Marukyu-Koyamaen Makoto No Cha Matcha

This matcha is a special run from Marukyu-Koyamaen. It is specially made and prepared for a famous temple in Kyoto. It was kindly gifted by Greg Demmons. Since one has tried all of Marukyu-Koyamaen 'principal' (regular offering) matcha teas, it was amusing to try something new from this reliable brand. It has been a while since one had opened a new can of matcha. With the spring coming it feels quite natural.

This tea is prepared in the Korean powered tea ceremony...

The dry powder is appreciated and is a vibrant green, creamy, milky, and slightly sweet smell emits from the tea container. There are slight almond-nut notes, savory plum notes also linger underneath. The smell is vibrant.

After this tea is whisked up it is imbibed...

A thick, fresh-pure, grassy-creamy froth fills the mouth. The fresh vibrancy of the initial taste fades into a more creamy-sweet finish on the breath. There is an underlying sweet-almond taste that mixes with the creamy notes of this matcha. That creamy-almond taste makes up the depth of this tea while the vibrant, fresh, grassy-tea tasting initial taste composes the light notes of this nicely balanced ethereal tea. The end result is a very rich, fresh, creamy tea.

Minutes later it is as if sweet milky cream has just been consumed. The qi of this tea is soft, harmonizing and unintentionally pushes one into an alerted state very early in the morning. Peace fills this space.

Thanks again Greg.

Peace

Marukyu-Koyamaen Aoarashi Matcha

The producer's name Marukyu-Koyamaen (or Seh San Won in Korean) means 'Small Mountain Hill”. The company's website details the long history of this well known tea produced from the hills it got its name from in Uji, Japan.

If one hopes to fully appreciate the top grade matcha from a producer one should first appreciate the lowest grade.
If one can drink the lowest grade matcha and still enjoy it for what it is, then surely one can fully enjoy the highest grade.

Today, one mindfully prepares the lowest of ten tea ceremony grades from Marukyu-Koyamaen, Aoarashi matcha. It's name means “Blue Mountain's Energy”. One can assure you that it has just that.

As one pops the lid and then carefully peels it off, the rich green smell of fresh matcha lifts into the surrounding air. The smell is almost smokey, not pure, and not entirely sweet, emulating its dark green colour. One can already smell the bitter elements of the tea overcoming most of the sweet.

This tea is prepared in ceremony, thanks is given, then it is consumed.

The layer of froth resting atop watery green sludge is thin, the density of bubbles low. As the tea makes way into one's mouth, green with a smokey, roasted, bitter-sweet taste sticks to the roof of one's mouth and the front of one's tongue. The mouthfeel is thin and drys out these targeted areas in the mouth.

The chaqi of Aoarashi is different than most. Its energy is soft and subtle, at first it is barely detectable then, as minutes and hours tick by, it slowly and softly builds up, like climbing one's way up a mountain top to experience the rising sun. This tea softly radiates “Blue Mountain's Energy”.

Peace

Should One Grasp the Stars Or the Sky?: Comparing and Contrasting the Highest Grade Matcha From Yame and Marukyu-Koyamaen

One jumped at the opportunity to purchase these two teas at practically cost and thought to write in detail about them.

The Yame matcha is the black can with the gold label. It is the grade above the green lable that was reviewed a few months back. The name of the gold label translates to “Grasping the Stars”.

The Marukyu-Koyamaen matcha is the green and white can. It is the highest of the ten grades that Marukyu-Koyamaen sells. The name Tenju translates to “Grasping the Sky”.
First one should note that both of these teas are of excellent quality and were cherished and drank with the utmost reverence. Both names suggest obtaining some kind of heavenly enlightenment. One can preemptively assure you they live up to their names.

It must also be noted that the Grasping the Sky matcha is twice the price of the Grasping the Stars matcha. They both cost the same although the Grasping the Stars matcha came in a 40 gram tin and the Grasping the Sky matcha came in a 20 gram tin.

These teas were prepared in both a froth, the traditional Korean way of drinking matcha, referred to as 'thin tea' in Japan. They were also prepared in a watery, non-frothy paste, referred to as 'thick tea' in Japan.

The top picture is always the Grasping the Stars matcha and the bottom, Grasping the Sky.

Let's look at these heavenly teas...

The Powder...

Grasping the Stars' powder is bright green and smells of sweet green vegetation. It emits a light, fresh, green, grassy smell.

Grasping the Sky's powder contains a thinner, lighter grains and is of a brighter green than Grasping the Stars. It's odour is less sweet, more rich, with a mild smoothness about it.

The Thin Tea's Taste...

Grasping the Stars thick froth is a pleasure to ones being. Its initial taste is a delicious, cliché but very pure vegital green tea flavour. The flavour is almost overwhelming the taste of subtle citrus which could be detected through the thickness of the froth. A soft sweetness evolves in the mouth seconds later, softening the slight bitterness of the vegital vail.

Grasping the Sky's thick froth is as much a pleasure as the Grasping the Stars matcha. Its initial taste is quite sweet, it becomes richer as the seconds past before sour and bitter tastes emerge minutes after the tea is swallowed.

