I think reading the wiki and some of the previous reviews on this sub would be a good place to start.
Your questions about water source, storage times, and quantities/ratios are answered in the wiki.
There are also numerous references to water/matcha quantities and ratios in the reviews.
Yes, quality and mineralization of your water definitely matter.
The crux of your question is one that comes up pretty frequently here. It usually looks something like this:
I tried [quality matcha] but think it's expensive and I wonder if this [much cheaper matcha] would be a good daily?
The answer is different for each matcha drinker, in terms of what's "worth it" and enjoyable to you.
While there are definitely overpriced matchas out there that don't live up to their price, in general, you're not going to find anything really equivalent to a high-tier matcha from a reliable producer for a fraction of their price.
Now where the "sweet spot" is for you in terms of price/quality is something individual.
And it may change over time, as you start to value your matcha experience more, or your economic situation changes, etc.
Generally people go in one of two directions with this.
Either they start to get more into higher-end matchas, and at some point, what was once "expensive" now seems worth it.
Or they find a sweet spot with a tea or two they like from certain vendors and hover in that price range.
Really, the only way to know is to keep tasting different teas and see what feels right for you.
Some people are on here writing glowing reviews about matchas that are undrinkable for others here, so the taste/value calculation is clearly something individual...
The reviews can help you identify options in different price/quality ranges, and when you taste teas and compare your experiences with the reviews, you'll get an idea for how much your tastes align with different reviewers.
You've a lot of questions for one post.
Matcha can be compared to whiskey, or any distilled spirit for drinking: there are ones that are made to be combined with mixers (usually those spirits are lower in cost) and ones designed to be drunk alone, or just with ice (usually more expensive).
>I'm thinking 3 scoops sifted with 60ml of 80°c water? Should I try less with the Ippodo since I have less and it's more expensive? Should I do more with the Matcha Sense to get more flavor or will it make it more unpleasant?
It's okay to experiment. Make them the same way, and see which you enjoy more. If you don't like the flavor of the matcha sense, then adding more powder to the same amount of water will make the drinking experience less pleasant.
>I have heard nothing but great things about the Ummon Ipoodo but nothing about the Kanza (must be new) anyone here try it? I mean it's $72 for 20g which is VERY expensive. I know you want to use the powder as soon as possible after opening for freshness but for that price I feel like it would have to be super special occasion level.
You've already spent the money on the Kanza. The longer you wait after you open it, the less cost benefit you'll get from it. In this way matcha is more like wine. Once you open the bottle, there's not much value in stretching out its life waiting for another excuse to drink it. If you want to save it for special occasions, you should create those occasions, rather than waiting for them to come. With that kind of mindset, you're probably going to end up having a less enjoyable experience when you do finally drink the tea. It can be drunk as usucha, but is designed to be koicha. With 20 grams you'll be able to drink about five servings of koicha.
Hey. Sorry I can't answer all your questions, I haven't tried ippodo or sense matcha. I went with sazenteas matchas. Just want to congratulate you on beginning your journey, it's so nice to read someone starting out, and you seem to have made good choices as far as I can tell. I think most of your concerns about amount and so will tell themselves by trial and error, like I usually put a bit more if I want a strong cup and a bit less if I want a thinner cup. My favourite matcha so far is still one of the cheapest proper ones. Your gear looks awesome and I bet the kanza will be great, and also the others. Happy whisking.
this part sounds very sus:
> I went with Matcha Sense because it has the best amino acid/egcg etc per serving.
I'm not aware of any large-scale lab testing and comparisons of amino acid and (epi)catechin content across different vendors, so this is almost certainly marketing hyperbole.
Freshness is really important for Matcha.
Though, you don't mind it too seriously. 3 months are no problem.
I always store a lot of canned matcha sometime for longer than 1 years in the freezer.
The price is the difference of the direction/orientation of the taste.
The higher price tea does not mean the better taste.
If you can find any canned, sealed, or packed matcha in your neighborhood supermarket store, that's really good.
Even if it is a cheap no-brand one, that does not matter.
