LiberTEAS

Sounds so yummy! Matcha intimidates me, but I’m trying to give it more chances.

What is it that intimidates you about Matcha? Is it the flavor of it or is it something else? If it’s the flavor that intimidates you, I suggest a good starting point would be a mix such as this one or the Pirate’s Chai because they are a latte mix so they have other ingredients in there so that you’re not overwhelmed by the Matcha flavor. I know that the first time I tried Matcha – I was really unsure of it too, because the flavor is so strong. Now, I just love it… but I do understand that it can be a bit of an acquired taste for some (it was for me).

It’s more the preparation that intimidates me. You have to whisk the tea and get the lumps out, and then drink it right away. It’s a tea you have to be more mindful of, I guess, and I’m always rushing around and forgetful, so it doesn’t work well with my lifestyle.

I got the ‘caramel’ and ‘strawberry’ matcha latte mixes from Lupicia last month, and keep meaning to experiment with them to get over my matcha issues, but I always seem to grab something else from the tea cupboard instead :-p

BOOOOIIIIINNNNGGGG That’s the noise my eyes make when I see “chocolate” and “matcha” in the same product name. MUST. GET.

Suzi, matcha should be anything but intimidating:) It is both an art form and a science to find the matcha/water ratio you like best, but once you do it’s quite simple. Just measure, whisk, and drink. (A good quality matcha should not clump, even when you don’t sift). I will agree that matcha separates from the water rather quickly, but I don’t like chugging my matcha (defeats the comforting and relaxing purpose of matcha IMO) and I like making a half of a chawan most of the time (8oz)… my solution? I just bring my chasen w/ me, sit down w/ my chawan, and drink to my leisure. If I find that it’s separating, I just give it another quick whisk:) I also find a tea that requires steeping and decantation requires more mindfulness than matcha… at least for me since I’m so type A about steeping parameters lol:) measuring water, heating it to an exact temperature, measuring the tea, timing it, waiting for it to steep, then decanting. I find measuring matcha take less time than measuring loose tea cuz I need my scale and the water for matcha isn’t nearly as picky- just heat it to the temperature you’re comfortable drinking. Just a different perspective I guess.

I just got what may be the best matcha idea ever… blend this w/ Lupicia’s strawberry matcha au lait and either Lupicia’s vanilla matcha au lait or Domo’s vanilla matcha for a neopolitan matcha! Yummy!=D

At the same time I ordered this one, I also ordered Domo’s Vanilla. I didn’t order the ginger one, since I already had Art of Tea’s ginger matcha… plus, since these are latte mixes, I knew that their shelf life would be even more limited, so I didn’t want to go TOO overboard.

Hmm, this sounds…. amazing? Hmm, the price isn’t bad either… Now if only it were on Steepster select ;)

Suzi, what happens if you just put the latte mixes in water? Dairy+matcha is a personal icky for me lol but the flavors sound yummy. Chocolate+vanilla+caramel?

Cofftea – They taste just fine with water. The Strawberry one has ‘dried milk powder’ in it anyway, so it’s still a little creamy. I can’t remember if the caramel one has milk powder too.

Yeah I was worried it’d have milk powder in it instead of just being a flavored matcha.

This is also a matcha latte mix… and it does contain skimmed milk powder too. But, that’s OK… I happen to like milk with Matcha!

Yeah and I think I could convince myself the milk hides in the chocolate to fool myself lol.