The Mouthfeel of the Thin Tea...

Grasping the Stars' mouthfeel is thick and a bit chalky. Tis seclusion coats ones whole mouth, throat, and stomach. It leaves one combing the rood of the mouth and insides of the cheeks for minutes afterward.

Grasping the sky feels as though it has a thickness to it but retains a very light airy feeling. It feels lighter and less clumpy than Grasping the Stars matcha. This light feeling is met with a smile.

The Thick Tea's Taste...

Grasping the Stars tastes of strong vegital taste and is not so sweet. About twenty seconds or so after swallowing the thick green watery paste a bitterness emerges and turns a bit sweet.
Grasping the Sky tastes sweet. There is a bitterness there but the mouth doesn't seem to mind as it only compliments the sweetness of this tea. The green taste emerges a few seconds after the tea touches the stomach. It slides over sweetness, also complimenting it.

The Mouthfeel of the Thick Tea...

Grasping the Stars matcha feels slippery and chalky, much the same way it feels when prepared as thin tea but there is more intensity in the mouth.

Grasping the Sky matcha has a thick, coating smoothness that paints bright green from tongue tip to stomach. It paints thick.

The Chaqi...

The Grasping the Stars matcha takes one to a place one rarely goes with just tea alone. Its qi is stellar. The theanine must be off the charts. One feels excessively relaxed after consuming this tea. It approaches like the undertow of a wave and pulls you in deeply. After it hits one almost feels tired yet one's mind is sharper than ever. This qi is like no other. It's time to sit in meditation.

The chaqi of Grasping the Sky matcha is quite lively, active, yet soothing. This chaqi is bound to lift your mind and spirit. It is an energy that builds fast but carries no harshness or ill affects.
Overall, both of these matchas are marvolous, if not a bit too luxurious for one's tastes. One will probably not bask in such extravagance for a while. But it goes without saying that the last few weeks have been pretty damn good!

Peace

Unkaku Matcha

This is another matcha from Marukyu-Koyamaen. It is the forth highest in quality that Marukyu-Koyamaen sells and is meant for koicha. Unkaku Matcha is one grade higher than Kinrin Matcha reviewed by Alex on Another Tea Blog a few months back. The name 'Unkaku' refers to the auspicious symbol of the crane and the cloud. In Japan, as well as Korea and China, the crane and cloud motif has long been a symbol of longevity, happiness, peace, wisdom, purity, and truth.

The powder is a light brilliant green and smells creamy, sweet, and pure. The powder is prepared in ceremony. Mucky dark green sludge is transformed into thick heady bright green froth, the miracle of matcha is once again revealed. One bows and pays respect to the tea. Then one consumes the tea in its entirety. It's taste is sweet, slightly green and vegital, and somewhat sour and acidic, not too creamy. It presents a nice balance of sweet, bitter, and sour. In it, a ripe pink grapefruit can almost be detected under it's green profile. It is quite flavourful for a matcha. The mouthfeel isn't it's strongest point, covering the top of the mouth and tongue it hardly resonates in the throat, if not just a little at the top of the throat where the mouth terminates.

The qi of this tea is refreshing, peaceful, and pure. It's energy a very modest type, nothing to noticeable or flashy, but pure as if taking a long awaited cold mountain spring shower after long day of mild labour. If one chooses to ignore the qi's course throughout the body, it just seems to induce a subtle sense of wellbeing and general contentment. Holding the tea bowl between cupped hands, with only remnants of froth clinging to it , softly sniffing the bowl, taking the smell in deeply, one is content indeed.

Peace

Chigi No Shiro Matcha

This tea is the third from the bottom from Marukyu-Koyamaen. One found these notes from Korea and thought they were worthy of a publish…

The powder smells green, fresh, and, well, quite typical for a newly opened can of matcha, not that one would ever get tired of that invigorating scent. Actually, when more time and a clearer mind is spent with this powder, a faint underpinning of berries and potato were detected- a weird combination indeed.

One whisks slow, faster, then slower once again. Ones eyes enjoy the resulting bubbly froth. This time the tea is exquisitely produced. When consumed it presents a creamy body under dry woodiness, very subtle berries. Bitter berries like wild American choke cherries. A mouthfeel is present that dries up the mouth and lips. A mild tart taste is left in the mouth. Very nice.

When this tea isn’t made as good, it flaunts greenness with a slight smokiness that is found in the lower grades of Marukyu-Koyamaen. These sensations interrupt its full fresh green tea taste.

If you’re up for the challenge, this tea can really impress.

Peace

2009 DoMatcha Master's Choice (Produced By Marukyu Koyamaen)

This matcha is the highest grade sold by Vancouver matcha company, DoMatcha. It is a unique colaboration between DoMatcha and famous matcha producer Marukyu Koyamaen.

The water is taken off boil, it is time to prepare tea. It is prepared in ceremony- slowly, empty, mindful.

One uses hot water to heat the bowl and whisk. After the water spans the inside of the bowl it is disposed of. One reaches for the simple black and white design on the tea can, twists off the lid, peels back the chopped label, and opens the rice paper bag.

