Matcha Outlet

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this matcha. There’s actually several different coffee matchas to choose from on the website. This one called to me because I know Kona coffees tend to be more expensive and less astringent. I admit I don’t have much experience with it because I’m not a coffee connoisseur.  I always end up adding cream and sugar to it. Lol. 

I was hesitant with this matcha, but opening the package it smells delicious!!! It has a coffee taste but there’s also some creamy notes and smooth notes as well. It definitely smells like a fresh cup of coffee. 

I prepared this in a water bottle, which might sound crazy since coffee is usually hot, but I really do like iced coffee over hot. Also, I just generally like my matchas colder in general. 

It is wonderful cold. The coffee flavor comes through and there is some roasted notes and coffee flavoring. It almost tastes like I’m eating a bean over more so just drinking a cup of coffee. Have you ever had a chocolate covered espresso bean? It’s a lot like that, minus the chocolate. 

Definitely one of my favorite matchas, especially if you like coffee. 

You can buy this matcha here: 
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/kona-matcha.html

Ok, I have to start by saying that I love Thanksgiving! That is because I love that you can get so many pumpkin things at this time of year. For one month I get to indulge on pumpkin flavored everything! Then I have 11 long months of waiting for companies to bring out the pumpkin again! And let me tell you, I overload myself so much on pumpkin that I’m ready for it to end. That only lasts about a month before I’m craving pumpkin things again. SO, that is why I just HAD To order the Pumpkin Pie Matcha from Red Leaf. I’m hoping that they’ll keep this flavor around and not just have it available in the fall.
I really wasn’t quite sure how I wanted to prepare this the first time. I opened this matcha and got a cloud full of heavenly pumpkin spices. I put it into a tin to keep it fresh but I doubt that it’ll stay there for very long. The small size fits perfect in the tin with a little wiggle room…enough to be able to get the measuring spoon in.
I decided to prepare this matcha as a latte with warm milk. I heated up 10oz of milk on the stove and then used my frother to create foam. I then added the matcha and whisked the latte….finishing off with another round with the frother. This matcha was very smooth. I think the milk really complimented it well and made it taste just like a pumpkin pie! This was so good that I don’t think I want to prepare it any other way. I think it needs the milk to take it to the next level. I did purchase mine with the white matcha as I didn’t really want to much of an earthy flavor in this matcha. I was very happy with it this was so I don’t think I’ll order it any other way.
Here is how I ordered my Pumpkin Pie Matcha from Red Leaf Tea:
Size: Small
Quality: White
Flavor: Delicate
Storage: Air tight refill flat pouch – would definitely recommend purchasing a tin for your matcha to keep it fresh. I did not order one this time since I already had a tin.
To get your own tasty Pumpkin Pie Matcha from Red Leaf Tea – GO HERE NOW!!!!
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/pumpkin-pie-matcha.html

So I knew I wanted a vanilla matcha, but I was unsure of what exactly to get since Red Leaf offers several different types of matchas. I saw that the Madagascar Vanilla was highly reviewed, but the French Vanilla got some good marks too. People remarked about how the French Vanilla was more in your face, while the Madagascar Vanilla was more subtle. While I love matcha, I do love the flavorings, so I went with the French Vanilla and got myself robust flavoring.

Opening the package, it definitely smells very frosting-ish and reminds me a lot of the French vanilla coffee creamers that I used to use to flavor my coffee.

The matcha itself is definitely delicious with creaminess and velvety texture to it. I’m sure I could bring even more creaminess out with some milk or cream, but I decided to enjoy the matcha flavor pure. Perhaps later when I’m not so lazy, I can prepare this in a fancier style to make the flavors pop even more.

It’s very lovely as just one flavor, although I admit I am anxious to mix it with other things such as cola or cherry or cherry AND cola. I plan to do that soon and report back.

All in all, another solid desert matcha.

