Ceremonial Matcha by Teaclub
The Ceremonial Matcha by Teaclub is the one I've drank almost daily before my current daily choice by Cha-Do. So I got another container of it to properly review it and see if I still like it after all this time!
General Info
As the product label says, this is supposed to be ceremonial grade matcha. According to the company, it is made from tea leaves harvested in the year's first harvest around April or May. Interestingly, they say the matcha is sourced "mostly" from Kagoshima on Kyushu. I wonder where the rest is from? My previously reviewed Matcha Kei by TeeGschwendner is also from Kagoshima.
At 37 Euro per 30g, it's more expensive, but this makes sense for ceremonial grade matcha.
Color and Smell
The color has a really nice and full green. I like that it isn't this neon-ish green, but a more mature, deeper green due to more shading and chlorophyll.
The smell is very intense and reminds me of hay. It's earthy, herbal, slightly sweet and I think if you'd make a candle with matcha scent, this would be a perfect fit.
Taste
For me, instead of giving the bitterness and grassiness of freshly mowed lawn like some matchas do, this is more like the aromatic hay you already smell. There's some sweetness first, then the slight umami hits. Reminds me a little bit of marzipan. It's definitely very creamy, a very velvety feel in the mouth while drinking it. I think this one is doing the balance between bitter and umami better than the Matcha Kei bei TeeGschwendner, is much harder to drown out with water:matcha(:milk) ratio and all that at a cheaper price.
Iced, the umami taste really shines, but I also think it has much more of a fresh grass taste than when consumed warm. I think if you like a slight punch when drinking iced matcha, you'll like it. Kinda how some people prefer cold ginger drinks because they perceive them as more refreshing.
Conclusion
I think this is a great choice if you're already used to matcha from cafes or supermarkets and want to treat yourself and dive deeper into the world of matcha. It's a good entry into the more expensive varieties while still not being as expensive as some other ceremonials. I did drink ceremonial matcha that had a more substantial umami flavor to the point of a very nuanced, nutty and almost chocolate-y taste that I liked more and were slightly cheaper, though.
๐ต๐ต๐ต๐ต 4 out of 5 matcha bowls.