Mizuba Matcha Review (2024) – A Comprehensive Matcha Review

Searching for an authentic matcha experience? Mizuba Matcha may be on your radar. From its ceremonial rituals to its bright green hue, we’ve scrutinized every claim. Dive into our honest review for a closer look at the quality, preparation, and value of Mizuba Matcha — is this the green tea that fits into your lifestyle?

Key Takeaways

• Mizuba Matcha is a premium product sourced from Uji, Japan, that emphasizes authenticity and quality through shade growing, stone milling, and small-batch production at a family-owned farm. It is worth considering for one of the best matcha powders.

• The matcha is versatile in preparation, suitable for traditional whisking methods or shaken in a thermos for convenience, and is packaged with eco-friendly, practical designs that reflect Japanese heritage.

• Mizuba Matcha offers health benefits due to high antioxidant levels and EGCG content, is competitively priced at $0.30 per gram, and ranks favorably in taste tests despite not being the top preferred brand among consumers.

Mizuba Matcha Overview

Introduction to Mizuba Matcha Green Tea

Mizuba Matcha Green Tea is a product borne out of Mizuba Tea Co.’s decade-long dedication to providing farm-direct, stone-milled Uji matcha and heritage loose-leaf Japanese tea. The Daily Matcha Green Tea boasts distinctive features, such as:

• being shade grown

• stone ground

• produced in small batches from a family-owned farm

• extracted from the lush landscapes of Uji, Japan

• processed at a century-old, family-run matcha manufactory

This ensures the authenticity and the highest quality of the final product, as the house showcases fresh materials and craftsmanship.

Designed to effortlessly blend into your daily wellness routine, this product is a top choice for those pursuing a healthy daily matcha ritual. Such bold claims certainly pique curiosity. But how does the product fare under critical scrutiny? Over the course of this review, every claim will be put to the test.

Preparing Your Mizuba Matcha

The preparation of Mizuba Matcha is a form of artistry. The ritual begins with:

1. Measuring 1.5 spoonfuls of Mizuba Matcha with a chashaku or tea scoop

2. Placing the matcha into a chawan or tea bowl

3. Heating the water to approximately 160-175 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid inducing bitterness

The water’s temperature plays a critical role in the flavor profile of the matcha, ensuring the extraction of enjoyable flavors.

Next, the matcha is whisked gently with a bamboo whisk or chasen in a circular motion to create a paste known as koicha. The process transitions into a zig-zag motion to produce usucha, a thin tea with a creamy froth. The matcha can be served immediately after whisking, or for a creamy matcha experience on the go, it can be shaken in a to-go mug with water up to 175ºF.

Alternatively, the matcha can be prepared by shaking the powder with water in a mason jar or thermos until frothy, bypassing the koicha step. This preparation flexibility ensures that you can enjoy your Mizuba Matcha anytime, anywhere.

The Artistry and Practicality of Mizuba Matcha

The packaging of Mizuba Matcha is a piece of art, reflecting the company’s profound respect for Japanese heritage. The noble purple tin for their Asahi Matcha and traditional elements like the Chawan included in gift sets beautifully embody this appreciation. However, the design is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also pragmatic. The 40g tin is easy to store, and the thoughtful Matcha Moment® Essential Tea Set, along with services like refillable matcha tins, offer convenient storage solutions.

Moreover, the brand’s commitment to the environment is evident in their eco-friendly initiatives. These initiatives include:

• recyclable chasen packaging

• compostable loose leaf packaging

• travel-ready single serve packets

• the use of dissolvable peanuts and recyclable shipping materials.

This blend of artistry and practicality truly sets Mizuba Matcha apart, thanks to their family matcha manufactory.

Quality and Durability of Mizuba Matcha

The vibrant color of Mizuba Matcha, which scored 4.5/5 in color quality assessments, underscores that quality is an absolute cornerstone of the product. However, maintaining this quality requires careful storage. Here are some tips for storing Mizuba Matcha:

• Store it in an opaque container

• Keep it in a cool place

• Consume it within a month of opening to preserve its flavor and color

• If refrigerated, Mizuba Matcha can retain its flavors and quality for about six months.

For enhanced preservation, the matcha is packaged in airtight, opaque tins to maintain its aroma. Once used, the tin should be sealed and refrigerated promptly. Despite these precautions, the nuances of the matcha’s color and flavor may start to diminish within 4-8 weeks after opening. Therefore, it’s recommended to place the Mizuba Matcha’s tin in ziplock bags and store it away from strong odors in the refrigerator.

Unopened containers should also be refrigerated to maintain freshness before being opened. These measures ensure that every sip of Mizuba Matcha is as fresh and flavorful as possible.