You can get the matcha here: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/french-vanilla-matcha.html

I was very excited to try the Lime Matcha. I opened this matcha and put it into a tin to keep it fresh. The small size fits perfect in the tin with a little wiggle room…enough to be able to get the measuring spoon in. I didn’t have any doubts that this matcha would be tasty. Lime flavored things are so popular nowadays…lime popcorn…lime and sea salt chips….etc.
I decided to first prepare this matcha cold with just water. I added 1 tsp to a 16.9oz bottle and shook it up. I then put it into the freezer as I really wanted it cold. If I had let it stay in there overnight I could have had lime matcha popsicles! I didn’t think about that till after I drank it so I’ll have to try that next time. The lime added just enough tartness to give a kick to otherwise boring water. This matcha intrigued me so much that I decided to prepare it again. This time I used a bit of seltzer (bubbly) water. I think I like it even better this way! I did add a touch of sugar to both preparations.
I purchased this with the starter matcha. If I had really thought about it, I think I would have purchased white matcha as I think it would give it an even lighter flavor. Guess I’ll just have to order it again!
Red Leaf just keeps on amazing me with their creative flavors and the lime flavored matcha does not disappoint!
Here is how I ordered my Lime Matcha from Red Leaf Tea:
Size: Small
Quality: Classic Starter Grade
Flavor: Delicate
Storage: Air tight refill flat pouch – would definitely recommend purchasing a tin for your matcha to keep it fresh. I did not order one this time since I already had a tin.
To get your own tasty Lime Matcha from Red Leaf Tea – GO HERE NOW!!!!
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/lime-matcha.html

There are so many benefits to ginger that I don’t know where to start! I had a bit of a sore throat due to a lot of singing I’ve been doing with the band. I opened this matcha and absorbed the spicy scent and put it into a tin to keep it fresh. The small size fits perfect in the tin with a little wiggle room…enough to be able to get the measuring spoon in. I had been saving this matcha for the perfect time and after a day of singing I needed to bring it out. Not to mention the fact that I could use a bit of a pick me up.
I decided to prepare this matcha hot first since I wanted to sooth my throat. I added just a pinch of sugar and a generous helping of honey (I love my honey)! I did take a sip before adding the honey just so I could get the original flavor. This matcha is very smooth and spicy. It is not in your face spicy, but just enough to give it a little flavor. I purchased the starter matcha as I figured this one would be great in regular, white or black matcha. I think I’d like to order again and try it with black just to see if the flavor changes. My flavoring level was delicate and that seemed just the right amount to me. I didn’t really want to get a ginger high! LOL
This matcha was very soothing on my throat so I think I’m going to save this one for next week when I have to sing again. Sorry friends, no sharing of this one!
Red Leaf Tea mentions this for treating motion sickness when suffering from an unsettling stomach among other things so it’s definitely useful for everyday use. Think I might have to save a bit for my hubby to try.
Here is how I ordered my Ginger Matcha from Red Leaf Tea:
Size: Small
Quality: Classic Starter Grade
Flavor: Delicate
Storage: Air tight refill flat pouch – would definitely recommend purchasing a tin for your matcha to keep it fresh. I did not order one this time since I already had a tin.
To get your own tasty Ginger Matcha from Red Leaf Tea – GO HERE NOW!!!!
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/ginger-matcha-organic.html
A sore throat soother!

When I was thinking about what fruity matcha flavor I wanted to try I decided that Boysenberry sounded the most interesting to me. I’ve previously only gotten the desserty flavors but I wondered what a fruity matcha would be like and if the fruit would go well with the green flavors of the matcha. I decided to get the robust flavor level and also a small tin to make storage easy.

I tried the matcha first made the usual way with hot water and it was very good, but I was very curious about the “water bottle” method I’d noticed some people using so I gave that method a shot as well. I filled up a plastic bottle I had with ice cubes, water, and matcha and shook like mad! I ended up with a delicious iced matcha that was so easy to make and convenient to carry with me to work. If you want to take matcha on the go I suggest this method!

I did enjoy this hot, but I felt like the cold method brought out more of that tangy fruit aspect I was really looking for here. Someone else mentioned this being a bit like redbull in their review and I can really see what they mean. It does taste a bit redbull-y and I’m a former redbull addict so I know what I’m talking about here. Haha.

I have to say I’m glad I picked this flavor out. It’s so much more unique than your typical strawberry or other popular fruit flavor.

