Maple Matcha

Day 15 of 24 Days of Matcha

This was just ok. There wasn’t a strong matcha taste but I also couldn’t taste the maple in it either

This didn’t really taste like maple. I mostly tasted the matcha, along with some sweetness, or I’m not sure what. I added plenty of milk and some whipped cream, which seemed to help make it more exciting. When the flavor was just sweetness, it was sort of boring, but with help, it was all right.

I really like mixing in this matcha powder into milk! The milk I use an almond-coconut milk, so it does not have the most neutral taste. So, I would need to try this with a more neutral tasting milk to review it properly.

However, even with the competing almond-coconut flavour, this tea has that vegetal matcha taste that I love with slight hints of sweetness from the maple. I am not sure if I get a strong maple taste, but it is still a good matcha powder.

I prefer the salted caramel matcha over this one (that one is SO good. Like a blended up dessert). But this one is pretty good too! :)

David’s Tea Matcha Advent Day 8.

We’re getting somewhere with this foam, I think.

This was delicious. While sipping it was lightly flavored, but the aftertaste was a strong maple syrup. I was worried it would be cloying but I found it less sweet than expected (maybe my bar is still off from the weird fake berry/fruit palate happening in earlier picks). This would be worth buying more.

Finally using up the last of my frozen pumpkin/sweet potato/apple smoothie mix with some of this matcha! Started with a latte, 1 tsp to 8 oz. of oat milk — regular this time, since this is pre-sweetened powder and I didn’t want it to be unbarable by forgetting and using my sweet vanilla oat milk.

And it was plenty sweet and mapley! I wasn’t getting a very strong matcha flavor since the maple was quite dominant, but I also really liked it. Definitely plenty sweet, so I’m glad I remembered to use the plain oat milk, it definitely would’ve been too much had I used the vanilla carton in my fridge! Since the flavor is maple, the sweetness really works for me here, and I’m not one that can handle matcha-bitterness well anyway. Predictably, after a quick sample of my smoothie for tomorrow, the maple pairs very well with the pumpkin!

I’m lacking on good smoothie ideas to use up the remainder of my sample packet, so I might just make the rest as a plain latte some morning, since I think I’d like this just as a straight up warm and frothy latte.

DavidsTEA Matcha Advent Calendar 2020 – Day 8

I got a bit behind with my tea notes..will catch up today! This matcha was amazing for Day 8! I loved the subtle sweetness, and the maple really paired well with the mellow matcha base. I could totally get more of this and be content, it might be my favorite of the advent calendar so far! Prepared with my usual method, 175 degree water, whisk, top up water, drink. Very tasty :D

DAVIDsTEA Matcha Advent Calendar – Day 8

Yaaay, back to actual matcha today! I was excited to see this flavor as well, as I was hoping for a more dessert-y matcha after the last couple of fruity ones. I actually reduced the amount of liquid this time – the instructions recommend 16 ounces but I ended up doing 8 ounces of warm water and 4 ounces of milk. Hopefully I can taste the matcha better this way!

This is quite sweet, but I did use less liquid, and to be honest for something maple-flavored I don’t mind the sweetness. Sweetness is kind of part of the deal when it comes to maple syrup, so I’m fine with it in this case. This has a lovely maple flavor that stands up well to the milk! Sweet and rich but not artificial tasting. I can also taste the matcha better with less liquid, so I get more of the vegetal and grassy notes with a hint of toasted seaweed. I’m surprised it’s not more bitter with the increased potency, but somehow it’s not.

I’m a fan of this flavor. I likely won’t be purchasing any of these matchas as it’s just not practical for me to have them be pre-sweetened, but I’m really enjoying my cuppa this morning!

So the jam for Day 8 is Apricot-Bergamot Spread! I admit, I squealed with delight when I saw this one, as apricot is one of my all-time favorite jams and I love bergamot in tea, so it seemed like a great combination and it’s even somewhat tea-relevant! And it’s really good! Even though the bergamot does come off a bit more floral here, it also adds a lovely citrus tartness to the sweet apricot. I’m not a huge fan of floral, but it works nicely here as an accent for the fruit, sort of like it was a combination of apricot with apricot blossoms or something. Although really it’s more like a combination of jasmine and rose for me. Yum!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIiwcdxBkHy/

(today’s advent teas: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIirQD-Air7/)

In the midst of the corona scare, I found myself working from home–which ultimately means shopping from home. Instead of giving into temptation and buying clothes in the panic-fueled sales, I decided to purchase something more practical: tea. So after ordering a few of my favorites from DavidsTea (including Cold 911 and Forever Nuts), I decided to branch out and try matcha at home. I’ve had matcha before from several other coffee shops, but have always been slightly intimidated when it came down to making it at home. However, this drink is a quick, yummy treat for work from home days. It’s light maple flavor is delicious and complementary to a splash of oat milk. I simply added a few generous heaps of the matcha powder to hot water, whisked with a fork, and added a splash of oat milk. It was delicious and easy.

I have been drinking this recently once a week or so and I’m just not getting as much maple as I would like. I use 1.5 -2 tsp matcha powder into hot milk and water (proportions vary but usually ~250-400 mL total liquid). It is a god cup but not distinctly maple.

DAVIDsTEA Matcha Advent Calendar – Day 8

I made this one as a latte and it was sooo good. I didn’t think I had this before, but now I am seeing its rated so I guess I did. But it definitely didn’t taste like it did today.

I used half the package and just tossed it directly into 8 oz of milk while it was being frothed/warmed. The end result was so decadent and dessert-like. It also was really familiar and if I am being honest I initially thought it reminded me of some kind of milkshake I have had in the past but then I placed it as the maple cream in the maple cookies that I used to love growing up. Sort of Canadian oreos, if you will. And this was the sweet and creamy and delicious centre. Yum!