Matcha Outlet

I ordered way, WAY too matcha when I first started trying it! Now I have so much that I may not be able to finish it all before it gets too old. This was a favorite and there isn’t much left, so I thought I would make an afternoon latte with it for the rest of the week to finish it off.

This is my second favorite flavor, behind almond matcha. It is really delightful, creamy with a lemon-y flavor like lemon meringue pie? Well, I guess it tastes like Bavarian Cream, but since I have never had an authentic one I have to compare to something I know!

This is delicious and I would definitely re-order when I finish my almond, strawberry, French vanilla, cheesecake, bilberry, black cherry, white chocolate, and peanut butter ones. LOL!

I have really been dragging all day. I didn’t sleep much for a couple of nights, plus allergies are acting up. Youngest had two dental/orthodontist appointments today and got a Herbst appliance, and I was trying to wrestle the new shelf into place over my bread table but it was too long to go in the closet, no matter what geometric gyrations I went through. My neck and shoulder were sprung and undone. I even took down the burglar alarm box and the fire extinguisher. I was pooped, and clearly couldn’t do the work I had planned for this afternoon, so instead I thoroughly cleaned the refrigerator. And that was when I found out just how much of a problem I have.

I have been doing the buy three get one matcha deal at Red Leaf. I usually give one to my daughter and one to my best friend. Yet still I have Black Cherry, Bilberry, TWO strawberry (at least), TWO Caramel, French Vanilla, Butterscotch, TWO Cheesecake, Peanut Butter, Belgium Chocolate, and this one, Bavarian Cream.

I also felt very unqualified to be tasting and reviewing matcha since I didn’t know much about it a few months ago, so I also bought four plain from other vendors for comparison. I just ordered another. Oh dear.

Anyway, my reward for cleaning the reorganizing the fridge was a nice, cold matcha latte. It was 71F here and cloudy, but nice enough to sit on the hammock and enjoy a cold drink.

I didn’t know what real Bavarian Cream was when I ordered this and was expecting something like the inside of a Krispy Kreme vanilla cream filled doughnut. I was surprised when I smelled the light and lemony aroma of this one. I didn’t know if I would care for it, but it has turned out to be a favorite, and when I find the right way to start using these in recipes this one will probably be a cooking staple. I can really see it in home made frozen yogurt. This has gone from a what-the-heck? flavor to a “don’t run out” flavor.

This was my second Red Leaf Tea flavored matcha latte of the day! Earlier, I had a Butterscotch latte, but this evening after a too heavy supper I wanted another latte, and I wanted something especially light and refreshing. When I sifted the matcha into my glass, the loveliest lemony aroma filled the air. Even though I am whisking these with my aerolatte, I find that sifting makes a very noticeable difference.

I added about a cup of cold water and the honey, then whisked. Then I filled to nearly the top with skim milk and topped it up with a little crushed ice, because I like for these to be really cold! It was perfect, refreshing, and gone way too soon. I really shouldn’t have three in one day, should I?

My matcha latte experiments continue! I have had several plain and two flavored, caramel and almond. I prefer caramel as a hot drink, and almond is pretty unbelievable in a milkshake even if you put mostly milk and not a lot of ice cream! As a matcha latte they were good, but I was sure there was another flavor that was going to be perfect for this use.

Last night, the cartoon lightbulb went on over my head. Bavarian Cream! I was just sure it would be the super yummiest as a latte, and guess what? I was right!

I am ashamed to say that I finished my tiny jar of honey making so many lattes over the past three days. Hey, it was a TINY jar! So this time I used White Gold raw honey from Williams Sonoma. I bet I should have decreased the amount since it has the water spun out of it. I am assuming now that makes it more concentrated because this is really sweet, but I am loving it! I added about one cup cold water, sifted the matcha into it, added the honey, whooshed it with the aerolatte, added some crushed ice and about a cup of milk, and VOILA! A fantastic treat!

The Bavarian Cream flavor is so creamy and light in this, with a hint of lemon-y freshness. I think this is one of the best flavors for a latte of this sort. This is yet another flavor of Red Leaf matcha I do not want to run out of!

I have never really made fruit smoothies myself, but Sil has inspired me. I have made this a couple of times now but hadn’t gotten around to logging it. This is my first smoothie recipe I concocted:

One banana (peeled, of course), big scoop unflavored Chobani Greek yogurt, cup of crushed ice from fridge door, two teaspoons raw cane sugar, a handful of frozen blueberries (will use fresh when they come back in season), a good splash of milk, and 3/4 teaspoon of matcha. I did not sift as I felt the blender was powerful enough to make it unnecessary.

