Matsu no Midori by Maiko
Here's another one by Maiko! This time, the look differs a bit. :)
General Info
This one comes in a fancy folded paper box with a golden sticker. The paper has a similar texture as how their other paper tins usually feel like and has a beautiful design. The matcha is in a normal tin with no paper this time.
It also contains a little leaflet showing pictures of where the matcha is grown and processed and some other fun facts. Sadly the QR code for Chako's Tea Adventure doesn't work for me :(
The matcha is advertised as having a flowery smell, intense color and a thin consistency and is suitable for usucha.
Color and Smell
It indeed has a great color; very strong, very deep.
The powder itself is extremely fine and smells fresh; reminds me of linen, algae, herbal tea and fall leaves. The tea itself when hot smells very naturally sweet, aromatic and like hay.
Taste
The taste while hot is bitter-grassy, but not too overwhelming or harsh. As it said, it is very thin and liquid, not creamy, but still very soft and smooth, no scratching particles or clumps. Front of the mouth as you pour it in has more of a grassy taste, back of the throat and sides as it travels gives a little bit of a nutty taste. With a splash of milk, you limit the grassiness and make the slight umami taste a bit bolder and make it creamier, if that's what you prefer. I found it a liiiittle bit underwhelming when iced compared to others where the iced preparation really made the flavors pop, but it was still tasty nonetheless.
I noticed it settles quickly on the bottom, but is also easy to blend again with simple swirling without clumping up again.
Conclusion
It's a solid matcha especially suited for people who prefer a bit more bitterness without it being too overwhelming and who love their matcha light and thin. I personally prefer the opposite of that, but if that's your thing, I can recommend it.
๐ต๐ต๐ต๐ต 4 out of 5 matcha bowls.