/ 160F water. Aozora Matcha whisked up fantastic and thick,… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Single Origin Mame Matcha from Naoki Matcha

  By

Today’s tea is Naoki’s Single-Origin Mame Matcha. This matcha is from a single tea field in Shizuoka, Japan. I’ve tried a number of Naoki’s Matchas – they have a good range of introductory teas to high-quality. Single-Origin Mame Matcha is from their Masters Collection, so there is a limited supply. Tea and Preparation Method That is very green. It has been a while since I’ve seen matcha this vibrant! Admittedly, the camera auto fakes it brighter but it is still quite vibrant in person. The powder itself is sweet and buttery scented. Mame Matcha needed some sifting, there were a… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Bird & Blend Matcha Review feat. 2022 Matcha Advent Calendar

  By ,

Bird & Blend is a UK boutique flavored tea vendor. Back in 2013, I found out about this company from Steepster and got some teas. Well, they expanded and made even more creative tea flavors, especially in matcha! For years I have wanted to order Bird & Blend, but it is expensive to ship internationally, best for a huge order. I finally caved in to try a bunch of stuff, including their 2022 Bird & Blend Matcha Advent calendar. The 2022 Bird & Blend Matcha Tea Advent Calendar was $64 for 24 x 5g matchas – all different flavors. It… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Paromi Matcha with Turmeric, Ginger & Cinnamon

  By

Lately, the Seattle area has been horrid with all the smoke, which makes tea tasting difficult. It is not too smokey today, so I jumped on serious tea drinking. Today’s tea is Paromi Matcha with turmeric, ginger & cinnamon. The ingredients are simple – organic matcha (from Kyushu, Japan), organic turmeric, organic ginger, and organic cinnamon. I made Paromi Matcha with almond milk – this matcha commands to be in a latte. I used 1 teaspoon (worked out to 3 grams) in around 8oz of milk. The second ingredient is turmeric and the colour of the matcha is not altered… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Uji Hikari Matcha from Tezumi

  By

The matcha for today is a fancy one from Tezumi Tea – Uji Hikari Matcha. Previously, I sampled some of their daily drinker matchas, so let’s drink the fancy stuff today. This hand harvested, single origin matcha is of Uji Hikari cultivar matcha, hence its namesake. Uji Hikari Matcha has a clean grassy fresh scent. Tezumi has the ratios and temperatures clearly outlined on their site for each tea. I used 60ml of 70c water and whisked in 1.5grams of sifted matcha. Tasting of Tezumi’s Uji Hikari Matcha Tastewise, this is an umami bomb of a matcha. Uji Hikari Matcha… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Classic Matcha Bundle – Kanoyama & Umezuki Matcha from Tezumi

  By

I’m trying a new to me tea vendor today – Tezumi! They asked me to try some of their teas and I’m starting with their matchas. Kanoyama and Umezuki Matcha are sold separately but also in the Classic Bundle for a deal. Both are single origin teas and the cheapest out of all their matchas. When I was checking out their website, I ended up buying a matcha chawan. Kanoyama Matcha from Tezumi Kanoyama Matcha is Okumidori matcha from Wazuka, Kyoto The powder is fresh, zesty grass in smell, but once I added it to the heated chawan it has… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Vadham Teas’ Chai Latte Instant Mix – Matcha Lemongrass, Ashwagandha Cinnamon, and Turmeric Ginger

  By

Seattle’s weather has been cold and extra grim, so it is chai time! Today I have Matcha Lemongrass, Ashwagandha Cinnamon, and Turmeric Ginger Chai Instant Lattes from Vadham Tea. Vadham Teas’ Chai Latte mixes have vegan-friendly milk and sweetener and prepackage for easy use. Each box is 120grams, 8 grams x 15 packets of instant chai mix. They all contain instant black tea, so even the Turmeric Ginger has caffeine. To make, mix a packet in 7oz/ 200ml / just under 1 cup of hot water. For today, I used 200F/93c water and mixed it with an electric frother. Matcha… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Ujitawara Special Blend Matcha from Naoki Matcha

  By

Naoki Matcha has a new Masters Collection tea that I’ll be drinking today. Ujitawara Special Blend Matcha is made up of Uji Hikari and Samidori cultivars, stone ground in Kyoto Japan. The matcha powder has a grassy and fruity sweet scent that reminds me of raspberries. Ujitawara has an excellent vibrant green hue. I used 2 grams of matcha powder, usucha style, bamboo whisked in 5oz/150ml low temperature (175F/79c) water. Ujitawara Special Blend Matcha whisks up with a good amount of foam build up. I’ve seen thicker, but this one is pretty good. Tasting of Naoki Matcha’s Ujitawara Special Blend… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Hojicha Powder from 3 Leaf

  By ,

Finally, a vendor that has Hojicha Powder! I’ve tried Hojicha “matcha” a few times at tea industry conventions and enjoyed it. When I heard that 3 Leaf released two Hojicha Matchas – Hojicha and Banana Hojicha Powder, and I immediately purchased so I can my roast on. The instructions on making Hojicha powder is vague, even with a quick google. Overall, it seems a serving is 1 teaspoon and you add “hot” water to taste, around 8oz/ 235ml/1 cup. Hojicha Powder from 3 Leaf 1 tsp clocked in at 2.3 grams (call it 2 grams). I added a little bit… Continue reading, hoot!