This blend (found here:http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/orange-matcha.html) is one I worry about, which is why it jumped in and out of the cart so many times when the new matchas were first released. I love oranges, but I’m very specific about. If it doesn’t taste like fresh oranges, then why bother? For years, until just recently, in fact, I thought orange candies, like orange Skittles or Runts, were put in because they were cheaper to produce because nobody really liked them. Everybody knows that grape and strawberry are the good flavors, right? Wrong. This is what comes from a skewed worldview, folks. But it works out beautifully, because I love the strawberry and grape flavors of the world, and my wife loves the orange, lime, and lemons. So what that long story was winding up to was that if this matcha tastes more like candy orange and not fresh orange, I will be very, very sad. And then I’ll mix it with the French Vanilla and everything will be just fine. And, of course, cranberry is one I must try mixed with the orange at some point. I also have a history of citrus matcha not turning out as good as I’d like (I’m looking at you, Lemon and Peach), but there is a history of my being afraid of blends and having them turn out amazing (That’s Watermelon and Earl Grey) as well. So I’m just trying to keep an open mind!
I’m sitting here with three little cups of matcha to try (Orange, Apple, and Brandy) and I reached for Orange first. I took a sip, chuckled, and handed it to my wife. She doesn’t like matcha, but she likes this one! I knew she would because that first sip is tasty, tasty orange candy. It’s incredibly tasty (as you might have guessed) but it isn’t really fresh orange or orange juice. It’s orange Runts and juicy orange Skittles. Yum. My wife likes it, so I think this might become a morning treat for her, but for me…well, I don’t know! But if I want oranges in the morning, I’ll likely reach for orange juice proper. I have cotton candy matcha, also from Red Leaf Teas, what other matchas do I need? Still, I keep reaching for it as I sit here writing, so maybe it’ll grow on me. It is very good, and if you’re a fan of orange candy, this is one you must try. Not a touch of bitterness, though!