I got my matcha here:
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/boysenberry-matcha.html

OK, so I purchased Cola Matcha, but I was doubtful. I actually ordered it to prove to myself that it really could not taste like cola. I opened up the pouch and immediate put it into a tin to keep it fresh. The small size fits perfect in the tin with a little wiggle room…enough to be able to get the measuring spoon in. It actually smelled sweet and like cola!
OK, so it could not actually taste like Cola….could it? I didn’t even consider preparing this one hot…no one likes warm soda. I still had some seltzer (bubbly) water from my champagne matcha so I decided to prepare this one the same way. I purchased this one with Classic Starter Matcha. I didn’t really think white would balance well and figured if I liked it I would order with black matcha next time.
I prepared a 10oz glass with 1 tsp of matcha and whisked it up carefully. I did add just a touch of sugar for this first time.
OK, so it DID take like cola! I’m not sure how Red Leaf does it, but they know how to flavor matcha. Plus there are none of the calories you receive with a real cola.
I had thought about keeping this matcha to myself, but since I want to order it with black matcha I will share this one with my friends.
Here is how I ordered my Cola Matcha from Red Leaf Tea:
Size: Small
Quality: Classic Starter Grade
Flavor: Delicate
Storage: Air tight refill flat pouch – would definitely recommend purchasing a tin for your matcha to keep it fresh. I did not order one this time since I already had a tin.
To get your own tasty Cola Matcha from Red Leaf Tea – GO HERE NOW!!!!
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/coca-cola-matcha.html
A low calorie treat for the soda lover!

Had a latte this morning – loving it – sometimes when I try a new tea of any kind I have new love syndrome which means I LOVE LOVE LOVE It the first time then later its okay – even VERY good but not AS MUCH love.
HOWEVER … I still LOVE LOVE LOVE this one! :)

This is just sex. Can I say that? Well anyway its better I dare to say.
Its like drinking a cup of maple syrup mixed with sweet cream and milk because I mixed this matcha powder with those things. I am going to do this review super fast because I want to go enjoy this cup alone in my room – yup its so good.
I mean the maple in this is A MAZE ING!
The flavor lingers on the lips causing a lot of licking to go down.
This is sinful.
As soon as my gift certificate is updated for reviews I am order a REALLY BIG size of this!
I get robust flavor because I like my matcha to be ROBUST!
If you are more shy you could go delicate but I dare you to go bold with this one!
You won’t want to share.
This is the matcha you don’t introduce to your friends out of fear they will take it from you!
Now to be fair I had my daughter try it and she said “Meh I’ve had better” to which I cracked up laughing as she has no idea the tone of my review and she is only 17 so what does she know right?
She only tries a sip of my matcha now and then anyway but she said she liked almond better.
I mean who can really compare one to another – life is full of flavor and we shall have it all thanks to Red Leaf Tea!
YUM!
Get yours here!
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/maple-syrup-matcha.html

I wasn’t sure what to expect from a champagne matcha. I opened up the pouch, preparing it for the tin that will keep it fresh. The small size fits perfect in the tin with a little wiggle room…enough to be able to get the measuring spoon in. It didn’t really smell like champagne to me, but I didn’t really expect to be able to smell a champagne flavor.
I had thought about preparing this one hot, but it just didn’t really make sense to do so. Instead, I purchased some seltzer (bubbly) water and tried to recreate the real thing. I decided to purchase this with white matcha since champagne is a light drink. I actually wanted to imagine myself drinking champagne.
I prepared a 10oz glass with 1 tsp of matcha and whisked it up carefully. I did add just a touch of sugar for this first time.
You know what? It wasn’t bad! Of course most would prefer the real thing, but when you’re trying to be healthy, this will help you stay on track. I’m imagining all the ways I can mix this matcha…with orange juice…cranberry juice…the options are endless!
Here is how I ordered my Champagne Matcha from Red Leaf Tea:
Size: Small
Quality: White Matcha
Flavor: Delicate
Storage: Air tight refill flat pouch – would definitely recommend purchasing a tin for your matcha to keep it fresh. I did not order one this time since I already had a tin.
To get your own tasty Champagne Matcha from Red Leaf Tea – GO HERE NOW!!!!
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/champagne-matcha.html
A toast to your next matcha creation!

