Product Review: Matcha Cupcake from Whole Foods Market Bakery

MatchacupcakeProduct Information:

Where to Buy:  Whole Foods 

Note:  this cupcake is a specialty of the Bakery inside the Mills Plain Whole Foods Market in Vancouver, Washington.  I don’t know if they offer anything similar to it in other Whole Foods Markets.  

Taster’s Review:

OK, so this is a very local review, because the Matcha cupcake is a specialty of the Mills Plain Whole Foods Market in Vancouver, Washington.  (Sorry about those folks who don’t live close enough to make the jaunt.)  But I felt like this yummy cupcake deserved some praise.

I stopped by the bakery at my local Whole Foods because my oldest daughter and I have developed quite a fondness for Macarons, so I decided to pick up a yummy Macaron for each of us on my most recent visit.  While I was there drooling over the bakery case, I noticed this sign:  Stella’s Matcha Cake.  And I’m like … WHAT?

So I start browsing the case and I see the Matcha cupcakes.  Mmm!  I’m glad that they are cupcakes and not large layer cakes because … well, because I’m the only person in my household that would have been willing to try it.  I mean, the rest of my family might have tried it, but probably not.  I suspect that they would have looked at the green frosting and thought: “That’s weird.”  Which means: “I’m not going to try it.”

And I’m really glad I got the opportunity to try this because it’s totally YUM!  The cake itself doesn’t taste like it’s got Matcha in it, it tastes like a yellow cake.  Moist and flavorful and not too sweet.  It has been “tunneled” so that they could fill the cake with the Matcha frosting that tops the cake.  The Matcha used in this frosting is Townshend’s Tea Matcha, which is one that I haven’t yet had the opportunity to review, but hope to do so sometime soon.

For now, I must be content with trying it in Stella’s Magical Matcha frosting.  No, it’s not actually called that (at least I don’t think it is).  But I am calling it that, because this is amazingly good.  It’s sweet (most frosting is!) but I like that I’m not overwhelmed by the ratio of sugar and shortening.  It doesn’t taste like one of those cloyingly sweet frostings that you’d find in your typical grocery bakery that is more concerned with quantity than quality.  You can tell that some love and care went into this frosting.

I like that I can taste this and taste the Matcha, that the sugary sweetness doesn’t overpower the lovely vegetal notes of the Matcha.  It’s nicely balanced.  I think I can even taste more of the natural cacao notes of the Matcha when used to make a frosting.  I also taste a hint – just a hint! – of a citrus-y note to this frosting, like maybe a drop or two of lemon juice was added?  I don’t know, but it adds a nice contrast to the sweeter flavors.

This is really good!

So, if you happen to be anywhere near Vancouver, Washington, it’s certainly worth the trip to visit our Whole Foods market on Mills Plain and try one of these divine treats!  You’ll be happy you did!

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha from 52Teas

Peanut-Butter-Marshmallow-TreatTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  52Teas

Tea Description:

Well, you asked for it.  Here it is.  Our Peanut Butter Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha.  It’s sweet and savory and delicious, and best of all, it’s a guilt-free treat.  Get yours while you can.  This one is likely to go fast.

Learn more about this blend here.

Taster’s Review:

I am a little bit … leery of peanut butter teas.  I don’t know why it is.  I’ve been pretty open to try just about any other flavor, but peanut butter is one of those flavors that just seems “wrong” to have in a tea.  Then one day, I tried something (taffy … not tea!) and something about that taffy suggested to me that maybe, just maybe, I should give peanut butter flavored tea a try.  I don’t know why this epiphany came to me after eating a piece of taffy.  It doesn’t make sense to me, so if it doesn’t make sense to you … well, it shouldn’t.  It doesn’t make sense to me, it shouldn’t make sense to you.

