865 Tasting Notes

100
drank Ginger Matcha by Art of Tea
865 tasting notes

(back logging) This came yesterday! I’ve been eyeing this for AGES (year, maybe more), but I’ve always had flavored matchas from 52teas on hand (and still do honestly), but several days ago I got a surprise in my e-mail inbox. Many months ago (probably close to a year) I inquired to make sure this was indeed just ginger and matcha. I’ve since gotten my question answered via Facebook and actually don’t even remember submitting the e-mail lol. Anyway, they said they had a glitch in their system and just now found my e-mail. As an apology they sent me a 10% off coupon code. Not wanting to waste it, I picked 2oz of this up.

This is my very first organic flavored matcha and my first fair trade matcha of any kind. This is actually the first FT matcha I’ve found.

I noticed that, like other flavored matchas, this isn’t GREEN although it is more vibrant than 52teas’ matchas. The typical grassy aroma wafts to my nose as well as the ginger.

I’ve used ginger water (i.e. dried ginger steeped in hot water) to flavor matcha before so I have some idea of what to look for and expect.

BAM! Yes, an Emeril quote lol. But that was my first reaction. The strong grassyness of the matcha hit me first (always nice in a flavored matcha), but running after it the ginger also hit me hard. I’ve never actually consumed dried ginger before and it has a harsh, almost medicinal quality. I never would have used “peppery” on my own to describe it, but when seeing LiberTEAS describe it as such, I completely agree.

I think I prefer steeping my own ginger then just adding the water to matcha, but this is an absolute must try for any ginger lover.

…The only thing I HATE is they say to steep it for 3 min… Incorrect steeping parameters are my biggest annoyance, but saying to steep matcha for a set period of time (which implies decanting upon the completion of steeping) is just stupid and tea companies should know better.

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100

Backlog from yesterday. The store didn’t have the pink lemonade protein water so I went w/ Strawberry Kiwi. MUCH less sweet and I didn’t need lime juice (good thing since I didn’t add it lol). Tastes like strawberry juice. A definite must try for the strawberry lover. I’m even thinking of making this hot w/ half water half milk and adding cocoa powder as well as matcha… yes, I know. I’m insane.

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100

I was so stressed yesterday… to the point of shaking. Definitely needed a full chawan. A lot of people drink matcha for energy, but there’s something about a full chawan that’s says “Psst… come here… RELAX!”

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100

Matcha OJ waiting for dinner

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100

Probably shouldn’t have had matcha protein water w/ lunch… I’m so full and I still need to take my pills.

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100

Reason number 1246 I love tea… it makes talking about constipation less gross lol. Every once in a while my stomach gets stubborn- that’s what happens when you take 25+ pills a day lol. I saw this on Amazon so I decided to try it. Still really scared though so I decided to really doctor it up (therefor will not rate it yet. I steeped it for 10 min in 3oz water, added 1 tsp of organic peppermint leaf, steeped it for another 5 min, then added 5oz skim milk, 1 tsp cocoa powder, and 1 tsp matcha. Prepared like this it’s delicious… still not sure about plain though…

Cofftea

Um. Effective. Let’s just leave it at that. But not a “Ugh… I feel like I got shot in the stomach” effective. This is actually a really great option if you need a tea like this… especially if you’re like me and sweet cravings hit even when you’re not feeling well.

Lisbet

I have some of this (the non-choco version) for travel-induced tummy problems. I learned the hard way not to take it right before going into a long meeting though! :)

Cofftea

Really? This worked a little bit before bed but not really til I got up this morning even though I drank it in the afternoon.

Lisbet

Faster for me, actually! :)

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100

Matcha OJ… still haven’t eaten…

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

Girl, you are obsessed with this stuff. I may have to get some sometime.

Cofftea

You are just NOW realizing I’m obsessed with matcha? lol

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

Oh no, I knew that. I meant this specific one.

Cofftea

Well, this is the matcha that I have now. I never have more than one unflavored matcha in my posession at a time.

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100

Hungry, but indecisive. Matcha protein water it is. :)

Batrachoid

I get like this often. Especially after grocery shopping. XD
I was wondering if you could recommend any other teas from Urbana? I’m putting together an order and I figured you’d be best to ask.

Cofftea

This is the only tea I’ve ever tried from them. Sorry. I know. Good, right? I just ordered 4 bags. That should last me 2 months.

Batrachoid

It’s okay. =) Everything they sell looks good if not amazing. Do you want me to send you some samples? (Mostly whites and oolongs)

Cofftea

Sure! I love whites and most oolongs- as long as they aren’t roasty. I’m thinking some (or all) of these teas might be Rishi teas- I know Rishi has a Fire Ginseng and a Rose Malange. Their “Rio” herbal sounds weird, but yummy. If only “Unity” didn’t have licorice! I bet Passion Fruit Jasmine would be good iced.

Batrachoid

I wondered about that too but their fire ginseng at least doesn’t have the rooibos that Rishi makes. Though that Absinthe tea is one of kind.

