June 2019 harvest, January 2020 grind

I am inexperienced with matcha. No sieve, no scoop, no bowl. My only tool is a bamboo whisk. It’s like when I started gongfu brewing and was using a mason jar to brew in and a fork to strain the leaves as I poured the tea into another mason jar. I got good results that way. In the same manner, I feel like I’m getting good results with matcha using only the whisk and a glass condiment bowl. Frothy and smooth, silky, always in suspension.

I preferred using water off the boil instead of water temperature as low as 150?F. Off the boil produced a more deeply aromatic cup and more bitterness. The taste seemed earthy, almost like cacao, with a deep and dark grassy umami. The sip was semi-sweet moving to a fast, spreading bitterness on the swallow.

The experience of drinking matcha is a big adjustment to my palate. I couldn’t pick up any nuances in flavor. I still so greatly enjoyed the 25g over only a week that I ordered another 100g. This matcha was really a perfect morning drink. The taste was bracing enough to wake up my senses and it was surprisingly kind on my stomach. I barely noticed the caffeine buzz because it was so dang smooth and long-lasting. That’s what really drew me into consuming the entirety of the bag so quickly.

Flavors: Banana, Cacao, Dark Bittersweet, Earth, Grass, Moss, Umami

Nattie

Impressive creativity! The tools aren’t necessary, they just make things easier. (:

Kawaii433

That sounds so good, derk. I have been looking for more matcha too.

derk

Kawaii433, I ordered 100g which comes as 4-25g packets. If you don’t want to wait for shipping from England (my order last month took I think 2 weeks to arrive), I’d be happy to mail you a packet.

Crowkettle

It’s been a long time since I’ve had matcha; I don’t even have a whisk anymore! I impulsively ordered some of this last week though so find your review timely :)

Kawaii433

Derk, I just saw your message here. Thank you so much. As soon as my post office problem gets resolved. I will order some from What-cha. I just had some with oat milk. It was delicious :D.

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Comments

Nattie

Impressive creativity! The tools aren’t necessary, they just make things easier. (:

Kawaii433

That sounds so good, derk. I have been looking for more matcha too.

derk

Kawaii433, I ordered 100g which comes as 4-25g packets. If you don’t want to wait for shipping from England (my order last month took I think 2 weeks to arrive), I’d be happy to mail you a packet.

Crowkettle

It’s been a long time since I’ve had matcha; I don’t even have a whisk anymore! I impulsively ordered some of this last week though so find your review timely :)

Kawaii433

Derk, I just saw your message here. Thank you so much. As soon as my post office problem gets resolved. I will order some from What-cha. I just had some with oat milk. It was delicious :D.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

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