My first encounter with this matcha was amazing! I opened up the pouch, preparing it for the tin that will keep in the yummy goodness. The small size fits perfect in the tin with a little wiggle room…enough to be able to get the measuring spoon in.
I was immediately brought back to my younger days when I attended the carnival. It smelled that good! I had intended to prepare this hot, but after the delicious smell, I decided to make as a latte instead. I frothed up a nice 10oz glass of milk (cold) with 1 tsp of matcha. Let me just say, it was hard not to immediately make another one!
I did purchase this blended as white matcha as I was looking for the caramel flavor to shine through more than an earthy flavor. The taste was just as it smelled…creamy caramel with a hint of popcorn flavor. I purchased the delicate level and it had plenty of flavor so I don’t think I’d need to go higher on this one. I also did not need to add any sugar to increase the flavor or sweetness.
My plan for the rest of Caramel Popcorn is to mix it as a latte. I don’t think I’ll be sharing this one, but keeping it all for myself! Now I just need to order more Cotton Candy flavor and have a few friends over for a Carnival Matcha party!
Here is how I ordered my Caramel Popcorn Matcha from Red Leaf Tea:
Size: Small
Quality: White Matcha
Flavor: Delicate
Storage: Air tight refill flat pouch – would definitely recommend purchasing a tin for your matcha to keep it fresh. I did not order one this time since I already had a tin.
To get your own tasty Caramel Popcorn Matcha from Red Leaf Tea – GO HERE NOW!!!!
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/caramel-popcorn-matcha.html
In closing – YUM!!!!

Having an iced latte of this, I really can’t emphasize enough how damn tasty it is! Caramel, butter, matcha, milk… ugh, this is sinfully good. I seriously think this is my second favorite of the Red Leaf matchas, Pumpkin Pie is still my #1 though! I wonder what would happen if I put them together…

The tasting notes on this one have been SO good, I kind of had super high expectations going into it. I mean, Azzrian’s favorite matcha?! As the current matcha queen of steepster, I really trust her opinion so yes, I had high hopes for this one! I snagged one as soon as it went on sale. As a side note, I hate my post office! The tracking info on stuff coming to me is totally messed up, and it keeps saying stuff is in transit after it’s arrived or that it’s been sitting in my post office for a week and hasn’t been delivered, it’s so annoying! I think they held this one “hostage” for a while, since it took way longer than usual and I only got it after I went there and bugged them. But anyway, back to tea! I got:

Size: Small (30 grams)
Base: Classic Matcha
Flavor: Delicate

I’m not sure why I went with delicate over distinctive (my usual), I just had a feeling that it’d be best with a light flavor. The smell in the bag is amazing, caramel and popcorn and BUTTER! It reminds me of the microwave caramel popcorn they used to make… they still make some kinds now, but this one came with a huge chunk of caramel to put in the bag after you warmed up the popcorn so instead of some caramel glaze it was ACTUAL gooey, delicious caramel on your popcorn. That stuff was soooo good, but I guess it’s just cheaper to skimp out and glaze them. Sigh.

I whipped this up last night as a hot latte, and holy moly it is just… perfect. Amazing! You can taste ALL of the levels of flavor, even with the delicate option. There’s rich, fresh-made caramel flavor, reminiscent of (unsurprisingly) caramel, one of the classic and most-loved Red Leaf flavors. Then there’s the popcorn, without the crunch but with that almost fluffy, airy taste. Then, BUTTER. I can’t believe there’s actual slightly salty butter flavor in here! It makes this sooo rich and delicious and just perfect. No mistaking what flavor this is! It so reminds me of the old caramel popcorn, it’s like having it back finally!

Of course because I went with delicate, the matcha flavor isn’t overpowered but makes for a nice base of sorts, keeping the caramel flavor from getting too heavy. And as much as I totally love this one, I REALLY want to try it with a black base with the distinctive level of flavoring… just thinking about adding those chocolate cookie notes to this makes my brain explode! If you love dessert matchas like me, get this. Heck, if you love matcha, get this. If you love tea at all get this! Really, it is just perfect.

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/caramel-popcorn-matcha.html

After a tough battle of matcha sales, caramel popcorn won, so when it was on sale I had to grab it. I love kettle corn, but I was a little hesitant. After all, I already had caramel flavored matcha. Would this be any different? And the verdict is a resounding YES!