I whooshed it until smooth and creamy looking. This is an incredibly easy way to get fruit and yogurt in. I try to like yogurt and some of the flavors are nice, but the texture of ANY yogurt gags me, and some flavors, like peach, make it especially bad. This way I feel like I am drinking a milkshake, but I am really getting lots of healthy goodies that my body needs!

I questioned whether the matcha would make any difference in that big glass of ingredients, but it definitely does. You can smell the Bavarian Cream and it is so yummy!

Next up is going to be a peanut butter smoothie!

You won’t believe how I made this. I made it like matcha! LOL! I think I have almost exclusively made lattes, but this time I did a little of both! I was really worried that I had made a mistake ordering this and French Vanilla because I thought they would be almost identical. Instead, they are barely similar! What I bought: Size – small, base – classic, flavor level – robust. Buy it here:

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/bavarian-cream-matcha.html

First surprise – out of the bag this smells very lemon-y! When I whisked a small amount in hot water it also tasted lemony. If someone had told me I was drinking “such and such a company’s lemon green tea”, I would have believed them. It was very nice that way but we all know why I bought this, right?

Usual prep – eight ounces hot milk, one teaspoon sugar, 1/4 tsp. matcha powder, plus immersion blender.

Oy vey! Ay caramba! Second surprise: I now have a European pastry with soft creamy filling. It is still a bit lemony, but the vanilla aspect comes out a bit more and the taste and texture are very creamy! This tastes like a fresh Bavarian cream, not like the preservative laden grocery store mess that they pass off as Bavarian cream. I only know this because many years ago a German family opened a bakery in our town. When I went in for the first time I purchased a pastry to share with a friend, and the friend did the choosing. She picked a pastry filled with Bavarian cream, to which I thought, “Yuck.” Then I tasted it and it was so good!

I told the owner how different it was from any I had tried before, and he said that it was because his son comes in at four a.m. every day and makes it fresh. It is kept chilled. When they sell out of what was made that morning, it is gone until the next day. And sell out they do, every day even now.

This is that good.

Backlogging several refreshing cups! :) LOVE this!

on my 3rd cup! YUM! See other notes!

My one Wisdom Tooth is throbbing – it doesn’t hurt – but there is a strange sensation there. I was hoping this wintergreen would give it some relief. I had 3 cups so far. It’s yummy but not sure if it’s doing anything to actually help. See other notes

Backlogging from yesterday. Haven’t slept much the last few nights and work has been NUTS.

I needed a just-brushed feeling after eating something garlicky. This did the trick!

Woot!

Okay…so…I have been trying THREE TIMES to write this tasting note and have been interrupted! eeeeek!

WinterGREEN it is! It’s potent stuff! BUT…you know I love my minty-goodness! It’s a lot like lifesaver wintergreen mints or Altoids! As the sip progresses the mint gets stronger and the after taste lingers LOVELY – LOVELY Mint!

I’d like to try this in a smoothie. I’d like to try this in chocolate. I’d like to try chocolate IN this…I’d like to try MANY MANY things with this. I have a feeling that it will be VERY versatile! I’m looking forward to tinkering with it.

*I reserve the right to increase my rating at any given time
teehee

Carry-On :)
CHEERS!

Backlogging from last weekend: I had this a couple of mornings for breakfast, of all things. Usually matcha and matcha lattes are an afternoon thing for me, often to satisfy the “thungries.” Do you remember that ancient Quik commercial that recommended their product for that?

Those mornings, I had some things to do and my energy levels were not quite up to snuff. I didn’t have time for a sit down breakfast, so I made Carnation Instant Breakfast in vanilla flavor using skim milk. I decided to kick it up a notch by adding 1/2 teaspoon of French Vanilla matcha. It was excellent, and stood me in good stead. Delicious, too, and took the vanilla taste right over the top!

Tonight was Writers’ Group at my house, and for a number of months now that means TEA! I have been rather surprised at how much everyone likes everything we have served, and they all drink their tea plain, yet none of them were really tea drinkers before.

We also served fresh, hot bread tonight and for the first time I made the bread using the whey from my homemade yogurt. The first teas served were all hot teas, but after we finished our bread and got down to the business of reading our submissions, I made a small pitcher of matcha latte using this: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/french-vanilla-matcha.html

I bought the large size, basic grade, and robust flavor.

I wondered how it would go over since one of the writers says she really doesn’t use sugar, and I had put honey in this. I am using very little water now – just enough hot water to make the honey dissolve. Then I add ice and milk.

