Maeda-En Matcha Powder Bulk, Matcha Green Tea Powder - 1.1 LB Large Bag

Fairly expensive, but excellent.Compared to Osulloc's plastic squeezy thing (korean brand), two weird chinese brands (one from amazon - "starter matcha", the other from a friend), some other weird korean brand (from a friend), and one japanese brand of matcha powder (the most expensive one, 6$ for a small tin at retail asian store) that I have around (I know this isn't very specific) - this powder is very clearly the best.The package I received was extremely fresh and not oxidized much at all, the color was immediately noticeably different from all the other powders - bright green and no sign of spoilage unlike most of the other ones which ranged from dark green but brown when mixed with water (the "starter matcha" chinese brand) to varying shades of dark green (all the other brands). Taste is excellent and *much* less bitter in equivalent amounts than any of the other powders I had around. The aroma is also excellent, no hint of spoilage and very fresh and green-tea like.I am too lazy to upload pictures, so hopefully you can just take my word for it.In the Q&A part of this page above the reviews someone mentioned that maeda replied to their email stating this stuff was "universal-culinary grade". I sent them an email too and they clarified the leaves were made in Japan and that they classify this powder as "culinary".I put that in quotes because compared to the other "culinary grade" stuff on the market this powder is easily many times better.If you expect to be going through a lot of matcha powder and care deeply about quality, just buy this.I personally spoon out some of this powder into a tin that I keep in the kitchen, while the big bag goes into the refrigerator. Both the bulk bag and the tin that I regularly use have oxygen absorbed packets inside. Up to you.Don't pay any mind to the low-quality reviews for the other matcha powder brands on Amzn - they are vastly overstating the quality of the product because those reviewers have had nothing to compare to. The "starter matcha" stuff on amazon I ordered for instance had overhwhelmingly positive reviews but it was easily tied for last place among the powders I tested.Probably the best way to filter out the bad stuff purely based on reviews is to look at the proportion of 1-star reviews. This powder has just two - one by a guy who rated everything he bought a 0 and the other by someone with a single review ever posted and poor english (wouldn't be surprised if that was a competitor). Neither really make sense anyways.

This matcha tea powder is excellent. I use it to make matcha tea lattes every morning and the taste is wonderful, only slightly slightly bitter. Very high quality and gorgeous bright green color. I read a zillion reviews on nearly every matcha product on Amazon and finally decided to get this one and I am very pleased. It's pricey but you get an entire pound, compared to the tiny bags that you get with other products. This should last me a good long while. A great tip -- I use my Nespresso milk frother to make the matcha latte: You get some milk and/or water started and as it is spinning, you sprinkle in about 2 teaspoons of this matcha powder. It whisks it perfectly and is ready at the perfect temperature, not too hot, not too cold. Plus if you use the right kind of milk, it creates a lovely foam on top (I use unsweetened organic soymilk from Westsoy).

My family loves Starbuck's Green Tea Lattes. However, a daily Venti is ridiculously expensive. So I have been searching for an "affordable" matcha to use for my own green tea lattes. Teavana's matcha is really good, but too expensive. I bought one brand which was so hideous I sent it back (they are no longer available on Amazon). The second brand I bought, Organic Ceremony Grade 1 Matcha Green Tea Powder 200 Grams Bulk by Island Teas, was not great. It had a dull green color and off flavor (kind of fishy).Decided to try one more matcha, so ordered the Maeda-En Matcha Powder Bulk, Matcha Green Tea Powder - 1.1 LB Large Bag. This matcha powder is excellent. It makes great lattes. We are so happy to have found a good quality, affordable matcha powder.

I'm 100 percent convinced these people leaving the 5 stars have never had a good matcha thus they don't know what they are talking about.What a disappointment. When it comes to matcha the quality varies widely. And it shouldn't be dull green with a dirty taste.You want a great...and I've tested this on my extra picky matcha peeps...great matcha where you taste and FEEL the difference?Ito En unsweetened matcha powder.Best budget matcha. Currently I'm out and it's covid 19 time with riots and no one has it to sell. Of course. As if things aren't bad enough.I'm like a coffee snob. I don't out a bunch of sugar and cream to cover up the crap in my cup like some people do. I want quality.So bummed.

I use this matcha almost daily to make matcha lattes and it is great for that. The taste is not too bitter, even if you drink it alone but I wouldn't recommend it for that because the flavor is just not so rich as higher quality matchas. I'm pretty sure this is Maeda En's culinary matcha so of course that is to be expected.Update June 2015:I just wanted to update my review because I purchased a second bag of this matcha. It's just such a great product. I opened the new bag and was actually surprised by the richness of the green color and the slightly sweet aroma. Of course, it is still not a matcha that I would want to drink by itself, but it is still my number one choice for culinary use and for making lattes with a bit of cream or milk and sugar. The price and quality can't be beat. I'm sure a higher grade matcha would make an even better latte, but the cost would be prohibitively high. This matcha still is probably just as good as some of the matcha marketed in the states as being good enough to drink straight (e.g. Mighty Leaf's). I will still buy higher grades in smaller quantities for straight drinking from O-cha, but this is great for any other use.

I ordered this particular Matcha because the local coffee shop I usually get matcha latte from uses this exact product. Now I get to make it at home. Its high quality Matcha, tastes so good! I add it to core power vanilla protein and it makes a great energy/protein packed drink! Highly recommend