As always, the matcha smells wonderful, and potent (that’s what I get for getting robust flavoring). The boyfriend came in and asked if I was baking cookies, but nope, just opening a bag of really strong smelling matcha.

This matcha is even better than caramel because it has a lot more complex flavoring in it. I can taste the caramel, which is nice, but I can also taste the butter notes and the popcorn notes. I would say it’s almost a little more buttery popcorn than sweet popcorn, but then again I didn’t add any sweetener. I bet if you really wanted the kettle corn effect, you could add some sweetener and make it pop.

I put this in a water bottle tonight and brewed it up cold. I wasn’t sure how well it would do, but the flavoring really holds up. Not need to add any sweetener because the flavor just pops. Even the boyfriend admitted that it was very tasty.

All in all a surprisingly good matcha, and this coming from someone who’s not too big on desert matchas.

The matcha can be purchased from here: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/caramel-popcorn-matcha.html

My second Red Leaf Teas matcha. The quality is consistent. However, when I was ordering this matcha, I wasn’t really paying attention to what strength of flavor I was ordering, and ended up ordering Robust flavor instead of distinctive, which was the perfect flavor strength for my first matcha, the Bavarian Cream. This matcha, the Pumpkin Pie, is strong. Wicked strong. Eat Pumpkin Pie spice with a spoon kind of strong. I think delicate or distinctive would be perfect for this matcha. Anything else is just too damn…strong. I noticed that some of the options have changed since the last time I ordered. You can’t choose to automatically add the small metal tin to your cart, but it is still available with the rest of the accessories on a different page. Also, you can now choose whether you want your matcha to be organic or not. Personally, I am content with my regular matcha for now. Anywho, let’s get on with this review for the Red Leaf Pumpkin Pie Matcha, which you can find here —> http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/pumpkin-pie-matcha.html

THE SPECS:
Size: Small (30 grams)
Quality: Royal Grade(Premium)Green Matcha
Flavor Strength: Robust (oops)

So far I like to buy the special sale matchas, which take place between Friday and Sunday of every week. You can also vote on which matcha will be on sale next, which is cool. Buying one of the special sale matchas allows me to upgrade my options, like better quality matcha and stronger flavor, and still keep my order at a reasonable price. As my appreciation for Red Leaf matchas grows into an obsession, though, I have a feeling that attitude will change to a few times a week >.> And trust me, you will become obsessed. On to the flavor itself. Hot damn does this hit you in the face. Not in a bad way, though. Clove, clove, clove. From the smell to the taste, that is what stands at the forefront. Next you can taste some nutmeg and cinnamon, and it all rounds out with a truly pumpkin taste. Essence of pumpkin. As though dried pumpkin was ground up into little tiny bits and added to this. I love that you can really taste the quality in these flavors. This is not just poured out of a bottle.Time is put into mixing these flavors to create a balance. Word to the wise though, unless you are crazy about these spices, Distinctive is going to be the strongest you want to go with this flavor. I’ll remember that next time. I still use this in my smoothie (see Bavarian Cream matcha review for “recipe”),but when using this flavor I like to add a little dollop of real pumpkin to the mix to enhance that flavor, and after pouring into the cup, dusting cinnamon over the top. Delicious!! All in all, I definitely recommend this flavor. I did like the Bavarian Cream matcha better, but I will have to try this one with a toned down flavor.

I seem to be feeling Christmas-y in some of my matcha choices. First Eggnog, now this! Now that I think about it, combining the two would probably be delicious. Gingerbread Eggnog Lattes? The perfect holiday treat! Well, it’s not exactly the holiday season yet (though it seems to be sneaking up on me), but thankfully no one will judge me for dipping into this seasonal treat a bit before the weather turns chilly (hopefully!). I got:

Size: Small (30 grams)
Base: Classic Matcha
Flavor: Distinctive

Another I almost got with the black base, but I’m trying to see what flavors I like now and eventually I’ll pick and choose which ones will be in my “permanent” matcha collection. You know, the ones you have to have on hand at all times! Right now for me that’s probably Pumpkin Pie, Cotton Candy, and Cookies & Cream with the black base. There are others that I alllmost have to have all the time (caramel, macadamia nut, cheesecake) and I might take the plunge and get all of them in the larger size. But for now, I am still in the deciding phase! Does Gingerbread have what it takes?!