So, I tried a peanut butter tea.  Well, ok, it was a tisane with a honeybush base.  But, I enjoyed it.  So, I decided that maybe peanut butter teas aren’t so strange after all.  Yeah … they’re still … weird.  Different.  Unusual.  But, it can be said that I’m a little different and unusual (but not weird!) and so, I guess it’s OK for me to be sipping on this Peanut Butter Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha from 52Teas.

I brewed an extra large pot of this tea today, because my youngest daughter has been exploring teas lately (especially green teas) and she has a very keen interest in all things peanut butter.  She’s a little different and unusual too.  Her ideas about this tea:  “It tastes interesting, I like it.”

And, I can say the same thing.  It does taste interesting and I am enjoying it.  I taste the genmaicha base, and it works really well with the “marshmallow treat” aspect of the concept of this tea (as has been noted with 52Teas’ other marshmallow treat teas).  The sweet, toasty rice flavor melds really nicely with the marshmallow.

And the peanut butter comes through in a nice way.  It’s not an overly aggressive, in your face flavor, and it strikes just the right balance for my palate.  I get a little bit of peanut butter, a little bit of marshmallow, a little bit of sweet green tea and a little bit of toasted rice in every sip.

I can’t say that “peanut butter marshmallow treats” are my favorite type of marshmallow treats out there, I wouldn’t turn one down if it were offered.  I mean, YUMMY, right?  Personally, I think I’d rather have a Strawberry Marshmallow Treat, and as I type this, I think … what if you were to eat them both together.  Would you then have a peanut butter and jelly marshmallow treat?  Then again, I’m not a peanut butter and jelly fan.  I might be the only person alive who doesn’t like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  I like peanut butter and marshmallow cream.  I like peanut butter and banana.  I don’t like peanut butter and jelly.

My point is this:  I like this tea.  It isn’t my favorite from 52Teas, but, it’s not my least favorite either.  It’s enjoyable, and I’m happy I tried it.  I think I may be over my irrational fear of peanut butter flavored teas.

Strawberry Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha from 52Teas

Strawberry-Marshmallow-TreatTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  52Teas

Tea Description:

In the meantime, here’s a real treat. I was GOING to make a peanut butter marshmallow treat genmaicha for this week, but that just struck me as too savory and I need something bright and sweet right about now, so here then is our very popular marshmallow treat genmaicha paired up with a kick of sweet strawberry! I will be really surprised if this one doesn’t sell out very quickly, so don’t drag your feet. And let me know what you think about the peanut butter marshmallow treat idea.

Learn more about this blend here.

Taster’s Review:

When I stopped by the 52Teas website to get the information I needed to start this review of their Strawberry Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha, I was shocked to see that this tea hasn’t yet sold out!  How is that possible?

This is absolutely YUMMY!  I can’t remember if I’ve ever actually had a strawberry flavored marshmallow treat.  I seem to recall that marshmallow treats were one of those treats that my step-mother would actually make once in a while, so, it was a treat that I had on occasion and more often than I do now, because I prefer making cupcakes to marshmallow treats.  But I don’t recall ever having a strawberry marshmallow treat.

Whether I have or haven’t, I will say that this tea tastes just like I’d expect a strawberry marshmallow treat to taste.  The strawberry is sweet and a little bit tart.  I taste marshmallow, notes of vanilla, and the toasted rice in the Genmaicha gives it just the right ‘rice’ note.

The green tea tastes sweet and buttery.  It doesn’t have a strong vegetative or grassy taste to it, but I do taste some slight vegetal notes.  Mostly I get that warm, toasty, nutty flavor that I typically would experience from a Genmaicha.

Like I said before, I’m shocked that this tea hasn’t sold out yet!  I highly recommend getting yourself a pouch of it before it does!

