Art of Tea | Matcha Powder | Matcha Fresca 4.2oz | Organic First Harvest Premium Grade Matcha Green Tea

I'm a hot tea drinker regardless of the weather, and matcha is one of the types in my rotation. I stopped getting matcha because I wasn't able to drink it during pregnancy (too much caffeine), but now that I am no longer nursing I decided it was time to get back to one of my favorite teas. When I saw this one I was excited to try because it seems to be a little different than most matcha, and with a name like "matcha fresca", it just sounded so refreshing. When I opened the bag I got a whiff of the green tea smell but it wasn't that typical heavy, earthy smell but it actually had a sweetness to it as well. I am drinking this hot and it is delicious! I don't know if it is the water to powder ratio I am using but it doesn't taste as bitter as the other brands, and just seems like a lighter, sweeter version. I don't mean "sweet" as in sugar added because it doesn't, but just that smell. I really like the taste and I've refilled my tall mug about 3 times as I am giving my thoughts on this tea. I am honestly very pleasantly surprised by this matcha and like that it is a little different from most matchas. If you are just getting into matcha (powder) teas I would even recommend starting out with this one rather than the ceremonial / culinary ones. This just seems a little lighter and easy to drink. This brand seems to make beautifully packaged, nice quality teas. 5 stars all around!

The description of this was so intriguing and I really wanted to try it. I do like iced matcha and the flavor of melon would be a great addition. I never use water but the directions called for mixing 2 teaspoons of Matcha with 16 ounces of water. When I used water and a milk frother, it separated very quickly. It wasn’t gritty but there were watery parts and thicker powdery parts. I was not a fan. I tried it with almond milk instead and it was more creamy and smooth and it didn’t separate.I hardly get a melon flavor at all. It’s just very grassy like Matcha usually is. There is no sweetener in this either and overall I did not like this.

I’ve tried quite a few matcha including other flavored matchas. This is by far my least favorite of every one I have tried.Matcha is a pretty strong flavor. One of those polarizing flavors that you either love or hate, no in betweens usually. As someone who loves matcha with a hint of flavor? This one leaves me wondering where’s the matcha? All I can smell and taste is a weird fake melon’y flavor. It’s beyond overpowering, there’s not event a hint of matcha flavor in this one. If you want to drink a candy melon flavor? You’ll love it. If you’re here for matcha? Run.

I am not crazy about the ingredients as the bag vaguely mentions a melon flavor profile but the ingredients are only three things and none is melon and one is “natural flavors”. Now anyone that knows anything about the “natural flavors” moniker knows that it can literally be anything. Crushed up bugs are natural flavor in many things, by the way. I don’t think that is here. But that just shows you how much I hate that term without listing actual ingredients. For the price, I would expect the ingredients to actually be listed. Again – we are teetering on three stars here.First – the smell in the bag - it smells pretty heavenly as it smells kind of fruity so that is interesting. This Matcha powder starts off “interesting” because usually you drink Matcha hot and this one actually says to add 2 teaspoons to 16 ounces of COLD water and shake or stir vigorously to dissolve and then drink and enjoy over ice. I suppose you can do hot too – but it is weird it does not say to enjoy hot or iced like most drinks. So I don’t want to drink 16 ounces so I added 1 teaspoon to 8 ounces and made sure to stir well – in cold water (I did not add ice).Now for taste it is not as strong as some maybe other matches that I’ve had. It is kind of mellow - there’s a slight bitterness at the end maybe but then also a slightly fruity finish. The fruit doesn’t hit you over the head either it’s almost like an afterthought. It is a very mellow drink. I suppose it is pleasant enough but maybe not something I would go out of my way to have. I am going to try it hot next as I may enjoy it more that way. But if you are looking at a fruity (maybe melony) matcha drink I guess you can try it.If you found my review helpful, why not click the “helpful” button. Thanks! Enjoy your day! : )

I follow the instructions on the bag for preparing it (scoop 2 tsp of Matcha Fresca into 16oz of freshly drawn cold water. Shake vigorously and enjoy over ice) and I enjoy the flavor and find it refreshing. I don't use a shaker, just stir it up really well with a long tea spoon and that gets most the clumps out and after a bit the rest dissolves. Smells really good in the bag.Ingredients: Premium Grade Matcha, Dextrin, Natural FlavorProduced and distributed by Art of Tea, Los Angeles, CA