I wasn’t sure how to prepare this tea at first. It’s matcha, so you should be able to just put it in the hot water and shake/whisk it up, right? Well, no, because there are lumps in it as well. The green lumps (I thought they might just be matcha powder caked together that would come apart in the cup) turned out to be bits of citrus peel coated in matcha, which made me realize that there was less matcha in my cup than I at first thought, so I just went ahead and dumped the rest of the sample in too.
When dry, this tea was green, but once steeped it turned a super-muddy brown. By that I mean that it was not just brown but also opaque even before I added milk. I’m going to assume this was from the chocolate. I could taste a hint of chocolate in the tea, although it was hidden way down under the mint still.
There is some bitterness to this tea, but I think that’s from the mint (because it tasted to me like mint tea that has been steeped a bit too long) rather than from the matcha. So next time I’d be more careful not to steep it quite so long. I was trying to give the citrus peel a chance to wake up, but I don’t think it stood a chance against the mint anyway.
Once I added some sugar and lots of milk, it tasted primarily of mint-chocolate, but still very heavy on the mint. I could hardly taste the matcha itself at all because of the mint, which could be a good thing if you don’t especially like matcha flavor but still want the energy that comes from it. With the addition of milk, the citrus became almost nonexistent– although not totally gone– kind of like a ghost. Sometimes I thought I caught a hint of it but I’m not totally sure and it wasn’t a very substantial hint anyway.
Looking at the ingredients list, I notice that there was black tea in this as well. I didn’t really notice it (as I said, before steeping everything was coated in matcha and afterward everything tasted strongly of mint). Maybe there wasn’t very much of it, because it certainly didn’t have a very strong presence in this tea blend.
So in conclusion, I’d say that if you like strongly minty mint chocolate matcha, this could be great for you. It would also be great as a functional breakfast tea because it has all the refreshing qualities of mint plus the caffeine from the matcha. I’m not sure I’d buy this particular blend but I sure had fun with the sample!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Moongleam Tea Shoppe
Description
The rich, earthy flavor of matcha meets the sweetness of cocoa, mint, and orange peel.
The flavors combine wonderfully to create a wonderful interplay.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Raspberry Matcha from Tea’s Me
Flavored Matcha. Yup! I will try just about any flavor. (As long as it’s vegan and this one is). So when I saw Raspberry Matcha from Tea’s Me I knew I had to spend some time with it.
This not only has green matcha powder it also has natural raspberry flavor and pure cane sugar, too! I will say that I was able to taste the raspberry flavor AND the pure cane sugar right away. And I know this review will be a little backwards but I feel like I need to address the flavor right away this time around.
The pure cane sugar is just that – pure. It didn’t have a fake taste to it. The Raspberry flavors came thru nicely. When the raspberry and the pure cane sugar are put together like they were here they lingered long after the sip. I think the pure cane sugar helped the raspberry flavor along. I think the raspberry flavor toned down the sugary notes. Any more sugar and I’m not sure I would have liked the cup as much as I did…and I DID enjoy it! This is a full flavor FLAVORED Matcha – I will point out. So if you are looking for a berry type flavored matcha I would recommend you try this one. It’s unlike anything I have ever had before.
Based on this winning experience I hope to some day try Tea’s Me’s other two flavored matcha flavors which include Blueberry and the other being Vanilla.
Now…if you will excuse me…I think I will go have another cup of Raspberry Matcha from Tea’s Me…Nom, Nom, Nom…
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha
Where to Buy: Tea’s Me
Description
Natures Super Drink (1573 ORAC antioxidant rating)
Whether you want a boost of energy, refreshing drink or healthy cooking ingredient, Tea’s Me raspberry matcha is here for you. Matcha is one of the healthiest drinks on earth and now boasts an amazing taste. All of our Matcha is sourced from Japan, the birth place of Matcha 500 years ago. Great for cooking, lattes, smoothies and of course tea.
Ingredients – 100% Organic Matcha, Cane Sugar and Raspberry Extract
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Strawberry Lemonade Matcha from Motion Matcha. . .
Today I thought I’d check out a flavored matcha from Motion Matcha. I love flavored matcha but they are hard to find. There are a few companies that make them and do a pretty good job, but I’m always on the hunt for more. I’ve had flavors like banana, Bavarian Cream, peanut butter, to be honest, the most unique and different flavors can make an incredible cup of matcha. So trying a Strawberry Lemonade Matcha fits right in with my matcha routine.
Motion Matcha is a company that offers different flavors like Pomegranate Berry, Orange Vanilla, and they do offer a non flavored version. This is my first matcha to try from them and I’m not going to lie. I’m quite excited!
I prepared this matcha to the recommendations on the back of the package and sat down to enjoy. This matcha has a darker look and feel than the regular matcha. I wasn’t sure if that was due to the flavorings, but it didn’t detour me from enjoying my cuppa.
