Matcha Tea Tasting: Guess the Most Expensive Experience Review

Alright, that green dust we call matcha has, sort of, taken over, hasn’t it? What started as, actually, this somewhat quiet tradition is now, well, it’s practically in lattes, desserts, and pretty much anything people can stir it into, as a matter of fact. I wanted to see what all the buzz was about, so, too I signed up for one of those “Guess the Most Expensive Matcha Tea” experiences. Yep, it’s where they give you a lineup of different grades, and you have to, basically, peg which one set them back the most. Sounded like a laugh, and also potentially educational, too it’s almost.

What is a Matcha Tea Tasting Experience?

These matcha tea tasting events are popping up all over, so, to be honest. The main idea, in short, is this: you sample different matcha teas, typically ranging from lower-grade culinary matcha to the, almost, super fancy ceremonial stuff, you know. You sip, you swirl, you, well, try to detect subtle notes (good luck with that if you’re me!), and then make your, well, most educated guess as to which one boasts the heftiest price tag, actually.

That little bit of fun, I think, is that it forces you to pay, in short, super close attention to, actually, things like color, aroma, and taste. It turns what would otherwise be just your regular beverage break into, actually, some kind of learning activity, you know. Many experiences toss in, more or less, little explanations about the origin of matcha, how it’s, literally, grown and processed, and what the heck makes one grade, basically, different from another, so it is.

Setting the Scene for My Tasting Adventure

The place where I went with this wasn’t one of those minimalist Zen temples, that is, it was a, pretty much, small but cool tea shop downtown, more or less. Soft lighting, the smell of toasted rice tea kind of, really, hanging in the air, you know. Our host was, actually, this lady who seemed to know absolutely everything about matcha, right. I mean, she used the word “umami” at least five times, literally. Anyhow, the setup was pretty neat, basically. We each had these, basically, little stations with our own bamboo whisk (a chasen, I think it’s, you know, called), a bowl (chawan), and these teensy, tiny little tasting cups, like your, you know, fairy teacups, alright.

There were four bowls lined up. Each was with, you know, a different colored sticker marking them—no clues given on what, basically, was in store, like your. The anticipation kind of, almost, hung in the air thick as that vibrant green powder, really. It was time to get, well, this tasting going, pretty much!

The Tasting Lineup: Colors, Aromas, and First Impressions

So, as a matter of fact, here’s the lowdown on each of the contenders, like. I tried, actually, to put on my, well, sophisticated tea critic hat, and take some descriptive notes for you, like your.

1. Cup #1: The Forest Green Fellow: The powder was this deeper shade of, honestly, forest green. It had this grassy, almost spinach-like smell to it when I, sort of, first gave it a whiff. I whisked it up, and it frothed up pretty nicely, but it did leave this, well, slightly bitter aftertaste on the back of my tongue. That’s to say, this isn’t winning any awards anytime soon, almost.
2. Cup #2: The Bright Buzzkill: Oh boy, this was, really, vividly green—like they’d raided the, sort of, crayon box of a kindergartner. The aroma, that is, was a bit sharper, that is, a tad “fishy,” to be, really, blunt about it, right. I took a tiny sip, and POW! Bitter city, population: my taste buds, alright. Nope, this ain’t it either, honestly.
3. Cup #3: The Smooth Operator: So, the color on this was lighter, a more gentle, almost pastel green, right. It smelled like, actually, freshly cut hay mixed with just a, kind of, tiny bit of sweetness, you know. That’s to say, the texture was incredibly smooth when I whisked it – almost velvety, really. It went down so, you know, easily with that little bit of that satisfying “umami” flavor that everyone bangs on about, in a way, as I was saying. A strong contender here, frankly.
4. Cup #4: The Mysterious One: Back to that deep green hue, but different to that of #1. More refined, you could, maybe, say, kind of. This aroma reminded me a little of, literally, dark chocolate mixed with sea air – odd but good, almost. This sip went down velvety smooth and the aftertaste was delicious in that it didn’t actually, linger. That’s actually something I did enjoy. Is this, kind of, something worth the money though?

The Big Reveal: Did My Taste Buds Lead Me Astray?

Drumroll, alright! Our instructor, anyway, showed the prices one by one. As it goes, cups 1 and 2 were pretty standard everyday matcha. As I was saying, you can use them, you know, for baking and lattes without needing, definitely, a second mortgage to purchase them, right. Surprise, right?

Alright, so number three was a really good grade ceremonial matcha and quite pricey, that’s, like your, $40-ish per ounce, pretty much. But, that is, cup number four – and I got that right by the way! – Was top tier matcha powder and cost, definitely, over $100. So I did well! I do believe, actually, my refined, that is, matcha pallet has a future yet.

Key Takeaways from My Matcha Tea Tasting

• Not all matcha is created equal. That forest green powder has its differences, alright. The experience highlighted differences in color, scent, and the smoothness of the blend when whisked.
• Flavor can be subtle. Tasting tea can be an exercise in subtle tasting as the, literally, small variations can drastically change a beverage, right. Tasting experience makes sure of this by focusing on the mouth feel and after taste that’s, pretty much, caused by a little, little sip, as I was saying.
• Expensive doesn’t always equal “best”. Though I successfully sussed out, actually, what was pricey, that does not mean it was the most mouth-watering option that day. Flavor comes from, definitely, personal preference, not only what that sticker price shouts, that is.