Mind-blowing Matchas?

[Elovitz]

Hey all!

I've been a little disappointed with some of the matcha I've been getting lately. I've been trying out a lot of vendors, but so far the matcha's been okay at best.

So where have you had/gotten your best matcha yet? At home, at a restaurant, during a ceremony?

[AdamMY]

The best place I have gotten Matcha from is Ippodo, granted I have not tried a huge number of places, but theirs was wonderful in my opinion. Definitely go for the higher grades if you can afford it.

[Chip]

4 most recent vendors that I have been very satisfied with ...

O-Cha: wide price range, so you should move up the scale a bit.

Zencha: Yame matcha, very nice. Have not tried the Moe.

Ippodo: everyone I have tried to date has been very good and exceeded my expectations for the price point.

Den's: this one surprised me TBH. I tried the organic and the 2 higher grades. Enjoyed all of them!

[Buzz Fledderjohn]

I'm a big fan of Marukyu-Koyamaen. Unfortunately, I don't think many online vendors carry them. You can order from them directly by FAX.

http://www.marukyu-koyamaen.co.jp/engli ... ds_01.html

[Elovitz]

Thanks for the responses! I'll definitely try out all these places! And I'm always willing to dish out extra money for matcha. I tend to make thick koicha, so I need the good stuff!

[Tead Off]

Mind blowing? Does it exist? I can honestly say I have never had a 'mind-blowing' matcha from any vendor. I've had good but never had one that I wanted badly. This is in direct opposition to every other tea that I have had. Sencha, gyokuro, Chinese oolongs, Darjeelings. I have had great from all of them but never matcha. Even Ippodo, which I consider to be the best I've had doesn't enter 'greatness'. I'd like to know what matcha's are really great and why?

[Chip]

man, if matcha is not mind blowing, I don't know what is. Obviously this is very subjective. But it is certainly "mind altering."

Not to mention all the cool "drug paraphernalia" that comes with it.

[Ambrose]

hibikian super premium is one of my favorites ive tried

[entropyembrace]

man, if matcha is not mind blowing, I don't know what is. Obviously this is very subjective. But it is certainly "mind altering."

Not to mention all the cool "drug paraphernalia" that comes with it.

yeah mind altering for sure

drinking matcha is an extremely relaxing and blissful experience

I love the thick sweet-umami flavours of good matcha too

[Tead Off]

man, if matcha is not mind blowing, I don't know what is. Obviously this is very subjective. But it is certainly "mind altering."

Not to mention all the cool "drug paraphernalia" that comes with it.

yeah mind altering for sure

drinking matcha is an extremely relaxing and blissful experience

I love the thick sweet-umami flavours of good matcha too

Umami from matcha? Hmm. Maybe our terminology differs. I've never associated the flavor of matcha with umami like I do with sencha and gyo. I can taste nuttiness, creaminess, greenness. I've had high end, low end, med end. Never had one that made me go Wow. Anyone want to mail me there best matcha they can consider Wow?

[Chip]

Have you ever smelled the dry warming matcha in a preheated chawan, mindblowing, cocao, veggie, fruity. WOW!

Add water, and I simply cannot have any interuptions for this mind blowing experience.

But then again, Dan Cong has not blown my mind ... yet. Differing drugs of choice.

[Elovitz]

It's so mind-blowing! That's why I need something better, to support my habit

Gotta get through the current matcha before I'll buy any new stuff. So excited for all the recommendations!!

[Tead Off]

Have you ever smelled the dry warming matcha in a preheated chawan, mindblowing, cocao, veggie, fruity. WOW!

Add water, and I simply cannot have any interuptions for this mind blowing experience.

But then again, Dan Cong has not blown my mind ... yet. Differing drugs of choice.

Surely, you can't compare the cacao smell of great Shui Xian to matcha or the fruitiness of a good Taiwan gaoshan.

Now, I certainly won't argue that we all taste things differently and like you say, we have our drugs of choice. I guess I've always enjoyed the teaware toys more than the matcha.

Better than a great espresso, Chip? (Not made with a La Pavoni!)

[Oni]

Horaido`s top 2 matchas are great, sweet and strong, and Maiko`s top 2 matchas, and Marukyu-koyamaen matcha`s are top quality and the most elegant, and O-cha`s top matcha, I would try from these vendors koicha.
When I first tried koicha it was an unforgetable experience, I felt like I was high in a legal manner and in a healthy way.

[Tead Off]

Horaido`s top 2 matchas are great, sweet and strong, and Maiko`s top 2 matchas, and Marukyu-koyamaen matcha`s are top quality and the most elegant, and O-cha`s top matcha, I would try from these vendors koicha.
When I first tried koicha it was an unforgetable experience, I felt like I was high in a legal manner and in a healthy way.

So, you prefer Koicha? Do you prepare it thick or like an Usucha? I've never prepared Koicha. Maybe that's the ticket.