Matcha Stick by dmBIO
A dear friend recently gifted me some Matcha sticks by dmBIO! I was so excited to try them. I've never had them before and after all this time tasting so many different matcha (and having long moved on from the things I get in the local supermarket) I was wondering how it would taste to me.
General Info
These organic sticks come in a paper package; you get 10 sticks with 2 grams each (so 20 grams in total), for 5,95 Euro - very affordable. I personally like to use more matcha powder than usually measured out with the bamboo scoop, so this is no problem for me, but if you like to include less powder, this sachet might offer too much matcha at once for you and cannot be resealed - one stick is for one beverage. When I opened it and dumped it out, I was actually surprised how much it was, it covered my entire cup floor. They recommend using 160ml of water for it.
The label is a little ambiguous; I cannot tell at times when they are talking about this product specifically, or explaining to the customer what matcha is in general... so I cannot say whether this one specifically is from the Yabukita variety or not. They say this one is from Japan, no location specified.
This is something I see our supermarkets with their own matcha brands do often; there's seemingly this attempt to explain how very high quality ceremonial matcha is made on the packaging, despite theirs not being made this way and not being a ceremonial. It makes the unknowing consumer think this is how this one is made specifically. A marketing ploy. If called out on it, the company would probably say that it's intended as a general explanation, not acknowledging what the intended effect for the customer is. I actually think the informative text here sounds a bit inaccurate (likely on accident?) because they make it seem like the tea is growing in the shadow all the time, instead of being shaded for a specific amount of growth time that also depends on the intended product quality (higher amount of shading & therefore effort for the producer = more sweetness and umami = higher pricing).
In general, I like when the companies seem to have a good grip on matcha, its origin, how it is made, the grades, the differences between them and more. The more info there is, the better for me - show me on a map where it is made, show me pictures of the producers, tell me what tea cultivar it is, tell me the exact shading period and whether it was first harvest or not. If they don't choose to print or share that, I wonder if they just don't care, or if it's a mix of low quality matcha from multiple sources, resold.
The online website says it is also suitable for smoothies and baking. This gives experienced matcha lovers a hint what grade it is even when they choose to lie a tiny bit ;)
Color and Smell
The color is a light, slightly yellow, muted green. This is how matcha powder looks if it has little shading period and therefore less chlorophyll and/or is older, has oxidized a bit. I think it is probably easy for the matcha to oxidize a bit faster in these sachets, since they clearly have air trapped in them.
It smells a bit like cinnamon to me, but otherwise average, unremarkable matcha scent.
Taste
The taste is rather subtle, a bit of nori algae almost; no overt notes. Not much grass, but not much else either. Low bitterness, though, and you feel it more in your throat than on your tongue. It's surprisingly soft and a bit creamy, usually low priced supermarket ones tend to be a bit coarse for me.
It reminds me of the average matcha you'd have at a cafe or Starbucks. Cheap, but still tasty. Obviously not high-end or super intense flavors. It's intended to be versatile and for a mass audience who is not so used to matcha, so it cannot be too strong in either direction. This makes sense and I think it succeeds in that. It has the mass-marketable aspects of matcha without having too much character that would drive away some people.
I think this one is way more fun and bold when cold. In an iced matcha latte, it tastes walnut-y, has much more of an umami flavor (still little, but some), and feels cheeky.
Conclusion
Good for a warm cup of something to wake up or socialize over, and if you generally crave a matcha somewhere on the go (while traveling, or in the office...) as it is easy to transport and doesn't take up much space or equipment; but I'd say it's nothing for you if you want to specifically enjoy matcha pure for the unique tastes it can have. It's kinda like the difference between getting a random coffee to go from the bakery on the way to have a nice warm drink, and some specifically sourced beans and roast with your own coffee grinder and Aeropress to enjoy at home. This matcha is the former. I can imagine this one well for teens who don't wanna take care of a big, expensive tin of matcha and be paralyzed with choice and how much to use, but just want a pre-portioned stick every now and then they can quickly mix into an iced matcha latte without thinking about ratios or storage.
๐ต๐ต๐ต๐ต๐ต 3 out of 5 matcha bowls. I think it does well for the intended audience and use of the product, as well as its price segment. Matcha fans who are deeply into it might be disappointed though and the company doesn't really market it accurately. I would be tempted to a four if there was more environmentally friendly packaging and more accurate info on the product.