14 Tasting Notes

95

Tsubokiri is a lovely sober seasonal matcha that is available in autumn time only. It has the beautiful green aroma, smooth and creamy texture that is known in Marukyu-Koyamaen matchas. What I love is this unique creaminess, it really is unlike other brands definitely. I also find that this brand takes a little more effort to whisk for foam, so usually 20 seconds for me.

For overall taste, I like the matcha flavor, the balanced green perfume, just nice and mellow. No bitterness in the after taste. Delicious floral and sweet. It does not strike at you but it is more easy going and aromatic.

Recommended as a daily matcha, it is very easy to couple with or without sweets. I do not mind to have this matcha several times in the day because of the very fresh aftertaste of delicate floral fragrance and sweetness that lingers in the mouth.

A nice hot cup of this matcha in the cold autumn is wonderful!

- High quality Matcha prepared traditionally thick or thin.
- Full-bodied mellow flavor.
- Elegantly fine powder, bright green.
- Recommend it to those who do not like bitterness or strong green taste.
- Recommended as a daily matcha.
- Balanced flavor with creamy texture.

Quantity of Matcha Powder: 1.5 heaping of tea ladle/chasaku
Quantity of Hot Water: 70ml
Temperature of Hot Water: 80°C
Time of whisking: 20 seconds

Please see my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.fr/2013/11/matcha-review-marukyu-koyamaen-tsubokiri.html

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 0 min, 15 sec

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94
drank Ummon by Ippodo
14 tasting notes

Ummon-no-mukashi is the highest quality matcha by Ippodo.

To appreciate its flavor and aroma to the full, Ippodo recommends to prepare this tea as a thicker koicha.

It tastes best when served with sweets.

- Beautiful matcha, in appearance and quality and color.
- Foams easily and easy to sift.
- Deeply strong green aroma.
- Could be but not recommended as a daily matcha.
- Perfect to have some sweets after to take away the bitterness. (I have a chocolate covered cream and caramel I like to take afterwards.)

Another elegant matcha by Ippodo, it has the characteristics of the great elements you can expect in high quality. Ummon-no-mukashi is intensely richer, has more flavor packed with complexity, and is so much less bitter. There is more caffeine punch, definitely strong this one!

As for me, I love the creaminess and foam, the color, and fragrance. If your tastes goes more towards serious intense green and hints of bitter, then this is highly recommended.

Quantity of Matcha Powder:1.5 heaping of tea ladle/chasaku
Quantity of Hot Water: 60ml
Temperature of Hot Water: 80°C
Time of whisking: 15 seconds

Please see my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.com/2013/10/matcha-review-ummon-no-mukashi-ippodo.html

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 0 min, 15 sec

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70

Kimmo-no-mukashi is the 5th grade matcha from the top by Ippodo.

- Beautiful matcha, in appearance and quality and color. Aromatic.
- Foams easily and easy to sift.
- Green taste and strong. Not much sweet or floral aftertaste. More 1 dimensional.
- Do not recommend as a daily matcha, it is too bitter!
- It is good to try some sweets after to take away the bitterness. (I have a chocolate covered waffle I like to take afterwards.)

The texture is great and smooth but the bitter striking taste that hits every time is unpleasant for me.

I praise this matcha on its excellent quality, the beautiful color and texture, it is a very elegant matcha from Ippodo. On a personal note, I find it too bitter for my liking. Everything else is really perfect. If you can support bitter, then it will pass for you. If not, I would try the higher grades.

Quantity of Matcha Powder:1.5 heaping of tea ladle/chasaku
Quantity of Hot Water: 60ml
Temperature of Hot Water: 80°C
Time of whisking: 15 seconds

Please see my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.fr/2013/10/matcha-review-kimmo-no-mukashi-ippodo.html

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 0 min, 15 sec

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95

- Limited seasonal offer, a perfect way to welcome in the autumn.
- Tsukikage means “moonlight” in Japanese.

Very enjoyable and deeply impressed! It is a very nice bittersweet aftertaste and overall a delicious matcha. However, I would not recommend this for a daily matcha.

The powder has a wonderful strong aroma and the taste lingers for a long time, the smell of the matcha will fill the room for awhile, it smells so nice.

The color is brilliant deep dark green. I opened the matcha bag on a sunny day, the color in the bag really stood out. The powder is fine yet more dense, perhaps it is more moist.

Recommend it to those who do like little bittersweet and strong after taste. And those who enjoy a caffeine kick from their matcha.

Quantity of Matcha Powder:1.5 heaping of tea ladle/chasaku
Quantity of Hot Water: 60ml
Temperature of Hot Water: 80°C
Time of whisking: 15 seconds

Please see my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.com/2013/10/matcha-review-tsukikage-ippodo.html

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 0 min, 15 sec

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85
drank Uji-Shimizu by Ippodo
14 tasting notes

I find that adding water was not delicious as adding milk. With milk I feel it brings out the matcha flavor more. This is contrary to what Ippodo has mentioned on their website. There is not too strong of a matcha flavor, it is pretty mild. I recommend for those who love a sweet matcha au lait. Needs to stir vigorously to dissolve, it is not easy to dissolve with cold liquid.