Some vibrant green powder is fished from the bag with a delicate bambo scoop. It looks more vibrant in the white of the tea bowl. After placing down the chesaku (bambo scoop) one takes this time to sniff the delicate smell of the powder before the bag is resealed and the lid put back. The smell is very light, flowery, and sweet. There is very little raw vegital scent here.

Just a touch of room temperature water is added first and the whisk's slow motions create a thick green paste. Then the hot water follows. Very deliberate whisking motions- first slow then faster- then finishing slow once more- bring this thick green paste to frothy life.

One drinks this matcha in three full sips.

The taste is sweet, light, airy. Nice floral notes, the taste of cherry blossoms is in the air outside and is now on the tongue. There is a very subtle plum finish. This tea is quite smooth and carries almost no astringency or bitterness. A very light chalkiness coats the mouth. The light coat is mainly in the front and is a bit lacking in the back.

The chaqi that results is light- mildly focusing and subtey calming the mind. There is no strong edge here just a very mellow ambiance.

This tea is light and sweet enough to be prepaired thick but is lacking a full, complete, long lasting mouthfeel when thick same as it does when it is prepared thin.

In meditation one relaxes with this tea.

Peace

Pink Label Pal Yoh Yame Matcha

Think a lot of traffic gets directed to MattCha's Blog in search of matcha related information.  Although you won't see regular posts about matcha, one still consumes many bowls of matcha in both the Japanese and Korean matcha ceremonies on a weekly basis.  A 40g tin of matcha is emptied every month or so.  One ends up consuming much of the same matcha which has already been featured in posts on this blog.  These include offerings from Yame's Pal Yoh, Uji's Marukyu-Koyamaen, and even tins from solid local brand Jagasilk.  Thought it would be interesting to revisit a matcha that one has consumed the most over the last few years, Pal Yoh's Pink Label from the Yame region of Japan.

What is amazing about matcha is that it rarely changes very much in taste from year to year.  This speaks to the keen skills of Japanese tea master blenders who go about great lengths to ensure a consistent tea experience from batch to batch and from year to year.  Originally this Pal Yoh's pink label was featured in a 2008 post.  Besides the harvest year, the biggest factor that has changed in the preparation of this tea would be the water used.  The following notes are from a 2012/01/01 expiry dated can that one has been drinking up over the last month.

The powder emitted from the freshly opened tin carries very sweet cherry notes and creamy distinct florals which dominate the profile.  The smell is tangy and vibrant.  This tea is whisked up in ceremony and imbibed.

It offers a solid creamy, rich, sweet start.  Deep, creamy, sweet oak wood base turns into a distinct lingering floral taste.  Minutes later fruit notes fill the saliva.  The woody oak base lays firmly underneath these floral notes.  A full not-that-heavy mouthfeel that results is satisfying.

Meditating mindfully, ones body feels light and free from the alerting and clarifying chaqi.

Peace

Victoria Tea Festival: DoMatcha

One has seen this matcha around town but wrote it off as one of those mass produced, gimmicky, health store stocked varieties. Couldn't be more wrong... except for the 'health store stalked' part. Based out of Vancouver, DoMatcha seems to be a regular fixture at health stores on the island but is almost completely shutout of the tearooms here due to a local matcha company that one will post about soon.

When one approached the Domatcha booth at the 2010 Tea Festival, modesty and kindness prevailed from the calm minded exhibitor. She whisked up some of the Ceremonial Matcha and Master's Choice Matcha (these cheesy matcha names added to the feeling of 'gimmicy tea'). Quite surprisingly, both teas were quite respectable.

It turns out that the famous matcha companies Shohokuen and Marukyu-Koyamaen are responsible for their matcha. DoMatcha even has a rich tea history that included the support of teamaster Kinroku Handa.

Not bad tea at all.

Peace

Isuzu Matcha

Isuzu Matcha is yet another from Marukyu-Koyamaen. It is the second lowest in quality from the Uji tea producer. Its name 'Isuzu' may suggest a duel meaning since it means either 'fifty bells' or 'fifty drops'. The meaning 'fifty bells' alludes to the story of a Zen monk who achieved enlightenment upon simply hearing the temple bell sounded off its fiftieth time. On the other hand, the meaning 'fifty drops' alludes to the material simplicity of this tea.

When opening this tea, the smell of mild subtle sweetness behind light airy fresh growth fills the air, the nose, the lungs, the mind. It definitely smells less musty, roasted, smoky, and muddled than Aoarashi Matcha.

The tea is prepared and sips are mindfully taken from the tea drinking bowl. The tea is a bit sweet, a bit bitter, but clean, pure, and simple. It lacks the smoky, roasted profile of Aoarashi that one enjoys in lower end matcha but makes up for it in its mere simplicity and attempt at purity.

Its mouthfeel a bit chalky, general dryness coats the mouth, resting mainly on the front of the mouth and tongue. Its energy is simple, gently scooting one in the direction of alertness, calmness, happiness.

Peace