Green Tea Forum

cyens · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

Hello
I just got back from my local asian food market and I was browsing through the tea isle ( I mostly buy my tea there, since they got a very nice variety including good quality products. )

I just noticed something I havent noticed before, in the matcha section, there is powdered green tea, but it comes from Taiwan and the price is significantly lower than japanese matcha. I bought a package to compare myself ( no I havent tried it yet ).

Would there be a difference, other then its not japanese and is probably of lower quality. Do chinese use this tea in a different way of use it in the same way?

The instruction on it, is the same as matcha, but there a recipy with milk and honney on it to make lattes, which I guessed means its lower grade.

But I gave it a try, since matcha is so expensif in the longrun!

I paid 10$ for 100gr. ( its not insanly cheap, but not expensif either )

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

$10 for 100 grams is pretty cheap

Matcha is a very specific type of tea beyond the fact that its powdered, so you are most likely going to have a completely different taste profile.

Japan got powedered tea from China, so I imagine the use is about the same. Though I admit my knowledge is very limited about the specifics of powdered tea in China, like did they use chasen as well, was it whipped into a froth, and what not.

cyens · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

Well, taste more like food-grade matcha, to make smoothies, lattes and cakes. Oh well, still, its it tastes nice in a latté, buts its too grassy alone!

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 175

Photiou · Posted: Nov 28, 2007 4:19 am Post subject:

I was just thinking that if gyokuro was invented in 1835, was matcha/powdered tea before that simply powdered sencha?

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

From what I've read, tencha seems to predate gyokuro, but perhaps someone more knowledgeable than me knows different.

cyens · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

Well, on my third day using this infamous powder green tea from taiwan.
I made a mistake on the first day I used it, I used to much in my cup. I seriously think it taste fine, I dont see why I spend more before just to get something called matcha, when frankly, I dont see much difference...
Well, its slightly more bitter then the " matcha " I tried before. So I see a difference. But... still... I drink industrial quantities of tea, so I'll stick to powdered tea for now... I'll repurchase matcha for special occasion, like its meant to be!!!! Just not for every day use...

I'll make a cake or something else with it this week-end. I'm all exited about this new find, because I love matcha so much, now I feel less guilty using it in everything...

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

Ohhh, theres a difference. But to each their own; I'm glad you found something you liked. Very Happy