Hachi

This is the best matcha available at Just Matcha. This little store just opened in downtown Victoria, BC.

Platinum was expensive, at $1.50 per gram ($60 per 40g tin). It was definitely the best straight matcha I’ve ever had, however there was still a touch of bitterness in the after taste. In comparison to the gold grade matcha, the platinum is creamier/thicker, and less bitter. The main tasting note is the green soy bean/edamame flavour. Touches of vegetal and seaweed notes in both the taste and the smell of the brew. No grassy notes. Less drying than the gold and also much smoother.

I went to a new matcha shop last week to try some high level matcha and this was one of two I tried.

As it turns out, there is a huge difference between matcha gold ($1.13 per gram) and matcha platinum ($1.50 per gram). I’m glad I tried both. I am also glad I didn’t try the bronze and silver.

The matcha gold was surprisingly bitter (less so than cheap culinary grade matcha, but definitely not what I hoped for). I was under the impression that high quality matcha was not bitter. As someone quite sensitive to bitterness, I can say this may not be as bitter to other people as another person in my group had the gold one and she loves a bit of bitterness/astringency in her tea.

Lots of umami, very strong resemblance to edamame/soybean. It is a very dark/rich green with vegetal and seaweed smell to the prepared brew. No grassy flavour. The mouthfeel was interesting. The tea was definitely lubricating, but also the bitterness made my mouth feel dry.