Tag: Matcha

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DavidsTea’s Peach Matcha

Peach Matcha by DavidsTea
Green Tea (Matcha) / Flavoured
$9.98 for 50g

First Impressions

Peach Matcha was one of the flavoured matchas that came in the Matcha Discovery Kit that I mentioned last week (when I shared my review of Pumpkin Pie Matcha). It came in a coloured foil pouch (sealed, and resealable). I like the fact that the text is readable on the background of the pale green of the Peach Matcha pouch. The powder is bright green, with visible sugar granules, and a strong peach aroma.

The ingredients of Peach Matcha are: cane sugar, matcha green tea, and natural peach flavouring. Surprisingly not a lot of ingredients, but sugar is still listed as number one which isn’t that surprising for a drink mix.

Preparation

DavidsTea recommends whisking Peach Matcha in 85C (185F) water. I followed the instructions and whisked it in my matcha bowl.

First Taste

Peach Matcha whisked easily, with a thin layer of froth on top. I found the aroma to be very peachy, and the flavour is spot on. There’s a strong sweetness to it, peachy flavour, and a light grassy note throughout. I found that the peach is much stronger than the matcha base. The overall sugar level is strong, and it reminds me a lot of fuzzy peaches.

A Second Cup?

As Peach Matcha is a suspension, there was no second ‘steep’.

My Overall Impression

I liked DavidsTea’s Peach Matcha. I liked the aroma and flavour of the blend, the peachy quality is nice. I find that Peach Matcha is on the sweet side, almost too sweet, but it reminds me a lot of fuzzy peaches (the candy) which I love. The peach covers up most of the matcha, and I find it to be quite tasty. I think it’s great both hot or iced (as a latte?) and making it up as a latte would help temper the sweetness if you find it too sweet.

Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.

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DavidsTea’s Pumpkin Pie Matcha

Pumpkin Pie Matcha by DavidsTea
Green Tea (Matcha) / Flavoured
$16.00 for 80g

First Impressions

I purchased the Matcha Discovery Kit at my local DavidsTea location just because. I love the idea of getting a ‘sampler’ of matcha to try and there were 5 different types for $30 (a total of 125g – 25g of each variety). The kit included: Match Matsu, Maple Matcha, Vanilla Matcha, Peach Matcha, and Pumpkin Pie Matcha. Conveniently for me, most of which I have not tried or reviewed (in other words, I hope you like matcha reviews because there’s a few #matchamonday posts coming your way!).

Pumpkin Pie Matcha came in a dark blue-green pouch that was sealed (and is resealable). I found the dark text a bit difficult to read when it wasn’t with a bright light. Pumpkin Pie Matcha consists of: cane sugar, matcha green tea, and natural pumpkin pie flavouring. The powder was surprisingly bright green for a matcha ‘drink mix’, and I found the aroma to be a mix of grassy and spiced notes that remind me of ginger and cardamom.

Preparation

DavidsTea recommends whisking Pumpkin Pie Match in 85°C (185°F) water. I opted to follow the instructions – although I did sift the powder first before whisking it, just out of habit.

First Taste

Pumpkin Pie Matcha whisks to an olive-ish green colour. There’s a sweet and spicy aroma to the matcha. On first taste, I mostly taste the sugar. When I pause to think about it a bit more, I do find that there are some grassy notes, as well as spiced flavours to go along with the sweetness from the sugar. I primarily taste ginger and cinnamon. If there is supposed to be the flavour of pumpkin, and not just the pumpkin spice, I don’t taste it.

A Second Cup?

Matcha is a suspension, so there wasn’t a second steep of the drink mix.

My Overall Impression

I liked DavidsTea’s Pumpkin Pie Matcha. I really liked the spices that were present, but I thought that the mix was almost too sweet for me (and I have a sweet tooth!). I think this would be a great option for either a hot or iced latte, because the addition of a milk or dairy-free alternative would do wonders for tempering the sweetness from the cane sugar that’s in this matcha drink mix.

Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.

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Matcha Latte Bubble Tea

Less than a week since publishing my London Fog Bubble Tea recipe and here I am with another bubble tea! While matcha has a long history, it has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years as it’s been deemed a superfood. Matcha provides you with caffeine without the crash and is the basis for this bubble tea recipe.

There are different grades of matcha and each one has their own use. A lower quality matcha is a great option for baking, while a higher quality matcha should be reserved for drinking straight. While price isn’t the only thing to consider, the quality is typically reflected in a higher price point (usually at least $1 per gram). The colour is brighter, the aroma is stronger, and it creates a brighter green cup of matcha. The first tip is to look for a matcha that only contains matcha – no sugar, no other additives of flavouring.

Matcha Latte Bubble Tea Recipe – Serves 2

Tea
2 cups water (79°C/175°F)
4 teaspoons of matcha
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Tapioca Pearls
½ cup black tapioca pearls
4 cups water

Simple Syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water

½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy alternative)
Ice cubes

Prepare Simple Syrup
Mix 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup water together in a small pot.
Heat until the sugar is fully dissolved and allow Simple Syrup to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare Tapioca Pearls
Heat 4 cups of water in a small pot until boiling.
Add tapioca pearls.
Stir to prevent the pearls from sticking together.
Follow cooking time on the packaging – you’ll know that the pearls are cooked when they’re dark and translucent. Most black tapioca pearls need to be cooked for a minimum of 30 minutes, so check the package directions!
Strain out the pearls, and rinse under cool running water to wash off the extra starch.
Add pearls to Simple Syrup.
Set aside until ready to use.
Do not prepare tapioca pearls too far in advance, if left for more than 4-6 hours after cooking, they get very tough/chewy. Leaving the pearls to ‘swim’ in a Simple Syrup bath will help prevent them from sticking, and also make them sweeter.

Prepare Matcha
Sift the matcha powder into a bowl (do each portion separately if using a small bowl).
Whisk together matcha with warm water.
Add vanilla extract.
Set aside to cool.

Now to just put all the components together! In each tall glass, layer the following:

¼ cup cooked tapioca pearls in Simple Syrup
Ice, to fill glass
¼ cup milk
1 cup matcha (with added vanilla extract)
Serve with wide bubble tea or smoothie straw to make it easier to drink the bubble tea and to mix the layers together.

Excess Simple Syrup can be kept in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge – don’t forget to label it with the date!

Tea Tip! Get all of your matcha mixed in one go by sifting the matcha into a measuring glass, and using a handheld milk frother to mix the matcha and water together.

If you make this Matcha Latte Bubble Tea, I’d love to see your photos! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@onemoresteep #onemoresteep) or comment below with a link to the photo!