My first thought was that there was a definite solid lemon flavor with a strawberry finish. The matcha didn’t seem to mingle as well as I would have liked but that could have been how I prepped the cuppa. The flavors of the strawberry and lemon (lemonade) did deliver a unique twist for sure, but I just can’t say I loved it. I have a feeling that if prepped to be a matcha on ice this would be dynamite. Maybe even with a spot of cream added in to create a smoothness. Or even a scoop of ice cream. Definitely a fun matcha to experiment with for sure!
As it sits now, it seems like I have two different drinks. The vegetal matcha taste and then a strawberry lemonade on the side. But again, it could have been how I prepped it. This is one that I would love to order more of just so I can experiment to get that flavor where I like it.
And just for our readers, Motion Matcha is offering an amazing deal! Use TSISTERS at check out and take advantage of a Buy 2 get 1 free offer. The offer is only good through November 28th so act quickly. I’m hoping to place an order in the next month or so to try more of their flavor matcha and get to experimenting!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha
Where to Buy: Matcha Motion (Link to their Store)
Description
- TRY THEM ALL: Don’t know which flavor you are? This is your answer. Contains 1 packet each of Strawberry Lemonade, Pomegranate Berry, Orange Vanilla and Just Matcha
- A SMOOTHER FLAVOR: Matcha can be very “earthy”. Real fruit powder, natural flavor and a touch of sweetness balance this out
- ENJOY MATCHA ANYWHERE: The single-serve packs are small, travel well and can be prepared in a flash
- MORE MATCHA FOR YOU: Two grams of premium Japanese matcha green tea per packet (a bigger serving than the typical 1-1.5 grams of many brands)
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here! (amazon link)
Coconut Matcha from 3 Leaf
I am a fan of Matcha. I love the earthy, green flavor, and I love that it’s also very good for you. This coconut matcha is for people who find the taste of matcha a little too grassy. As soon as I smelled it, I could smell the faint scent of coconut, and I knew this was going to be good.
I tried it first alone, and what I noticed right away is that it frothed up like a latte as I was adding the hot, not boiling water. I don’t have one of those whisks that I’ve seen used when making matcha, so I just stirred with a spoon as I was adding the water, and it was frothy with no clumping. I’ve had clumping issues in the past, and it isn’t pleasant. The smell is so inviting too. Just a subtle coconut-y fragrance to compliment the matcha. The taste is like the best matcha with a rich buttery hint of coconut. It’s like the coconut flavor adds a richness to this tea.
I had this a second way, in the form of a matcha latte. I made my tea, added some coconut milk and gave it a quick whiz in the blender to really make it extra frothy. This was seriously a treat. Creamy, coconut-y goodness.
The coconut flavor is subtle, but it’s there. It cuts a lot of the grassiness of the matcha. This is hands down the best matcha I’ve tried. And the fact that there are no clumps, even when you don’t have a whisk makes it even more amazing!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green/Matcha
Where to Buy: 3 Leaf
Description
Get a taste of the tropics with our all natural coconut flavored matcha. One sip and you’ll see why this is our number one seller. Smooth and creamy with a well balanced coconut taste.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Caramel Popcorn Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
It’s been a while since our last Red Leaf Tea review so I thought why not write about Caramel Popcorn Matcha from Red Leaf Tea!
The color of this is a grey-green but the old sniffer is drawn to the smell of it! It sure DOES smell like Caramel Popcorn with the vegetal matcha by it’s side! I was surprised to learn that the only two ingredients in this was matcha and peanut butter flavoring!
Caramel Popcorn Matcha from Red Leaf Tea is really delicious! It does taste like Caramel Popcorn and matcha! The gently popped likeness was just enough to notice. The caramel (or peanut butter flavor) was top notch! It leaves a slightly sweet and creamy after taste. It isn’t the slightest bit bitter which is nice especially for this flavored matcha!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha (Green Tea)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Description:
Pure Matcha powder from green leaves, Peanut Butter Natural Flavor
Delightfully sweet caramel corn can be given wider appeal by adding the exotic velvety touch of oriental Matcha. The resulting Caramel Popcorn Matcha is a sweet and pleasant tasting snack that can be served and enjoyed by a wide variety of people from all walks of life. For the young children, this sweet tasting and bright colored treat holds obvious attraction for all the right reasons. For working adults, Caramel Popcorn Matcha provides them with the added sugar and energy needed to get through their hassle filled days and nights. For senior citizens it gives them many minutes of pure enjoyment as they sample its sweet depths.
Caramel Popcorn Matcha is an adaptable drink that can be used for any occasion. When it is used for festivities, it combines perfectly with many other snacks likes nuts and pies, among many others. When used as an everyday treat, it makes an excellent mid morning or mid afternoon snack. Caramel Popcorn Matcha is a delectable treat that provides its many takers with something to look forward to especially when times are tough and a little sweetening is required to make life bearable.
Irrespective of the age group, it is impossible to go wrong with Caramel Popcorn Matcha. This is because, with its Matcha twist, its concentrated sweetness is tempered and balanced nicely. Caramel Popcorn Matcha can easily become the treat of choice at many corporate functions instead of partaking of the usual sweet refreshment choices normally on offer. This unforgettable Matcha treat always keeps its date with the unapologetic sweet tooth.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