Foxy Roxy’s Banana Walnut Treat Black Tea Blend from Butiki Teas

banana walnut keemunTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Butiki Teas

Tea Description:

Foxy Roxy’s Banana Walnut Treat utilizes our Congou Keemun as the base which provides an interesting contrast with the sweet banana flavor. We also added a touch of walnut which melds nicely with base without overpowering the banana flavor. One of our customers, Foxy Roxy, contacted us to suggest a banana Keemun blend. Since we were already working on a banana tea, we decided to test it out and we were quite surprised by the deliciousness of this combination. For a short interview with Foxy Roxy on how this tea came about, please click HERE

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

WOW!  This Foxy Roxy’s Banana Walnut Treat Black Tea Blend from Butiki Teas is fantastic!  It exceeds any expectations I had of the tea … and since it’s a blend from Butiki Teas, my expectations were very high.  This tea is really delicious.

The banana flavor here is probably the best tasting banana flavor in a tea that I’ve yet to try.  It doesn’t taste candy-like … it tastes true to the fruit.  The walnut is also an authentic tasting walnut taste, and it complements the flavors in this cup perfectly.

But my favorite part of this tea is the Keemun itself.  It is rich and smooth and slightly astringent, and provides a very satisfying ‘canvas’ for the flavors of banana and walnut.  There is a certain bake-y kind of flavor to the tea that accentuates these flavors and elevates them.  It tastes like someone liquefied a slice of fresh banana walnut bread and added it to a rich, delicious Keemun tea.

If you are a fan of banana nut bread … this is a tea you really MUST try.  Butiki Teas did this one just right!  It is so yummy!

Mocha Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea

Mocca-MatchaTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green (Matcha)

Where to Buy:  Red Leaf Tea

Tea Description:

Mocha Matcha with its chocolate undertones and grassy essence can turn any ordinary day into a rare trip for their palate. Its fine coffee taste with the promise of sheer enjoyment make Mocha Matcha a favorite treat for all hours of the day and night when a person needs to relax and recline. Its understated hints of chocolate also make it a great choice for special occasions when people are looking for a smooth and even flavor that will be perfectly satisfying for them.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Yummy!  This Mocha flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea is quite a treat for this former mocha maniac!  Every morning before work, my indulgence used to be a cup of tasty chocolate-y, creamy mocha.  That is … until I realized that it was the coffee that was making me feel nauseated at around 11 am.  Once I cut out the mochas and the coffee … I didn’t get that 11 am icky ill feeling.

But this Mocha Matcha allows me to enjoy the deliciously creamy, chocolate coffee-ish flavor of a Mocha without the side effects that I’d otherwise experience with a cup of Mocha.  In addition, I get the health benefits – all the antioxidants and the minerals – of the green tea leaf from the Matcha!  That sounds like a win-win for me!

For this batch of flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea, I went with my usual specifications:  the classic grade of green Matcha with the distinctive level of flavoring.  And it’s just PERFECT!  This tastes a lot like something I’d buy at the corner coffee shop, but at a fraction of the price!  I prepared it “latte-style” today, using milk instead of water which enhanced the “mocha-esque” qualities of the flavoring.  The result is a sweet, creamy, coffee shop treat!

The distinctive level of flavoring here gives a good balance between mocha taste and matcha.  I taste the grassy/leafy taste of the Matcha – the notes of vegetation – but it’s not an overwhelming grassy taste.  The natural cacao undertones of the Matcha meld beautifully with the chocolate notes of the mocha flavoring.  The chocolate notes … well, of course, the chocoholic in me wants MORE chocolate always, but, I like the level of chocolate flavor here.  It s chocolate-y but it doesn’t overpower the coffee notes.

This is a sweet, creamy, delicious mocha like beverage.  There is just enough bitter taste from the coffee to keep it interesting.  The chocolate and coffee notes complement each other very well, and I like the way they entice the best flavors from each other.  The matcha tastes smooth, with a lovely creamy texture.

Another HIT from Red Leaf Tea.  This is one I’d recommend to someone who – like me – can’t enjoy that morning mocha because of the 11 am discomfort.  This has the flavor of the mocha without the pain!  Like I said … it’s a win-win!