Ippodo Tea - Ikuyo Matcha (3.5oz) - For Lattes and Usucha - Medium & Snappy - Kyoto Since 1717

I've been struggling to find a matcha flavor I like for a while and tried a different one from this brand (the Horai) and I didn't like that one at all. I found that the Horai was too sweet with an aftertaste of bacon (I imagine that was due to the umami notes but it did not translate well in my latte). I thought about the other matchas I've tried before and started to search for a matcha with a flavor profile that matched what I wanted (ideally something astringent with a nice bitterness and earthy flavor, and very little, but ideally no, sweetness) and came across this. $51 felt steep for the 3 oz size, but I figure that this is similar to how people pay good money for quality coffee beans, and I decided to bite the bullet and try it, and wow am I glad that I did!This matcha is exactly what I'd been looking for taste wise. It's bitter, but the bitterness is an astringent type of bitterness has so it's refreshing rather than off-putting. It's also earthy in the way you'd expect matcha to be. The matcha is somewhat rich and there;'s a very subtle umami profile to it that makes it sit on the tongue but it doesn't coat it the way I find sweet matchas do.It has no detectable sweetness in my opinion, and it pairs well with every milk I've tried so far, and is also delicious without any milk at all. I also made a latte for my sister but sweetened it with some vanilla bean paste and she said it was better than other matchas she has tried before (she's not a fan of matcha typically). All in all, I'm very satisfied with this purchase and plan to buy another bag or tin once I finish this one.

Oh my lord-I just finished a full cup of this, and included some regular milk. It is so high quality in flavor, texture, color, and taste. Unlike any match I’ve ever had; I didn’t need any added sweeteners (I usually use maple syrup or vanilla extract) this was absolutely perfect on its own 💗 give it a try!!!

The media could not be loaded. Love this matcha. You can tell the difference in quality & taste comparing to cheaper matcha. And I have tried a few brands rated high on the Internet. The product is however quite costly though so I can only have it once in a while :) I gave this as a gift too. Perfect for those days that you want to be more special or as a special gifts for matcha lovers.

Gave it 4 stars because it's definitely bitter and quite astringent (verrrrry vegetal and the aftertaste tasted a little too green 🍃 iykyk) on its own, but works well in a latte. Not a super complex flavor profile and doesnt have a lot of sweet notes if that's your taste like me. Overall, works great in a lightly sweetened latte, still has a decently strong matcha taste. Small package but a little goes a long way which justifies the price point - good price for a decent amount of authentic matcha, just not the flavor for everyone

i love this matcha from ippodo! it’s the perfect dark green color & it has good flavor.

I am not a match connoisseur, but I do make a cold matcha latte every morning (matcha, soy milk & maple syrup) and this works perfectly. It has a smooth, subtle flavor and a creamy consistency when I whip it up with hot water & a milk frother. I use about a heaping teaspoon in my latte and it makes around 20 lattes - so for about $2.50/drink, this is great value.

Clearly good matcha

Such a good flavor! It's strong but still smooth and not bitter, and really good for an iced latte. It's also good ceremonial style but I just prefer iced drinks!