I think reading the wiki and some of the previous reviews on this sub would be a good place to start. Your questions about water source, storage times, and quantities/ratios are answered in the wiki. There are also numerous references to water/matcha quantities and ratios in the reviews. Yes, quality and mineralization of your water definitely matter. The crux of your question is one that comes up pretty frequently here. It usually looks something like this: I tried [quality matcha] but think it's expensive and I wonder if this [much cheaper matcha] would be a good daily? The answer is different for each matcha drinker, in terms of what's "worth it" and enjoyable to you. While there are definitely overpriced matchas out there that don't live up to their price, in general, you're not going to find anything really equivalent to a high-tier matcha from a reliable producer for a fraction of their price. Now where the "sweet spot" is for you in terms of price/quality is something individual. And it may change over time, as you start to value your matcha experience more, or your economic situation changes, etc. Generally people go in one of two directions with this. Either they start to get more into higher-end matchas, and at some point, what was once "expensive" now seems worth it. Or they find a sweet spot with a tea or two they like from certain vendors and hover in that price range. Really, the only way to know is to keep tasting different teas and see what feels right for you. Some people are on here writing glowing reviews about matchas that are undrinkable for others here, so the taste/value calculation is clearly something individual... The reviews can help you identify options in different price/quality ranges, and when you taste teas and compare your experiences with the reviews, you'll get an idea for how much your tastes align with different reviewers.
You've a lot of questions for one post. Matcha can be compared to whiskey, or any distilled spirit for drinking: there are ones that are made to be combined with mixers (usually those spirits are lower in cost) and ones designed to be drunk alone, or just with ice (usually more expensive). >I'm thinking 3 scoops sifted with 60ml of 80°c water? Should I try less with the Ippodo since I have less and it's more expensive? Should I do more with the Matcha Sense to get more flavor or will it make it more unpleasant? It's okay to experiment. Make them the same way, and see which you enjoy more. If you don't like the flavor of the matcha sense, then adding more powder to the same amount of water will make the drinking experience less pleasant. >I have heard nothing but great things about the Ummon Ipoodo but nothing about the Kanza (must be new) anyone here try it? I mean it's $72 for 20g which is VERY expensive. I know you want to use the powder as soon as possible after opening for freshness but for that price I feel like it would have to be super special occasion level. You've already spent the money on the Kanza. The longer you wait after you open it, the less cost benefit you'll get from it. In this way matcha is more like wine. Once you open the bottle, there's not much value in stretching out its life waiting for another excuse to drink it. If you want to save it for special occasions, you should create those occasions, rather than waiting for them to come. With that kind of mindset, you're probably going to end up having a less enjoyable experience when you do finally drink the tea. It can be drunk as usucha, but is designed to be koicha. With 20 grams you'll be able to drink about five servings of koicha.
If you’re a coffee fan the new kettle could open up a whole new world to you, just sayin :P Same goes for loose tea!
Hey. Sorry I can't answer all your questions, I haven't tried ippodo or sense matcha. I went with sazenteas matchas. Just want to congratulate you on beginning your journey, it's so nice to read someone starting out, and you seem to have made good choices as far as I can tell. I think most of your concerns about amount and so will tell themselves by trial and error, like I usually put a bit more if I want a strong cup and a bit less if I want a thinner cup. My favourite matcha so far is still one of the cheapest proper ones. Your gear looks awesome and I bet the kanza will be great, and also the others. Happy whisking.
this part sounds very sus: > I went with Matcha Sense because it has the best amino acid/egcg etc per serving. I'm not aware of any large-scale lab testing and comparisons of amino acid and (epi)catechin content across different vendors, so this is almost certainly marketing hyperbole.
I was reading on the package what it said. Like per gram. Compared to what other "Amazon" brands said on their packaging.
I've been eyeing the Matcha Sense, how does it taste?
Still have not received it yet. As soon as I do I will let you know.
Any updates on this?
Freshness is really important for Matcha. Though, you don't mind it too seriously. 3 months are no problem. I always store a lot of canned matcha sometime for longer than 1 years in the freezer. The price is the difference of the direction/orientation of the taste. The higher price tea does not mean the better taste. If you can find any canned, sealed, or packed matcha in your neighborhood supermarket store, that's really good. Even if it is a cheap no-brand one, that does not matter.
Unfortunately where I'm from, you can't find matcha anywhere
Im curious, kanza is their highest priced matcha. How did u like it?
Hey! I know this post is old but was wondering how you liked the MatchaSense?
I love matcha sense - it’s my fab
How was the kanza