Tasting Mizuba Matcha

Taking a tasting trip with Mizuba Matcha involves an exhilarating exploration of various flavors and textures. The Yorokobi Matcha stands out as a favorite matcha with its smooth, umami-filled organic matcha green tea. The velvety vegetal sweetness, light aroma of toasted vanilla, creamy mouthfeel, and full milky notes are reminiscent of freshly churned butter. The ceremonial Mizuba Matcha offers a vibrant green apple color with floral and earthy notes. The pleasantly sweet aroma balances its slightly bitter flavor with a gingery undertone.

Mizuba Matcha’s versatility is evident in its Organic Latte and Baking Bundle, which is suitable for making a matcha latte. Its smooth flavor stands out, even when mixed with milk or other ingredients. The Culinary Organic Matcha is crafted to hold its smooth flavor in various recipes, recommended for lattes, smoothies, and baked goods like cookies. However, it’s worth noting that tasting notes can be highly subjective.

For instance, Mizuba Nagomi Ceremonial Grade Matcha’s was appreciated for its fresh quality and vibrant color, despite an underwhelming flavor, whereas Culinary Grade's harsh bitterness and slight grittiness may affect its repurchase consideration. Our personal favorite was the Mizuba Yorokobi Ceremonial grade which is full-bodied, velvety, and an excellent option for seasoned matcha drinkers.

Health Impact of Mizuba Matcha

Each sip of Mizuba Matcha is a stride towards wellness. The matcha is high in antioxidants, particularly catechins, thanks to minimal oxidation that preserves these beneficial compounds. The antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in Mizuba Matcha is more potent than vitamins C and E, beneficial for reducing inflammation and improving brain function. With a significant amount of EGCG, offering 30-40mg per serving, Mizuba Matcha harnesses the power of consuming the whole leaf.

Mizuba Matcha offers the following health benefits:

• High antioxidant levels
• Enriched with vitamins and minerals
• Promotes calm energy without jitters, thanks to the amino acid L-theanine
• Contains concentrated chlorophyll, which is anti-inflammatory and supports the circulatory system
• Certified JONA (JAS) Organic and radiation/heavy metal-free, ensuring product purity and safety.

Weighing Up Mizuba Matcha

Despite the market brimming with alternatives, Mizuba Matcha confidently stands its ground. In a blind taste test involving 14 matcha brands, Mizuba Matcha ranked seventh, indicating a good but not top-tier preference among consumers. The Mizuba Yorokobi Ceremonial Grade Matcha scored 93/100, placing it in the upper range of matcha grades, while some competitors such as Encha Ceremonial Grade and Tenzo Ceremonial Matcha scored marginally higher.

Despite this competition, Mizuba Matcha offers competitive pricing at $0.30 per gram for both ceremonial and culinary grades, a reasonable proposition given the quality provided. The Mizuba Culinary Grade Matcha stands out for its affordability at $0.30 per gram, originating from the second harvest, an offer indicative of high value for a culinary-grade product. When considering the cost per ounce, Mizuba’s Nagomi Ceremonial Grade Matcha is moderately priced at approximately $25.00, whereas alternatives like Kiss Me Organics and Aprika Life are priced at $27.97 and $5.69 per ounce respectively.

Summary

Mizuba Matcha Green Tea is more than just a beverage; it’s a lifestyle choice steeped in tradition, quality, and wellness. From its origins in the verdant fields of Uji, Japan, to the meticulous artistry of its packaging, Mizuba Matcha offers a unique blend of taste, health benefits, and sustainable practices. Its flexible preparation methods, high quality, and competitive pricing make it an appealing choice for both ceremonial and culinary uses.

While it may not top the list in blind taste tests, Mizuba Matcha’s commitment to its unique selling propositions - shade grown, stone ground, small batch, and originating from a family-owned farm - ensures a unique, authentic matcha experience. Its high antioxidant content, coupled with a host of other health benefits, makes it a worthy addition to a daily wellness regimen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of mizuba?

"Mizuba" means "Place of Living Water."

Why is Japanese matcha so expensive?

Japanese matcha is expensive due to the limited land available for growing and preparing it, as well as the specific climate and soil required for high quality production. These factors contribute to the high cost of Japanese matcha.

How should I store my Mizuba Matcha?

To store your Mizuba Matcha, place it in an opaque container in a cool location. If refrigerated, it can stay fresh for about six months. After opening, remember to seal the container and promptly refrigerate the matcha.

What does Mizuba Matcha taste like?

Mizuba Matcha offers a variety of flavors. For example, the Yorokobi Matcha has a smooth, umami-filled taste with a light aroma of toasted vanilla.

What are the health benefits of Mizuba Matcha?

Mizuba Matcha offers health benefits such as high antioxidants, including catechins and EGCG, which can help reduce inflammation and improve brain function. It also contains L-theanine, promoting a sense of calm energy without jitters.