I adjust the amount of spoons to my drinks, depending on how sweet you like your drinks. 2 or 3 tablespoons is a bit much for me.

Overall, I am impressed with Uji-Shimizu and my matcha au lait was enjoyable, it is not too strong or too sweet so I could say it is very easy to drink and simple to prepare.

Please see my full review and photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.fr/2013/10/matcha-drink-review-uji-shimizu-ippodo.html

Preparation
Iced 0 min, 30 sec

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65
Quality better than average supermarket brands, the Uji matcha is richer in matcha taste and color. However, it lacks sweetness, I add more sweetness to taste. Adding hot water is not delicious and creamy as adding hot milk. I feel it is missing some kick with water. Hot milk brings out the matcha flavor more. Texture is thicker when adding milk. Recommend for those who do not like sweetness.

I would prefer it to have more matcha taste and more sweetness. For me, it is not an instant drink because there is something missing in the balance, I would have to tweak it a little when preparing. When done, it is enjoyable and a relaxing hot drink. Bubbly and delicious. Individually wrapped is easy to carry and it was a good price for 20 sachets.

TOO BITTER!

Please check out my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.fr/2013/08/matcha-drink-review-itohyuemon-uji.html

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 0 min, 30 sec

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70

It can also be used to drink hot or cold, as well as mixed with milk. Me, I enjoyed it most of the time mixed with cold water. Very handy when I prepare in a thermos when going out. Just put a few spoons in the flask, add cold water, close and shake! And there you have it, instant matcha green tea on the go! Very refreshing in the hot days.

Recipe written in the back of package is 20g powder for 180cc water, but it is just too sweet! So I add half the powder.

I would prefer it to have more matcha taste/aroma and less sweetness. For me, I added half of the required powder. I did not enjoy it at first, because it doesn’t really taste of green tea, but after a few glasses it was very addicting.

TOO SWEET!

Please check out my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.fr/2013/08/matcha-drink-review-itohkyuemon-uji.html

Preparation
Iced 0 min, 15 sec

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65

I used it for Matcha au Lait only (matcha with sugar/honey and milk).
Quite small amount, I finished all 20g too quickly.

I would say it tastes of grass, some soapy taste if prepared just with hot water. I have enjoyed it to the end. The powder is not super fine so it does deposit to the bottom quickly.

Just a matcha for everyday mixing with milk or sugar or honey. Nothing special about color or texture or taste.
I believe it was a nice idea to try. I definitely favor this one over the non-BIO Hamasa Shoten Matcha 30g. I prefer Yuki more because of the taste, it was definitely more soft and creamy and less grassy/bitter.
Experience-wise, I was not disappointed, I guess because I didn’t have expectations.
However, at this price point and small quantity and quality, there leaves some room to explore.

Tasty in matcha au lait!

Please check out my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.fr/2013/07/matcha-review-hamasa-shoten-yuki.html

Preparation
160 °F / 71 °C 0 min, 15 sec

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20

I used it for cooking only, tried only one time to drink it for experience and regretted it.

I have not finished the 40g as of yet. I have use it to make desserts, like matcha cake, matcha chiffon cake, matcha pudding, etc.

Nothing special to say about color, smell, texture, and taste.
It is unusually pale. Need something more vibrant.
I bought it to use for cooking. Taste wise in the cake it has matcha flavor.
I believe it didn’t make it to the cut to drink.
The price is affordable.

Preparation
160 °F / 71 °C 0 min, 15 sec

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20
drank Hamasa Shoten by Kioko
14 tasting notes

I used it for Matcha au Lait only (matcha with sugar/honey and milk/sweet condensed milk “lait concentre sucre” these will hide most of the smell).

I would say it tastes of grass, soapy taste, strong and bitter, if prepared just with hot water. The powder is not super fine so it does not mix well, texture of powder and lots of deposits on bottom.

Not so foamy, it is powdery, tastes soapy and smells like grass.

A little grave about color, smell, texture and taste.
One of my least favorites because of the bitterness.
Optional to use for cuisine, but still have doubt.
No repurchase.

Please check out my full review with photos:
http://matchagirlparis.blogspot.fr/2013/07/matcha-review-hamasa-shoten.html

Preparation
160 °F / 71 °C 0 min, 15 sec

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Profile

Bio

I am a matcha enthusiast who loves to discover high quality matchas.

My favorite Japanese tea is Matcha. I prefer ordering directly from Japan. I enjoy various Matcha sweets and drinks. I also enjoy using Matcha in my homemade desserts and baking.

My matcha reviews are posted on my site.

Please come join me in my Matcha adventure!

Location

Paris, FRANCE

Website

http://matchagirlparis.blogsp...

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