The spice level on this is STRONG. It’s so ginger-y! I think delicate would have worked well for this one, though I do like the Distinctive flavor level just for that extra pow. As suggested in a review on their site, I whipped this one up as a hot latte with some brown sugar. I tasted the base before any additions, and I think the milk and brown sugar really bring out the cookie aspects. Before, it’s just very strong spices, and I’m not really getting “cookie.” I think it’d be even stronger with a black base!

The spice level on this reminds me of a gingersnap—ginger, cinnamon, maybe even some molasses going on. It’s much more warming than the chai matcha, which has a similar taste profile, but it’s also more… overwhelming? I don’t know if that’s the right term, but I feel like this is Robust or even There’s Matcha In There?! instead of Distinctive. It’s so strong! I think this is a matcha you really need to be in the mood for, but when you are it’ll be just perfect, especially around holiday-time. You can get some here:

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/gingerbread-matcha.html

I actually made this yesterday, but totally forgot about it! I ended up ordering this one because I was so enchanted with the Macadamia Nut Matcha (one of my favorites!) and needed to try out more nutty flavors. Hazelnut isn’t a flavor I have often, but it’s so delicious, especially in tea. I was debating over getting this or Almond, but Hazelnut won out… mostly because of the possibility of making a Nutella Matcha Latte. Mmm! I ordered:

Size: Small
Base: Classic Matcha
Flavor: Distinctive

So, the same as usual! I almost went for a black base on this one, but I was so enchanted with the green macadamia matcha that I decided to just go for it. I’m not sure if I regret that decision or not… this really would be great with a black base, maybe even Nutella-tasting on its own! Since the black matcha has some chocolatey notes.

That’s not to say it’s not good with a green base! The hazelnut flavor is strong and nicely present, with rich nutty, almost buttery tones that do meld really well with the smooth and light green matcha. But it’s kind of… lighter than I was expecting. The Macadamia seemed to combine effortlessly with the matcha flavor, but the same thing isn’t happening here. Not entirely in a negative way: it’s still a perfectly tasty matcha, just not as totally amazing as macadamia nut. I think the green base competes a little bit with the hazelnut flavor, since they don’t exactly have similar profiles.

I may sound a bit negative, BUT I do love this matcha as I almost always do with Red Leaf Tea flavors. It’s just not quite what I was expecting, though I think my expectations were just too high! It’s still scrumptious and I think making it cold was a mistake: this just begs to be a hot, rich latte…. maybe with some actual Nutella mixed in? I think this one will be great for baking to! You can get some here:

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/hazelnut-matcha.html

Oh yummy! This is the last “unopened” Matcha that I have in the house! Don’t cry for me though, I have an order on it’s way that will provide me with much Matcha goodness. In the meantime, I have A TON (well, maybe not a ton, but a whole heck of a lot) of Matcha to keep me occupied. As well as other teas.

This is yummy. While preparing it traditionally with hot water and whisking, I thought, I shouldn’t turn this into a latte, milk with popcorn sounds weird. BUT… I took my first sip and decided while it was good, it needed something else. The caramel needed more creaminess. So a splash (a little tiny splash) of milk was added and this made it just perfect! It is sweet and creamy and caramel-y, but, with a delicious popcorn flavor too, and maybe just a hint of saltiness in all of it. The flavor is really good… maybe even better than the straight up caramel. Maybe. Might need to have it a couple more times … or more than a couple … to determine which is better.

This is incredibly wonderful though. The Matcha offers just a hint of vegetative flavor and the smooth, luscious texture of the Matcha really adds to the caramel-y flavor of the overall taste. I taste butter in this, probably a combination of the flavoring and the Matcha and it is divine. When it comes to butter … I subscribe to the Paula Deen school of thought: Butter makes it better. And in this case, the buttery flavor really does make it better … it enhances the caramel tones, and brings out the popcorn notes.

Oh so good. You’ve got to try this! Well, what are you waiting for? Here’s the link: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/caramel-popcorn-matcha.html So now there’s no excuse. Get there … and do it now, and order some. You’ll be glad you did.

