Akira Matcha 30g - Organic Premium Ceremonial Japanese Matcha Green Tea Powder - First Harvest, Radiation Free, No Additives, Zero Sugar - USDA and JAS Certified

I'm always willing to try new brands, and this one had excellent reviews and said everything I needed to hear - stone ground, organic, Japanese, from Uji - Unfortunately, this was too good to be true. br>br>and for a really approachable price. br>br>Unfortunately, this was too good to be true. The color is a little dull compared to ceremonial grade, and the flavor was disappointing, with almost no umami and an unpleasant bitter finish. br>br>For me, the real kicker is when brands claim their matcha is stone ground but it isn't. With the smear test, you can easily detect this - Simply make a pile and sift through the matcha with your finger. The difference between true stone ground matcha and industrial machine milled matcha is that true stone ground matcha leaves a beautiful, smooth, continuous line, whereas industrial machine milled matcha leaves a disjointed, gritty line, as shown in the photo. I was let down.

Chloe Webb

| Jun 24, 2021

I've recently been experimenting with different Matcha powders to see which one is best for me in terms of price and quality, so I decided to do a taste test and give my thoughts on the eight that I tried. All are Ceremonial Grade, with the exception of Jade Leaf (Culinary Grade), which I've been using for cooking and smoothies but included for color comparison.   br>br>Price:br>br>Kyoto Dew:br>br>Kyoto Dew:br>br>Kyoto Dew:br>br>Kyoto Dew Ippodo: 83/grambr>br>Ippodo: 83/grambr>br>Ippodo: 83/grambr $1. Matchabar: 37/gram (BEST)br>br>Matchabar: 37/gram (BEST)br>br>Matchabar: 37/gram (BEST) Pure Chimp: 99/grambr>br>Pure Chimp: 99/grambr>br>Pure Chimp: 99/grambr>b br>br>Kenko: 29/gram (WORST)br>br> Encha: 33/grambr>br>Encha: 33/grambr>br>Encha: 33/grambr>br br>br>Akira: 65 grambr>br> br>br>Jade Leaf (Culinary Grade): 83/grambr>br> Top 4: 19/grambr>br> Ippodo (br>br>1) Ippodo (br>br>2) Ippodo (br>br>3) I Hands down the best Matcha I've ever had, but it's quite expensive to use on a regular basis. Sweet, earthy, intense, and complex, with an unrivaled bright rich green color Because of the price, I use this Matcha only on special occasions or for a limited time. br>br>2a) Akira: The flavor is strikingly similar to Ippodo, but it lacks the complexity of Ippodo and begins with a slight bitterness. With a bright rich green color, it's sweet, earthy, floral, fresh, and complex. 2b) Kyoto Dew: br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>b This Matcha is especially good, with a strong herbal and sweet flavor and a slight bitterness. Sweet, herbal, smooth, and slightly complex, with a deep (Chlorophyll Dense) rich green color that I adore. 3) Encha: br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br> Although this Matcha is excellent, it lacks the high level of complexity found in Ippodo and Akira. Mildly bittersweet, earthy, nutty, smooth, and slightly complex, with a vibrant rich green color. br>br>3rd paragraph: (Jade Leaf) is Culinary Grade, so I didn't include it. br>br>7) Chimp Pure: I've had some of the worst Ceremonial Grade Matcha I've ever had. This is not a premium grade matcha if it is true Ceremonial Grade Matcha. The color, texture, aroma, and flavor are all on par with Culinary/ Cooking Grade, with Pure Chimp having a slight edge in color (see photo) and taste, which is reflected in the price. It was the least expensive Ceremonial Grade I tested ($. It was evident (at 29 cents per gram). br>br>6) Matchbar: I don't see why anyone would want to buy this product. br>br> A good Matcha, but for the price, there are many better options (Akira, Encha, Kyoto, Kenko) that are all cheaper and better. 5) Kenko br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>b It was a decent Matcha, but it was very light and had a bitter aftertaste that lingered far too long. With a rich green color and a slight sweetness, grassy flavor, mild bitterness, and soft flavor. If you've never tried Matcha before or prefer a milder flavor, this is a good place to start.

Amalia O’BRIEN

| Feb 10, 2021

After trying all of the popular "ceremonial" matcha brands on Amazon (and a few outside of it), I went straight to the source and have been ordering Marukyu-style matcha ever since. Koyamaen matcha is a Japanese matcha. Nothing in the US compares to MK matcha in terms of variety, quality, or price. br>My most recent shipment was delayed in Japan due to a typhoon, so I had to buy something to tide me over. I decided to watch Akira because it was new and had good reviews. It was, unfortunately, just like the others - disappointing. From a yellowish color and a weak flavor with a hint of bitterness to a lack of umami.

Jonathan ALLAN

| Nov 28, 2021

I've been making Bulletproof Matcha at home every day for the past year, using some significantly less expensive Organic "Culinary" grade Matcha. A friend of mine finally educated me on the difference in quality between Culinary and Ceremonial grade Matcha. br>br>When I was first introduced to Ceremonial grade Matcha, I was shocked. There is no bitterness in ceremonial Matcha. My Organic Culinary Matcha, on the other hand, has a strong bitter seaweed flavor and aroma. The taste and flavor are pleasant to the palate, and the energetic effects on me are noticeable. I decided to buy a 1lb bag of this Akira Organic Matcha by Matcha Konomi via their website because I go through ridiculous amounts of Matcha and this tiny 30g tin could probably last me about a week to ten days. br>br>I've been a Puerh drinker for a long time, but I've come to the conclusion that Matcha is the caffeine / stimulant of choice for me - It works better than any other caffeine at providing clear, high-vibrant energy, mental clarity, and focus, as well as a slew of other health benefits. br>br>I've been drinking this every day in my bulletproof matcha, which is just a few drops of stevia sweetened. But I also enjoy it whisked with water in the traditional way. Because of the high quality of this matcha, it does not require a sweetener because it is clean and does not taste bitter or astringent.

Danielle Haynes

| Feb 22, 2021

Watery. No umami! I recently returned from living as an expat in Japan and am looking forward to finding ceremonial matcha in the United States. This one received a lot of positive feedback. It was a no-brainer for me to buy. I tasted it after whisking it together. Disappointed to the point of frustration. It has no flavor, is watery, lacks umami, and lacks a rich body. It's similar to drinking brewed tea from a medium-hot pot. green tea leaves of superior quality from Japan. However, they would only be a tenth of the price. br>Ceremonial matcha should have an umami flavor, which means it should have a rich body with a smooth and sophisticated texture. To make a thick froth, it should be simple to whisk. This is extremely aggravating!.

Brantley Elliott

| Nov 30, 2021

In New York and New Jersey, I teach Japanese tea ceremony. I usually purchase my matches from a well-known Kyoto tea company. This AKIRA matcha is the first time I've had a great taste with a matcha from a US company! This product is of excellent quality, is organic, and comes in a lovely packaging. I'd tell my students and friends about it! AKIRA is a fantastic name.

Andre Valdez

| Sep 01, 2021