Ippodo Tea - Ummon Matcha (0.7oz) - For Usucha and Koicha - Rich & Robust - Kyoto Since 1717

I got addicted to matcha lattes with oatmilk at a couple of coffee shops. It wasn't always convenient to go out so I decided to give it a try at home. After reading reviews I purchased this brand. The container was smaller than I expected but you don't need a lot of matcha powder to make a delicious drink. I'm actually still on my first tin.You should invest in some basic equipment to do this right. A small scoop so you're consistent in the amount of matcha you use per cup. A small strainer to get the matcha into a fine powder before mixing with a small amount of warm-hot water (not boiling). A matcha wisk is essential - so is cleaning (rinsing) it thoroughly right away. You need this special wisk to thoroughly and quickly dissolve the powder and get a nice foam on top. I decided to also invest in a matcha mixing bowl. It should be a open curved bowl with a small spout, clear glass so you can tell if you've thoroughly combined the matcha powder with the water. My bowl is large enough that I use it as my drinking cup. I like it with oatmilk so I can't comment on drinking the plain tea. No sweetener is needed if you've used enough powder for your drink. Experiment until you get the strength you like.I no longer enjoy the matcha lattes made in coffee shops. They use inferior pre-mixed matcha. The flavor is disappointing.Making it from scratch is quick, easy, delicious and calming. Easy cleanup with soap and water. My wisk dries on its little stand so it keeps it's perfect shape. I bought all my accessories on Amazon except the small tray I use to keep all my matcha equipment together and organized. I gives me joy to see that tray every day even when I'm not using it.I feel like I hit the jackpot in finding this matcha first. It's so delicious that I never felt the need to compare brands. I've had the match tin for about a year and it's the same quality and flavor as the first time I opened it. The matcha is in a little foil bag inside the tin. I always fold the top of the bag before closing the tin.

I’ve been recently trying different Matcha powders to see which one is right for me cost and quality wise, so I decided to do a little taste test, and this is my opinion on the 8 that I tested. Note that all are Ceremonial Grade except for Jade Leaf (Culinary Grade) which I’ve been using for cooking and smoothies but included it for comparing color. Cost:Kyoto Dew: $.83/gramIppodo: $1.37/gram (BEST)Matchabar: $.99/gramPure Chimp: $.29/gram (WORST)Kenko: $.33/gramEncha: $.65/gramAkira: $.83/gramJade Leaf (Culinary Grade): $.19/gramTop 4:1) Ippodo: Hands down the best Matcha I’ve ever tasted, but very pricey to use daily. Sweet, earthy, Intense and complex with an unmatched bright rich green color. This is a special occasion or limited use Matcha for me because of the price.2a) Akira: The taste is remarkably close to Ippodo but not as complex and has a slight bitterness at the beginning. Sweet, earthy, floral, fresh and complex with a bright rich green color.2b) Kyoto Dew: A particularly good Matcha that gives a strong herbal and sweet flavor with a subtle bitterness. Sweet, herbal, smooth and slightly complex with an incredible dark (Chlorophyll Dense) rich green color which I love.3) Encha: A particularly good Matcha but lacks the high complexity of Ippodo and Akira. Mild bittersweet, earthy, nutty, smooth and slightly complex with a bright rich green color.Bottom 3: I didn’t include (Jade Leaf) because it’s Culinary Grade.7) Pure Chimp: The worst Ceremonial Grade Matcha I’ve tasted. If this is in fact a true Ceremonial Grade Matcha, then it’s not a premium grade. The color, texture, aroma and flavor are on par with Culinary/ Cooking Grade with maybe a slight edge to Pure Chimp in color (see pic) and taste. The price also reflects this. It was by far the cheapest Ceremonial Grade I tested ($.29/gram) and it showed. I see no reason for someone to purchase this product.6) Matchbar: A decent Matcha, but for the price there are plenty of better options out there (Akira, Encha, Kyoto, Kenko) are all cheaper and better.5) Kenko: A decent Matcha, but it was very lite with some bitterness that lingered too long. Slightly sweet, grassy, mild bitterness and soft flavor with rich green color. This would be a good start for someone that has never tried Matcha or for someone looking for a softer flavor.