Samidori matcha from Yamamasa Koyamaen is a high grade blend with a nutty and sweet fragrance reminiscent of roasted hazelnuts and toasted seaweed. The umami notes are most prominent when you first sip this blend followed but a mild sweetness and floral notes in the middle, a muted bitterness is also detected at the start. The vegetal flavour is consistent of toasted seaweed that lingers at the end along with some astringency. Overall, this is a blend for those who like softer flavours to their matcha and a nice alternative to Marukyu Koyamaen's Aoarashi. There is not alot of creaminess or sweetness to Samidori and is a blend that will hold up well for matcha lattes and baked goods where milk and sweetness can be added in. As for colour, this blend produces a deep green matcha, suitable for heat applications.
Yamamasa Koyamaen's long history dates back to the 1600s as tea growers and is today respected for their enduring contributions to Japan's tea industry. They believe that producing consistent, high quality tea starts from the growing stage, an ethos that has been passed down for generations since the company started selling their tea in 1861. Maintaining time honoured traditions, their tea craftsmen still grind their matcha powder using stone disks. This labour intensive method requires a highly trained artisan to grind the leaves at a certain speed at all times so the leaves don't burn or ground unevenly.
Recommended amount per cup: 2g
Servings Per Tin: Averages 15-18 cups of tea
Water Temperature: 80-85ºC
Weight | 30g
Origin | Kyoto prefecture, Japan