The latte came out a really pretty shade of green. We finished it so quickly because it was soooo good and refreshing. The vanilla flavor was just right. The sweetness of the honey didn’t bother my guest at all and indeed she said that it was almost like drinking coconut milk. I have never had coconut milk but I must say I noticed a review for coconut matcha this week and I am thinking that is something that needs to happen! I think it would be especially delicious in the hot and sticky summer we have here. I guess that is my excuse for yet another Red Leaf order!

Slowly but surely, some changes are taking place. I have been absolutely addicted to home made chocolate shakes and it shows. It shows in my weight and my triglyceride levels. I am really good all day and evening comes and that’s all she wrote. Someone suggested making fruit smoothies a while back but it didn’t sound appetizing to me, so I figured I would have half a smoothie and still make my shake!

That has changed! I am not craving the shakes anymore. I am loving the smoothies, and they are evolving. I always put a banana and then I add whatever berries we have on hand, usually strawberries or blueberries. I add a big dollop of Greek yogurt and a splash of skim or almond milk. I don’t even add sweetener anymore! I add either a creamy matcha like French Vanilla or Bavarian Cream or a fruity one like Black Cherry. I have Bilberry on order and I can’t wait to get it because for the first time I upgraded the base and got less flavoring! I can hardly wait!

Well, earlier today MissLena mentioned her French Vanilla matcha so it was on my mind. That is what went in the smoothie tonight. It really does add a creaminess to it, making it even more satisfying. The fruit flavored matcha really ups the fruit taste and makes it sing, so I enjoy both.

Having had cancer twice, I really am glad I finally tried matcha so those antioxidants can get in there and do their job! Now, instead of having a giant milkshake at night, I am getting yogurt for the probiotics, and at least three servings of fruit and vegetable in my smoothie. I satisfies me, and I don’t feel guilty at all. Loving it! Now to make myself exercise more…

Last week I had my best friend over for tea. She told me she had never tried my matcha so I made Butterscotch matcha lattes for us. She loved it so much she asked me to place an order for her from Red Leaf, which I was happy to do since I am getting my daughter some matcha for Christmas, and I had a flavor or two that I wanted to try as well. I have almond and cheesecake matcha coming soon!

Today she came again to try some new flavors so she can start picking her next matcha order. This time we tried French Vanilla. I ordered it in Robust flavor level, the large size, of course! You can find it here:

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/french-vanilla-matcha.html

I mixed a little bit of Turbinado sugar in mix and used my immersion blender to froth the warm milk and matcha mixture. It was delicious! She really loved it, and was especially fond of the aroma of this one.

Later I had a nice surprise. I had made three servings in case hubby wanted some as well, but he didn’t come home until late. The remaining serving was sitting on the counter and by now was cold. I poured it in my mug anyway and drank it. Wow! I liked it just as well cold! That was unexpected, because I really thought a dessert type flavor would be best hot.

I am going to share my experience with this one today for the benefit of all who are experimenting with matcha and lattes. I really let my immersion blender go for it with that first matcha latte today. As I said, there was one cup of milk and two cups of froth. But the froth never went down! I waited, and waited. I finally ate it with a spoon! LOL!

I wanted MOHR!!!! This time I used a cup of skim milk like before, a bit of sugar (okay, more sugar than before because I was really having cravings today, first salty, then sweet) and the same amount of matcha, about 1/4 to 1/3 teaspoon. But this time, I just hit it with low speed briefly. Much better! I only got one cup of froth! There was plenty of yummy liquid left for me to slurp down.

I am going to be needing lots of matcha energy this week as we are tearing our kitchen apart to move the location of the washer and dryer, and everything has to be birthday party ready by Thursday!

Tonight I made a recipe from Pinterest called Creamy Garlic Pasta. It is creamy and also very easy. As usual, I did lighten up the calories a bit though I am sure it still had plenty!

After I ate it, I really wanted a milkshake. I have been craving something rich and chocolate-y all day but have abstained, so I guess that just rolled over to milkshake this evening. I decided instead to have a matcha latte.

I poured one cup of milk into a Pyrex four cup measure. I added a heaping teaspoon sugar and about 1/3 teaspoon matcha. I mixed it with my Bamix immersion blender and the top of the liquid level rose to three cups! That’s right, this made two whole cups of froth on high speed! I am letting it sit a bit, though I have sipped it, because I want the froth to go down a little! The froth on top is so thick it reminds me of when we made butter once, or when we made home made whipped cream and beat it a little too hard and too long!