My went with my “go-to” specifications for this order, choosing the classic grade of Matcha with the distinctive flavoring. It’s just right. I think that more flavoring, while probably incredible, would end up diluting the flavor of the Matcha too much. The Matcha now is a little obscured, not as strong as it is in some of the other flavored Matcha, but, it all comes together in a really delicious way. I do like to taste the Matcha, so I’m glad I went with the distinctive level of flavoring here.

A really yummy treat. Really glad I got this one. Now… imagine this if you would. Imagine a combination of this, plus some of the chocolate Matcha, plus some of the almond Matcha. Would that not be decadence X3?

Might have to get some of the other two Matcha just so that I can have that. Yep… going to have to do that I think, with my next order.

I really got this mainly as a mixer. I tend to lean towards the more complex, dessert-y matcha flavors like Pumpkin Pie and Cheesecake, and Earl Grey seemed like it’d be the perfect compliment to a lot of my favorites. I have so many different Earl Greys in my cupboard, it seemed blasphemous not to have an EG matcha as well even if it’s just for experimenting with. But of course I have to try it by itself first! I got:

Size: Small (30 grams)
Base: Classic Matcha
Flavor: Delicate

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much of this by itself. Like the Chai Matcha, I got it for playing around with and never really intended to drink it alone. Of course, I was totally wrong! Never underestimate the beauty of a simple matcha. Sure, it’s great to have English Toffee and Tiramisu, but there’s an elegance and simplicity to this matcha that really shines all on its own.

Bergamot is what makes Earl Grey, well, Earl Grey, and it’s nicely present here. I’m glad I went with delicate: while I do like a strong EG, I didn’t want it overpowering here at all. There’s that classic citrus tang, with just a hint of floral qualities that really go well with the fresh, grassy matcha. I’m not sure if bergamot is the only flavoring used here, because as the description states there’s just a tiny hint of warming smoke. It reminds me of a brisk EG with a strong black base, mixed in with my matcha! Refreshing, bright, and very different from all the other ones in my cupboard.

Honestly, I think it’s going to be hard to even mix this with anything else now that I’ve tried it on its own! It’s just so delicious. However, the lure of Earl Grey Cheesecake Matcha is really really calling to me. Plus, I have everything I need now to recreate Paris in matcha form! I don’t know why, but I think it would be fun to redo some of my favorite tea blends with matcha flavors. That is, if I don’t drink this one up plain first! Definitely a cupboard staple. You can get some here:

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/earl-grey-matcha.html

NaNoWriMo has made me kind of forget to do things like… eat, or sleep. I get so caught up in writing that I look up and it’s 8:30 and all I’ve had so far is a small bowl of cereal. Considering that I have low blood sugar and not eating in regular intervals makes me very ill, that is not a good combo! So I wander into the kitchen and think man, I want some hot chocolate. Okay it’s not dinner, but I need some sugar!

In college one of the dorm standbys was 1 cup milk + 1 spoonful nutella = the best hot chocolate ever. So I stood there whisking my concoction thinking that it would probably be good with some cinnamon, maybe a little nutmeg. Chai spices, yeah! And then it dawned on me: chai matcha. So yes, I am drinking Chai Matcha Nutella Hot Chocolate right now and it is the greatest thing ever. I think this would probably work with tons of flavors (berry nutella, caramel nutella, cheesecake nutella…) so if you have milk, matcha and nutella you should go do this RIGHT NOW. Well maybe not right now but try it, it’s fantastic.

I’ve been away from Steepster for so long! My laptop died a few weeks ago, and then my desktop at the beginning of this week which means that I was left with no computer. Which, for me, is really hard! By the time I managed to fix it (okay, so I didn’t do anything but stand around anxiously, it was all my bf) NYCC had rolled around and I didn’t have time to catch up with tealogs. Now I’m sick (consars!) but my Red Leaf order is FINALLY in, just in time to get the last deadline! Though not enough time to review them all, since my post office hates me. This is just not my week! But I decided to dive right into the matcha, even though I have a looot of catching up to do. I ordered:

Size : Small (30 grams)
Flavor: Distinctive
Base: Classic Matcha

I love Chai, so I was thrilled to see it added as an option. But as my package moved across the country, I wondered how well something as strong as a chai spice base and a mellow matcha would really go together. Well, it’s gotten good reviews so far, but I was a bit anxious! And in the bag this smells all chai all the way. I was actually wondering if I went TOO strong on the flavoring and should have gone with delicate.

