Premium Matcha by Teaclub
The second matcha of Teaclub I'm reviewing is their Premium matcha!
General Info
This one had me confused at first about the naming and pricing - why would the premium matcha be more expensive than their ceremonial? But it's of course the weight. You get 30g of their ceremonial matcha for 37 Euros, 100g of their premium matcha for 39 Euros. The shop page says it's from Aichi, Japan, and has been shaded for a few weeks. It's not as extremely fine as ceremonial matchas I've had, but I find it is very easy to whisk without any major clumps remaining; even when I am lazy and only whisk very little, I get a nice, even mix with little or no clumps.
Color and Smell
I think this matcha has my favorite color so far. Purely mixed with water, it reminds me of pine trees without looking too dark or dirty. With milk, it has a really vibrant, almost neon-y green.
I have a bit of a stuffy nose today and it's a little difficult to differentiate the smell of the paper bag and the matcha, so I had to take it out of the packaging to smell. I think it has a very forest-y smell, and surprisingly sweet for a matcha. My fiancΓ©e says it reminds her of something toasted, a baked pastry.
Taste
I think this matcha remains very clear, very watery, without compromising on the taste. If you're not a fan of creamy, velvety matcha and prefer a more liquid and thin feel, this one is suited for you. I know some people don't like to drink matcha pure without milk mixed in, but the creaminess of both matcha and milk might become too overwhelming and heavy too; so I think this matcha helps with that.
Flavor-wise, I think it's great. It's very herbal, reminds me a bit of chamomile mixed with algae. The bitterness is very subtle and instead it has a deeper umami kind of covering it. I don't think there is much, if any, sweetness. If other matchas have been too harshly bitter or grassy for you, this one is more varied and soft.
Conclusion
I think this is a perfect daily or near daily matcha that still has incredible taste and color, especially for the price. It's an affordable one that will last you a long while and still delivers a well-rounded taste. In my view, it would be wasted a bit by baking or weird mixes, so I would limit it to pure or latte use.
π΅π΅π΅π΅π΅ 5 out of 5 matcha bowls.