The first sample I grabbed today was a matcha, but I have no tools for preparing it so I put it back in the bag. I’m glad that my second pick was a gyokuro. I steeped 5 g of leaf in a 120 ml kyusu using 140F water for 2 minutes, followed by several steeps of 20 seconds.
The dry aroma is of spinach, grass, and earth. The first steep has notes of spinach, brussels sprouts, broccoli, umami, grass, herbs, butter, and earth. I get very little sweetness and lots of bitter veggies. The next steep features edamame and umami and is still quite bitter. The final steeps have somewhat sweet grassy notes with other veggies.
I didn’t enjoy this gyokuro as much as the Gyokuro Cha Musume I had a couple days ago. It lacked sweetness and fruitiness and was quite vegetal and bitter. I was happy to try it, but it’s not the type of flavour profile I gravitate toward.
These Advent calendar samples also contain a lot of matcha. It seems dumb to buy a $60 matcha kit to make free tea, especially since I’ve never had matcha before and don’t know if I even like it. I don’t have a milk frother or blender, so those options are out, too. Hmm.
Flavors: Beany, Bitter, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Butter, Earth, Grass, Herbaceous, Spinach, Umami, Vegetal
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For the matcha, you could try using a regular whisk if you have one for cooking/baking. I also like to drink matcha cold shaken with water or oat milk, and you don’t need any special tools for that.
I don’t have a whisk, but I do have jars and water bottles that could work for cold brewing. Do you use the same amount of water you’d use for hot matcha?
I personally use about a teaspoon for 8 ounces of liquid, so quite a bit more diluted than a traditional usucha. Obviously that totally depends on your personal tastes though. Maybe start stronger and you can always add more liquid.
Do you have a cocktail shaker or protein powder mixing cup with the metal ball?
Nope. I have relatively few kitchen gadgets. However, these things would be easy to find if I decide I like matcha and want to keep making it.
I got my cocktail shaker at an estate sale for cheap cheap and the protein powder was one from Vitamin Shoppe with their logo and it was also cheap but has endured like a champ. Ashman uses it several times a week to mix Instant Breakfast but I have used it for matcha lattes. Also, I have a cheap Aerolatte, and someone (maybe matchaoutlet.com or 3leaftea had them for $7.
Thanks! It’s possible that thrift stores might also have cheap cocktail shakers. If I try a couple of these matchas and decide I like them, I’ll explore getting the tools. However, I already have a lot of tea stuff in my small apartment (along with the ever-expanding tea museum) and don’t want to accumulate things I won’t use.
Also, watch me break this resolution and buy an entire matcha set if I decide I enjoy these samples! :D
@Leafhopper if you have a jar with a lid, you can use it as a shaker to mix up the matcha. You don’t need fancy equipment for matcha. I often use a small balloon whisk from the dollar store and a rice bowl.
Yep, my eldest, Superanna, uses a fork!
LuckyMe, this is what I plan to do, at least for now.
Ashmanra, I’m sure some people would consider that to be heresy, but it’s a great use of resources! :)
For the matcha, you could try using a regular whisk if you have one for cooking/baking. I also like to drink matcha cold shaken with water or oat milk, and you don’t need any special tools for that.
I don’t have a whisk, but I do have jars and water bottles that could work for cold brewing. Do you use the same amount of water you’d use for hot matcha?
I personally use about a teaspoon for 8 ounces of liquid, so quite a bit more diluted than a traditional usucha. Obviously that totally depends on your personal tastes though. Maybe start stronger and you can always add more liquid.
Do you have a cocktail shaker or protein powder mixing cup with the metal ball?
Nope. I have relatively few kitchen gadgets. However, these things would be easy to find if I decide I like matcha and want to keep making it.
I got my cocktail shaker at an estate sale for cheap cheap and the protein powder was one from Vitamin Shoppe with their logo and it was also cheap but has endured like a champ. Ashman uses it several times a week to mix Instant Breakfast but I have used it for matcha lattes. Also, I have a cheap Aerolatte, and someone (maybe matchaoutlet.com or 3leaftea had them for $7.
Thanks! It’s possible that thrift stores might also have cheap cocktail shakers. If I try a couple of these matchas and decide I like them, I’ll explore getting the tools. However, I already have a lot of tea stuff in my small apartment (along with the ever-expanding tea museum) and don’t want to accumulate things I won’t use.
Also, watch me break this resolution and buy an entire matcha set if I decide I enjoy these samples! :D
@Leafhopper if you have a jar with a lid, you can use it as a shaker to mix up the matcha. You don’t need fancy equipment for matcha. I often use a small balloon whisk from the dollar store and a rice bowl.
Yep, my eldest, Superanna, uses a fork!
LuckyMe, this is what I plan to do, at least for now.
Ashmanra, I’m sure some people would consider that to be heresy, but it’s a great use of resources! :)