If you like the nuance of unique flavors in fine wine or locally roasted coffee, then this is going to be the most exciting article you'll read all year.
That's because earthy, balanced, and complex could all be used to describe your favorite wine...or your favorite matcha taste!
Most importantly, if you get the right type of high quality matcha, you'll get taste profiles that you'll really appreciate.
Everything from vegetal notes to savory umami characteristics, the right drinking matcha is never bitter.
Why you'll really appreciate matcha and its taste profile
Matcha comes from the same plant as traditional green tea. So while it does have many of the flavor characteristics you would associate with your favorite cup of steeped green tea, there's one major difference.
With matcha, you drink the actual tea leaf. It makes the flavor experience 10X more intense - all the flavors supercharge your tastebuds.
Drinking the whole leaf vs steeping (and throwing out the leaves!) means your matcha tea comes loaded with even more superfood health benefits...
You'll get a better energy boost because the whole leaf has more caffeine. And it'll come combined with more naturally occurring L-theanine.
L-theanine makes the caffeine metabolize more slowly.
So it'll help you relax, without being too jittery.
At the same time, it will improve mental focus and make you feel remarkably alert.
Zen monks have trusted matcha for centuries to stay awake and alert during long periods of meditation. So it'll probably work for you, too.
And when you drink a whole leaf tea like matcha, the vegetal flavors really shine from the chlorophyll packed leaves.
Because matcha is shade grown, it has much more chlorophyll packed into the leaves compared to other teas.
Chlorophyll has major health benefits. You can read more about them in our article by clicking here.
Matcha taste is a distinction of quality
Matcha is graded in categories based on quality, like many other products. Just like wine, shade grown coffee, or even the finest chocolate.
The way matcha is grown and harvested, where it is located, and how it is processed all help develop the flavor profile of your matcha drink.
When you want the best, make sure your matcha comes from Japan. It has had a long and storied history since the 12th century in this tea region.
And you'll want to make sure it's ceremonial grade.
Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest quality tea leaves available and it's the only option suitable for drinking if you have an interest in the finest tasting matcha.
Lower quality grades of matcha are better for baking and as an additive in food.
Ceremonial matcha tea should be smooth-never clumpy. It'll have tiny bubbles and no gritty mess at the bottom of the bowl.
The taste is earthy and sweet, with distinct vegetal notes.
Fortunately, bad matcha is easily identifiable.
Too many people have had poor quality matcha and it has turned them off of the superior heath benefits and amazing energizing power of this super drink forever.
The first thing you notice about bad matcha is the taste is very bitter.
In addition, bad matcha lacks the savory and floral characteristics of high quality matcha and tastes unbalanced.
It can be difficult to mix, which results in a drink that's gritty or too clumpy.
Matcha does not dissolve in water, so you do have to mix it vigorously to suspend the tiny matcha particles.
The finer the matcha powder, the smoother the drinking experience. And one of the characteristics of ceremonial matcha is a fine ground powder with a consistent texture.
How to make the best tasting matcha at home
To enjoy the purest matcha taste, simply mix your ceremonial grade matcha tea powder with warm (~80C) water.
Water that's too hot or boiling (like steeped tea) can ruin the delicate taste profile of your matcha.
Of course, you can always have your quality matcha quick and easy, without the hassle of mixing powder...
Grab a can of Moontower Matcha. All you have to do is...open, sip, and enjoy!
Every can of Moontower Matcha contains the same quality of ceremonial grade matcha that we drink ourselves, so you get the the highest quality matcha experience.
Without any of the headaches of choosing powders, mixing, and then cleaning up after your matcha experience.
...........................................................
Photo by Alice Pasqual on Unsplash