Matcha Maku - Uji Organic Super Ceremonial Matcha – First Harvest, Stone-Ground, 30g

This matcha powder is very fine, it blends easy with water when using a matcha whisk. The flavor is very bold and it smells great. I use it for matcha lattes. This is good quality matcha, I recommend it.

Update: I've completely rewritten the review which was based on my first impressions, before I investigated how to prepare matcha and what the terms mean. I've also compared this matcha to another, less expensive, ceremonial matcha.After I wrote my original, uniformed review based on just pouring hot water on the powder and stirring it, I jumped into matcha videos to see how to properly prepare and judge them. It was diving into a rabbit hole - there's a LOT of content out there, not all of it consistent, but one I recommend is of a young woman comparison-tasting 8 matcha brands. She shows how she makes and tastes them, and I used her video as my guide.If you're new to matcha, like I was, there are a few things that are important to know, since the package directions and listing descriptions don't spell this out clearly.First, there are two grades of matcha: Ceremonial and Culinary. The Ceremonial matcha is made for drinking, the other as an ingredient in desserts and the like. If the matcha doesn't specify which it is (as in most inexpensive and some expensive brands) it's likely a blend of the two. The off-tastes on those are apparently a bitterness and more of a typical green-tea flavor, according to what I saw online.Second, Ceremonial matcha prices seem to range around $1 -$2 a serving, plus or minus, but there's a lot of personal preference and variation in what "a serving" is. Some use 1g of powder, some 2g. I make mine with about 1g and find it more than strong enough for me. (This Matcha Maku Super ceremonial matcha is a pricey one, but it also claims to be a very premium one. So that may be in line with the product quality.)Third, the way to make matcha is an involved procedure with specialized equipment (a "matcha set") that you'll want to watch videos of to understand. The initial result is a strong foamy broth of about 2 ounces (1/4 cup) that you can sip directly or, in most videos, used as a base with more water or milk or other ingredients. I don't have a full matcha set (available typically for about $30-$40) although now there's one in my wish list. So instead I used a clear round-bottom cup and whisked it with a portable electric wire whisk that my wife uses for powdered drinks, which I notice they also market for matcha. It worked well!I was comparing this 30g bag with a less expensive 100g tin that I also received under the Vine program, and I was surprised that I liked the other one better. This one has a deeper, slightly earthier flavor. Of course, I'm a complete beginner on matcha and this Matcha Maku Super ceremonial matcha is marketed for experienced drinkers, so my judgement is not informed by experience; someone who's had a lot of different matcha with a more refined palate may be willing to pay more for this particular one. As you can see in the picture, the prepared Matcha Maku Super ceremonial matcha is a brigher green than the less expensive one, although evidently not bright enough to be called "Amerald" (they covered that word up with a sticker that says "dark.")All that said, they were both delicious, and I'm about to develop a serious and expensive matcha habit.

Learning Curve: So, I started off a bit clueless, just pouring hot water on the powder and stirring. Rookie mistake! Then I delved into the matcha universe, watching videos and all. Turns out, matcha's a bit of an art. There are ceremonial and culinary grades, and the preparation involves a ritual. If you're new, brace yourself for a rabbit hole.Ceremonial vs. Culinary: This one claims to be super ceremonial, meant for sipping, not baking. Prices for this grade can be on the steep side, but hey, quality comes at a cost. Some say it's worth it, others might hesitate.Prep Game: You're supposed to whip this up with a fancy matcha set, but I went with a clear cup and an electric whisk. Worked surprisingly well, creating a foamy green broth. Not bad for an improvised setup.Taste Test: Compared it to another fancy tin, and this one had a deeper, earthier vibe. It's not your typical green tea—more like a complex, sophisticated experience. Some might call it an acquired taste.

I love the color and smell a lot , I have made many desserts using this and they really taste good . Smells really great as well will be buying more in future .

I have a lot of matcha, but definitely not an expert. I'll just say that I have tried other ceremonial grade matchas that I thought were much better than this one. They had a bit of natural creaminess and layered flavor beyond the inherent bitterness that this one lacks. In this one I basically feel the bitterness up front and center and everything else comes afterwards. I still expect to use up this packet for lattes, but cannot justifying paying what it costs.

Matcha is so great for you and it is delicious! This is a great, high quality matcha, and it definitely has the price tag to match. Great for drinking

I tend to drink more red tea than green, so will admit have a slightly harder time explaining what is great vs. not great about green tea (esp. match, which I drink less than standard green). With that said, to the best of my knowledge, this is the good stuff.First off, its color. It's a deep mossy green that is almost luminous. Very pretty to look at!It's smell has a wonderful, loamy earthiness to it, sort of like forest after it rains. Again, very good.It's taste, though, I think is what really sets this apart. It's got a very full, almost creamy mouthfeel. Then the taste itself is a bit bitter, a bit grassy, and a bit earthy. Very complex, very good, in a rich, sophisticated way, almost like drinking chocolate. (Just lower in calories!)This probably would be better, still, had I made it with a proper tea set. (I don't have one, so used a ceramic mug and metal whisk.) But even with that, it turned out pretty well.I'm sure this matcha powder would also elevate other matcha flavored things, like matcha - rose flavored boba tea or match cookies or whatever. (I know it's used in a lot of things other than pure tea, but wanted to try that first.)

I'm by no means a matcha expert but having already tried about a dozen different brands and grades of matcha during the past few years, this Matcha Maku brand is definitely one of the better tasting ones thus far. After adding hot water and whisking for a while, I find the taste to be quite smooth and rich tasting without any bitterness that I had seen with some other brands. That said, will definitely continue to use this brand for the taste, quality and in addition to all the health benefits that matcha provides.