What a great dessert! Eight ounces skim milk, about 20 calories worth of sugar, and I assume the matcha adds zero calories, yet I have a twenty ounce glass full of rich vanilla flavor. I can’t wait to try their chocolate flavor!

At last! I have reached the point where I am buying matcha flavors especially for ME! So far I have chosen flavors based on the preferences of family members, and in a way this one is influenced by that – I want to add this to hubby’s Carnation Instant Breakfast in the mornings so he will get his protein and vitamins along with the caffeine boost and antioxidants in the matcha.

When I opened the package, the aroma was wonderful…but not exactly what I expected! I thought it was going to smell sickeningly sweet, like a whole bakery full of cupcakes covered in fatty, sugary frosting, although I believed it would taste great. Instead, I am picking up an aroma that I normally find in a super fresh, newly unsealed pouch of tie guan yin. I don’t know if I am smelling the matcha base this time, or if oolongs have reminded me of vanilla all along and I just didn’t put a finger on the smell accurately. Any way you call it, this smells GOOD. There is nothing sickening or cloying about this, even in this Robust flavor level, at least not for me.

I wanted strong vanilla flavor, so I chose French Vanilla over Madagascar Vanilla and I ordered Robust flavor level. I knew I would love it so I ordered the large size, of course!

Here is where to get it:
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/french-vanilla-matcha.html

Oh my goodness! I am so glad I got the large! For this first tasting I just added 1/4 tsp. of matcha powder and one teaspoon sugar to eight ounces cold milk. I used an immersion blender to mix it up and get some froth.

This is really good. When I was a kid I had milk with Nestlé Quik almost every day, but on special days my mom would let me make vanilla milk. Back then, that meant a few drops of vanilla extract and lots of sugar stirred into a glass of milk. I would put so much sugar that my vanilla milk would crunch – it was actually gritty, though I loved it.

This is taking me back to that drink, but with far less sugar, lots of antioxidants, and a bit of caffeine to kick me into gear. I can’t wait to experiment with it. This is going to make a marvelous hot vanilla drink, too.

You ever have that feeling like steepster is eating your tasting notes? I’m sure i’ve had this more than 6 times(though most of my tasting notes count for twice that…even 12 seems low). Anyway sipdown for me on this one! also added some of my 50/50 caramel to this and did a sipdown for that one too! :)

Very nearly a sip down – only one more smoothie left I think. Which is a good thing because I’ve been staring at the matcha all weekend wiling it to jump into my shopping cart lol. However I don’t Really have the funds and expect that there will be deals on Friday I won’t want to pass up.

Once again a delicious offering from red leaf, though not my favourite by any means.

mmm morning smoothie! though I guess it’s not technically morning anymore lol. I’m still feeling like i just got up though. Added a bit of french vanilla to this which made it even tastier!

With my new order from Red leaf in, and another that I’m going to be placing as part of helping them with their promo, i figured that I’d better work on getting through some of the matcha in my stash while i’m stuck doing testing over the weekend. heh. Berry matcha is on sale this weekend so i figured why not! plus i had some frozen “berry” fruit in the freezer to finish up as well.
I need to do a matcha tasting day one of these days so that I can organise my favourites. I really enjoy this one though it’s totally one of those “can’t quite identify all the berries in this berry” mix. I’m ok with random berry flavour though. heh Keeps me from having to mix 12 different kinds of berry amtchas together as well.

YAY for redleaf starting my morning tea time!

yeah…smoothie to go with breakfast! Decided to make one anyway when i opted for breakfast heh. I really enjoy the berry flavour when blended with milk and frozen banana! sooo delicious!

Soooo didn’t get much of a chance to drink tea this weekend. Without going in to details about work, we’re in the middle of migration hell so I’ve gotten to spend most of my weekend doing manual updates to 100’s of users. Talk about time consuming and painful! Did manage to get to the gym today to try and start that up again after our two week vacation hiatus. So opted for a delicious smoothie for my evening work – something to keep me going for a bit longer.

I reaaaaallly wanted a cheesecake smoothie but since its on back order and who knows when my order will be here, I opted to save that for Monday? Maybe and try to drink down some of the other matches I have. I’m suddenly over 10 flavours when I had at one point only intended to keep 5 at a time haha! Curse you red leaf for making such yummy matcha!

Again, the berry matcha really does give off that random berry flavour that you get when you miss a bunch of different kinds of berries together in a smoothie. I love it though. Was thinking that someday I should mix berry, pear, black cherry into one :)