Ippodo Tea - Ummon Matcha (40g) - For Usucha and Koicha - Rich & Robust - Kyoto Since 1717

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.

I am not a tea expert nor do I claim to be one. I just bought this because I am just getting into matcha and wanted to have my first cup with a very high quality product. I have not tried to make koicha with this matcha; only usucha. I made my usucha by first heating up my bowl. I poured some hot (never boiling) water into my bowl, swished it around a little bit, then dumped it out. Next, I wiped my bowl down with a paper towel. I then added 2 chashaku worth of matcha to the bowl. I find that I do have to sift it before I put it into the bowl or else you will get undesirable lumps in your tea. After that, I take my chasen and whisk it briskly in a "W" motion, careful not to scrape the bottom of the bowl. I then bring the chasen to the top and try to break up the bubbles.I know that you are suggested to pair a sweet along with your tea, but I find it to be enjoyable alone. It is very grassy and earthy. If you are an avid tea drinker, you will probably not notice the slight bitter flavor, but if you are not, there is the tiniest bit. It is not very noticeable though so don't let that deter you. I did not find it bitter at all. The color is a beautiful deep green and it has a very light scent. Note that it does have caffeine in it and I am feeling "perked up" an hour after I drink this. This does not taste anything like the matcha flavored ice creams, yogurts or cakes that I've had anywhere. I don't know how to explain this, but it just tastes very real to me and not artificial. I can tell that this company put a lot of thought and care into their product.This is a very expensive product considering you're only getting 40 grams, but that is the typical amount sold in Japan. Apparently it takes 1 hour to grind 40 grams! Yikes! I would be glad to pay for this again because it is such a high quality product. Next time, I will try to make koicha with it, which has an intense flavor reserved only for the best type of matchas!