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100

I think have a bladder infection… And I’m hoping matcha protein water w/ lime juice will help.

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100

Mom asked if she could make me some tea. She never offers- even when I’m sick. So I took her up on her offer and had her make me a smoothie. 1 cup fresh pineapple, 2tsp matcha. That’s it. Very simple. And also REALLY good. Lovin’ this combo. It looks like slime, but who cares? lol :)

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Bio

Are you a company or tea blender on sites like Adagio that would you like your tea reviewed? If so, please e-mail me @ [email protected].

What I most enjoy from obtaining samples from companies to review is that it helps me to better learn to drink and review teas from a more objective perspective, meaning more of the “This tea is…” point of view rather than the “I like/don’t like” this tea. I feel objectivism in tea reviews is EXTREMELY important because no two tea drinkers tastes are exactly the same. I’ve also been extremely surprised by several teas. I love recieving a sample I think I will be only writing an objective review on, only to completely fall in love with it upon tasting it.

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Are you interested in redoing or starting your own tea related website or adding Search Engine Optimization? If so, please contact me at my work e-mail address: [email protected]
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Tea tastes:
I will ALWAYS pick loose leaf over tea bags. I only drink bagged tea if that’s my only choice or I find a flavor that I can’t find a loose leaf version for. When I do drink bagged; however, I always weigh my bag and am constantly curious as to the weight/flavor ratio- sometimes I am quite surprised by the flavor punch of light bags.

I have a preference for organic and fair trade teas (preferably both), but would never pass up an amzing tea just because it isn’t organic and/or fair trade.

I love savory teas.

I’m currently searching for a chai flavored soy powder or a soy based chai mix (either already mixed or a recipe).

I hardly EVER sweeten my teas. I feel that sweeteners (unless flavored like tea honeys, brown sugar, ice cream topping syrups, flavored coffee syrups, etc) do not add anything to the flavor profile of tea- in fact, I’ve found that they dumb down the flavors.

I NEVER serve my tea over regular iced cubes- I always make tea cubes.

I LOVE cooking w/ tea and making smoothTEAS.

I LOVE tea blending.

I rarely drink herbal teas unless they are mixed with true teas. My favorite herbals to mix with true teas are: spearmint, peppermint, lemongrass, rose hips, and gingeroot.

I can’t stand anything w/ fennel or anise. Hot black teas (except orange pekoe bagged tea that you get when you go out to eat and chai teas) tend to upset my stomach.

I drink matcha daily and love flavoring it. I’m also in a constant search of preflavored matchas.

I’m constantly searching for information on how to prepare tea authentically according to its country of origin.

My Tasting Notes Ratings (edited 8/8/10)
1: I can’t even stand the raw leaf enough to make this (I’ve never owned a tea w/ this rating, but I’ve smelled some before buying resulting in me NOT buying them that were that bad)

2: I steeped this tea but couldn’t stand the aroma enough to get it past my nose

3: I immediately gagged at the 1st sip and spit it out.

4: I manageed to get the 1st sip down, but I tossed the rest.

5: I drank the 1st cup but I can’t bring myself to resteep

6: Made it thru the entire set of infusions but I can’t bring myself to tinker w/ the parameters and won’t be making it again.

7-10: Does not taste anything like the ingredients or name suggests (i.e. Adagio’s Sour apple)

11-25: I can taste some of the ingredients, but the flavor is severely lacking

25-49: Teas that I would not consider bad in their flavor profile, but certainly below average

50: Average.

51-69: Teas above averge, but I wouldn’t go as far as calling them “good”.

70-75: Very good, but still room for improvement

76-85: Above average flavor profile

86-90: REALLY good flavors

91-99: Almost PERFECTLY achieves the goal of the ingredients and name of the tea.

100: Abosolutely perfect teas!

Other Interests: GOD! and all things pertaining to Him and His children, my dog Madison, travelling, and coffee.

Favorite Music: ANYTHING Christian. I don’t normally listen to secular music, but I do love jazz and swing.

Favorite Movies: Romantic comedies mostly. My Sister’s Keeper, P.S. I Love You, Fireproof, National Treasure Trilogy (I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE 3rd ONE TO COME OUT!), Night at the Museum 1 & 2, Sister Act 1 & 2, Yes Man, Bruce & Evan Almighty, rarely watch animated movies but LOVE anything 3D.

Favorite Books: THE BIBLE!!! & My Sister’s Keeper

Favorite Quotes: “A sad soul can kill you far quicker than a germ”- John Stienbeck "

Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing”- Aristotle

“You should always carry burdens, but they should never be your own”- me

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill

“Mom was right, ‘because I say so’ is enough- at least when it comes to God.”- me

Favorite Foods: fried calamari, lemon chicken, anything w/ buffalo sauce.

Favorite Places: WA state, Switzerland, Orlando

Places I Want to Visit: Hawaii, Africa

Anything Else: I was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida which is the failure of the spinal column to close en utero. Because of this I am a parapelegic and use a manual wheelchair.

Location

Oshkosh, WI

Website

http://www.adagio.com/signatu...

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