What Does Matcha Taste Like? Is It Really Bitter?

What does matcha taste like? Is it really bitter as some people say?

In this article, we will discuss its features and which green tea powder deserves to be on your shelf. There are different powders selling but not all are the same quality.

Matcha teas come with different green shades, taste, and texture. I will give you some advices for an easy decision when getting your Japanese specialty. Let’s dive into it.

Which matcha tea is best?

You might think that matcha tea with the Ceremonial Grade inscription ensures that you have bought a good tea. However, not all matcha is made in the same way.

So, what is the difference? The difference is in the taste and other green tea features. Higher quality matcha tea brings you a softer taste, which is a pleasure to drink and is less bitter.

Conversely, low-quality matcha has a powdery and granular taste. Therefore, make sure you have the best quality before preparing this healthy and delicious drink.

What does matcha taste like?

The taste of matcha surprises everyone. It has a nutty, slightly bitter taste.

The darker the green shade of the tea is, the stronger its aroma is. Its taste depends on the production quality and the region from which it comes.

Some prefer a bit sweeter matcha, while others swear on the more rich taste.

No matter which sort you choose, you can enjoy your matcha cup, which is a simple and easy choice to add positive ingredients to your everyday ritual.

If you’ve ever tasted good matcha, you’ve certainly tried a sweet and green aroma. This is due to an amino acid called L-theanine, which also occurs in shadow growth.

L-theanine gives the pure taste of green tea. Given that low-quality green tea powder is lacking this amino acid, it has a bitter taste that is neither tasty nor sweet.

Good quality matcha has excellent taste, which is slightly acidic, but not bitter, creamy, and sometimes even nutty or fruity.

How to recognize quality matcha?

As you already know, not all green tea powders are the same quality. You have two options regarding taste. You can drink a sweeter or a little bit of bitter matcha.

How about other qualities of this healthy powder? What do you need to consider when you want to experience the rich taste of this amazing tea?

The origins

First, you should look at the country or region origin of the specific tea.

It is generally accepted that higher quality matcha comes from Japan. Two Japan regions are particularly regarded as the best matcha producers.

These are the city of Nishio in the Aichi province and the city of Uji in the Kyoto region, which produces around 80% of all matcha in Japan.

China and Taiwan also produce it, but enthusiasts still prefer Japanese matcha.

The color

When it comes to color, choose truly shiny green. The greener the powder is, the better.

Matcha grows in shade, so leaves of tea tree are forced to produce more chlorophyll, giving the drink a strong green color.

Low-quality matcha contains leaves that have not been appropriately shaded; they may be older or have been harvested lower from the plant’s stalks. Thus, the color may be more yellow or brown.

The feeling

This aromatic drink looks more like a fine powder than a typical spicy tea.

The texture and touch of the powder can reveal the true tea quality. High-quality green tea powder is very fine and silky.

It is reminiscent of eyeshadows because the size of the particles is only 5-10 microns, which means that it is so finely ground as baby powder.

The low-quality powder has larger particles, making it rougher on the touch.

The lead quantity

The organic green tea also contains lead, especially those grown mainly in China. When ordinary green tea is soaked, about 90% of the lead remains in the leaves that we throw away.

Ecologically produced Japan matcha contains very little lead, so there is no fear of ingesting too much of it with this type of tea.

Proper storage for optimum taste

If green tea powder is not stored correctly, it will not last long. The biggest enemy of this hot drink is oxygen.

It is therefore recommended that you store it in a refrigerator in an airtight packing.

It will slow down the oxidation processes and prolong the life span of the tea.

Ceremonial grade vs culinary matcha

Do you know that you have two types of matcha on the market that are used in 2 different ways? Know more about ceremonial and culinary matcha powder.

Ceremonial matcha

Ceremonial matcha is the finest quality green tea powder that is meant for drinking. It has a vibrant green color with a fine graded texture.

This is the kind of powder that you should drink immediately after making it. It is the best practice to drink it without any additives.

Culinary matcha

It is used for cooking and baking. Some culinary matcha powders have lower quality than ceremonial grade but this is not a rule.

People love to mix it in cakes, muffins, soups, smoothies, and other delicious meals.

What does this matcha taste like? This sort is not so sweet, so it is perfect to combine it with your favorite meals. Often, it has a less bright green color than ceremonial grade matcha.

Drink Sweeter or Bitterish Matcha

It is on you which green tea powder will you choose regards to your personal preferences.

If you aren’t used to sugar in your drinks then you might choose ceremonial grade matcha and drink it pure without additives.

But if you are used to sweet drinks, then you could try matcha with more softer taste.

There are differences in matcha teas from Japan and Chinese. Meanwhile, this tea originates from China; it is still used in the Japanese tea ceremony today and is more appreciated by tea drinkers.

Some Chinese matcha teas are bitterer than Japanese.

Be careful when choosing your tea powder. If you want the best quality tea then you should consider its features.

Choose the best and don’t make compromises when choosing high-quality matcha that will satisfy your taste buds.