Matcha Unkaku by Marukyu Koyamaen
This is the Unkaku by Marukyu Koyamaen!
General Info
According to them, this is one of their most popular principal matchas! It's described as having "full-bodied flavors, boasting grassy notes, sans noticeable bitter or tart undertones". Unkaku, which means โcrane in the clouds,โ received this name from Yamazaki Daikou, the former head priest of Shokoku-ji Temple in Kyoto. It's a reference to the phrase '้ฒใฎไธญใ้ฃใถ้ถด' ('A crane flying through the clouds') from Bai Juyi's poetry.
Pricing and availability are a bit difficult and volatile at the moment... I ordered this one from Chanomiya a while ago.
Color and Smell
The color is again pretty amazing! Look at the vibrant green.
The smell is pretty interesting... kinda like a grassy banana? It really hits a note like the artificial banana taste/scent. Not bothersome, just notable, because no other matcha I ever tried had such a smell.
Taste
It's really nicely thick, heavy, creamy and soft. The taste is nutty-oily; not like deep fried fries dripping with oil, but a well-balanced, tasty, aromatic taste, like when olive oil elevates a meal.
When I enjoyed it cold/iced, it really brought out the nutty taste even more: Strong notes of pecan and walnut. It felt really luxurious and nice :)
Conclusion
Not much to say - I can see why it's a favorite! Solid recommendation if you like nuttier, heavier and thicker matcha.
๐ต๐ต๐ต๐ต๐ต 5 out of 5 matcha bowls.