Well, the flavor level is spot-on for me once mixed into an icy cold latte! It’s a really interesting combination of flavors: the cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom taste is strong but fades quickly into grassy matcha heaven. Neither side is overpowering, which is exactly what I wanted! You can taste the chai and the matcha, but they balance so no sip is too chai-y or overwhelmed by matcha flavor. I got this mainly for mixing, and I think I’m going to try it out with Hazelnut or Pumpkin Pie first—too many options! You can get some here:

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/chai-matcha.html

I enjoyed this much more today than I did the first time I tried it. I could taste the chemical taste to it in my first tasting, now, I can barely taste it. So therefore, I’ve decided to increase the rating.

Today I just taste sweet, delicious maple: earthy, rich, sweet … and lovely matcha: creamy, vegetative. So good.

Are you kidding me? I’m the first to log this one? It’s available here: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/maple-syrup-matcha.html

OK… so this is really good! This is the time of year that I find maple so appealing, and I guess it is because I can readily find maple candies and such in Whole Foods. (I love those maple candies) I mean, I love maple just about any time of year, but, it just seems to go with autumn.

I went with the Robust flavoring with this particular matcha, still sticking with the classic grade of Matcha, but I decided that I wanted robust with this because I REALLY wanted to taste the Maple. And I’m glad I did, because the maple flavoring is a transparent enough of a flavor that the Matcha taste still comes through … even with the robust flavoring level. I taste the sweet, delicious taste of maple and the Matcha, with its smooth, vegetative tone. The Matcha is slightly bittersweet in this particular flavor, but I think it works to this flavor’s advantage because the hint of bitter offers a hint of contrast to what otherwise might be something that could end up tasting a bit too sweet. I also do taste just a hint of that chemical-y kind of artificial-ness that sometimes I taste with the flavored Matcha … but it isn’t a strong taste … I don’t notice it a lot … only when I’m really focusing on what I’m tasting for the purpose of review. I don’t know if this is because I chose the robust flavor, or if it’s going to be there no matter which flavoring level I would have selected.

I prepared this traditionally with hot water and whisked – it frothed up really nicely, although now that I’m about halfway finished with the bowl the froth seems to have disappeared. I bet this one would be awesome as a latte. I also look forward to mixing it with the chai matcha which I have coming my way next.

A really enjoyable Matcha and I’m already starting to feel extra energized – which is good, I have to get busy with some house cleaning!

Almond Matcha

Stunning flavor! Accurate to the core on how almond tastes only in a sweeter version! Close to amaretto but there is a difference and I do love both! I am glad I got both as well because I contemplated if they would be too similar and not worth the cost of both however as much as I love both flavors, I had to do it and I have no regrets!

This Almond matcha is sweet and nutty. The aroma is captivating!! My daughter was in the process of making macrons and decided she will add some almond matcha to them. Unfortunately we had to stop because we were out of parchment paper – can’t use waxed …. so anyway off to the store we shall run and I am going to pick up more sparkling water because I want to make an Italian Creme Soda with this almond matcha which will be AMAZING! Frothed up lovely even in milk.

I love that Red Leaf uses natural flavors!

I got back having paused in my review here and have made my almond matcha into a lovely Italian Cream Soda! DELICIOUS! I recommend trying nearly all of the matcha flavors this way.

My matcha was composed of Basic grade matcha powder and I got the Robust flavoring – this is one that you could easily go delicate and still have enough flavor. It is that strong and that good but I am glad I did get Robust just because that is what I generally prefer but next time I may just go a level lower because it does cover up a lot of the matcha base flavor and I enjoy that very much as well. I also always get the tin, even if I have to order them later I always end up going back and getting them. They are so handy and some of the best tins I have ever come across – I love that they screw on! Easy to clean as well for your next matcha flavor.

Here is where to get yours:
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/almond-matcha.html