Red Leaf Tea Matcha Newbie Help!
So I really would love to dive into the matcha world more, I’VE TASTED IT but I’ve never owned or prepared it myself! This Red Leaf Tea group looks like a promising company, but I’m preeettymuch overwhelmed by the choices and too much of a casual tea drinking newbie to figure out what I really want. ;_;
I guess what I’m REALLY asking is what YOU guys buy! What do you suggest? ROYAL, IMPERIAL, RED, WHITE, 50/50? Is ROBUST better than delicate? I’m just not sure! If it were left to me I’d probably just get the basic of everything, but I’m definitely looking for what will give me the best quality taste and would love to hear your experiences!
Thanks so much in advance for any advice! <3
For your first matcha, I’d probably go with the basic grade green matcha. It’s a classic and will really give you a taste for matcha. Unless of course you’re not in love with the flavour of green tea. In that case I’d try the 50/50 matcha. It’s a little less grassy and the green tea flavour isn’t quite as prominent.
As for flavouring, it really depends on which flavour you choose. For the sweet, candy, or dessert-like matchas, I like to go with a higher flavour level, usually robust. I find with these flavours, more is better, since it ends up tasting more like the real thing. For spice based or floral matchas, I’d get the delicate flavouring, since you wouldn’t want those flavours to overpower the whole cup. With fruity flavours I think you’re safe with any level. Delicate will give you a nice matcha flavour with a fruity background, and the higher levels pack more of a juicy punch.
I hope this has been helpful rather than further confusing!
Oh no no not confusing at all, very helpful in fact! I do actually love green tea a lot, gyokuro being one of my favorites, so I think a basic grade green matcha would be perfect. Your notes on the flavoring is really helpful too, going for the robust with the dessert ones sounds sooo delicious! Thank you so much!
I think for a first purchase, it’s a good idea to get a feel for what the “basics” are like, so Starter grade and the Delicate flavor level. I think that’s where most of us started! Of course you can do whatever you want (I personally love the Distinctive level and the black base) but it’s great to have a kind of baseline to compare your experiments with.
As for first flavor… caramel! It’s the highest rated tea on the site for a reason.
AHhh YEAH that is a good point! And the caramel is definitely the one I have been eying; seeing it first on the site is what introduced me to this company in the first place, haha. Thank you!!
I started with robust flavouring and basic grade for my first foray into matcha land. I hadn’t even tried it ever, so it was a bit of a jump. I figured that way if I wasn’t a fan of the matcha taste, the flavour would be stronger :)
As for first flavours I’d suggest the caramel or cheesecake :)
That makes sense! I do know I at least like the taste of matcha already, but it sounds like robust flavoring for the dessert-like teas is the way to go anyway. Cheesecake sounds AMAAAZING! I had been looking at the caramel because it was so highly rated on this site, but wow I really love cheesecake, one of my favorite desserts, so maybe I’ll have to look into that one! Thanks so much!
I started with basic and went with delicate for the Cola one and robust for the cheesecake and caramel. I prefer the robust flavours but would go with “Is there Matcha in There?!” for my next purchase as I don’t appear to like the green matcha itself (I should try a different type sometime) I find that green matcha with milk (I use cow milk but soy, lactose free or almond should work just as well) I also do it the modern way of pouring it in and using mechanical frother :D no whisking for me :D
I’m also not a fan of green tea in general with the exception of Butiki’s lovely pistachio ice cream :D so it’s not Matcha’s fault but my tastebuds :D
You should definitely try the black base—it’s very different from green, and I think if you like black tea you’ll love it!
I should do that but I’m going to try the strongest flavour first and then I’ll go with a black base next time I have cash :D somehow I forgot about the black base :D
i would ask azzrian she knows a WHOLE lot about matcha. she is the most well versed on this subject and has a lot of red leaf in her cupboard. if you read her reviews it may help you make a decision.
In my “unbiased” opinion,you should start with at least 10 different flavors so you have something to compare one to another :-)
Hahaha! Why yes, of course. A grand suggestion! (though really I do hope someday I will have that many different delicious matchas~)
If only I could afford that many… it was hard enough just buying 3 the first time. Luckily 2 cost quite a bit less this time around :D Black Cherry and Pumpkin Pie (had I remembered the black matcha I would’ve done them that way but it will be the strongest flavour setting) review it when it comes :D
Ah….I only wish I could afford this many flavors at once!! What a dream that would be!
Can someone explain to me the different types of matcha? I was under the impression that all matcha is green.
From what I can tell, matcha is tea powder. So green matcha is green tea, white matcha is white tea, black matcha is black tea, etc.
Matcha is usually referring to green tea powder, but not just any green tea. It’s a special high quality tea that has also been shade grown. During the growing process the tea bushes are more and more covered to achieve specific results. It’s time consuming and this is reflected in the price.
White and black matcha are not shade grown, as far as I know. They are more of a modern interpretations.
There is a big movement now trying to prove that white tea powder (called by many White Matcha) is as health beneficial as green tea powder.
Hope that helps. If I’m wrong on any points, please correct me.
I’ve got a question for people who know a little more about matcha than I do. I got a bamboo whisk today. Is it normal for the middle part of the whisk side (the part that looks like a little knot) to come apart during the first use? I’m not sure if this is normal or if I broke my whisk already?
And also – is there a right way to whisk matcha? I tried doing the M shape as best I could but I didn’t get any “froth” or “bubbles” really. Any pointers on what I might be doing wrong? I didn’t notice any difference than when I was using my metal whisk as far as that goes. I did notice that the bamboo whisk sure did mix the match a lot better than my wire whisk did though! I didn’t get any grainey texture or any green goo on the bottom of my cup at all! And I did notice that the matcha itself seemed thicker…
Ummm Im not sure what part you are referring to, Nothing should come apart though.
M, W, whatever works and makes the froth – I find that I do better holding my bowl to the side – I wish I could explain it. I have a hard time doing a W or M but if I whisk from the side it works for me. Uggg hard to explain.
Hmmmm the middle of the whisk (not the outside circle but the part that’s in the middle of the circle) came apart. It still seemed to whisk just fine though? I think??
Maybe I went a little overboard whisking…or maybe the whisk was hitting the bottom of the bowl? Though I was trying not to hit the bottom of the bowl that’s how you’re supposed to do it right? Try not to hit the bottom?
I don’t know what you’re doing wrong, but I know I have trouble getting froth when I add too much water. Now I usually whisk to a froth while it’s thick, then add a bit more water to taste. I found this video that recommends the same: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVdIFZIVMqs
Okay my whisk looks just like the whisk in the video does! It just came in a fancy knot thing…like this:
http://www.redleaftea.com/images/product/Bamboo_whisk13029318144da929669adde.jpg
And the middle came apart and looks exactly like the one in the video you just posted looks! I had no idea I thought I broke it haha! Now I feel kind of silly asking… =)
That happened to me too—no worries. I think they just keep those parts of the bamboo bundled up so they don’t get in the way :)
Aaaaargh, I don’t know what to get. I’m torn between Caramel, English Toffee, Bavarian Cream, and now there’s this new Caramel Popcorn! Advise me!
I think (after I try traditional matcha 1st that is.) that I would try Strawberry 1st. Though I have the feeling that the Cheesecake and Bavarian will tempt me.
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