Matcha milk tea is a delicious beverage that eliminates the formality of coffee and green tea. Japan is especially known for its origins. Matcha preparation uses green tea leaves that are grown and processed differently than formal green tea.
Having a greenish and tempting appearance, it offers a wide range of health benefits. But what does matcha milk tea taste like?
The taste of matcha milk tea is rich and complex. The first sip reveals its uniqueness. It has an earthy, bitter, and somewhat sweet taste. The taste of matcha milk tea varies depending on how it is prepared. Matcha milk tea can taste very different depending on how it is prepared and what sweeteners are used.
Keep reading if you want to know all about matcha milk tea.
Table of Content
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a type of green tea that originated in Japan. It’s always interesting to wonder, what is matcha made of?
Green tea leaves are specially grown in shade rather than direct sunlight to produce matcha. This powder is usually bright green in color after the leaves have been finely crushed after harvesting.
In addition to making different drinks and bakery products, this powder can also be used for some culinary dishes. In a tea ceremony, matcha can be served and sipped as part of the ritual. You can recreate it at home, or enjoy it simply as a separate experience.
What Does Matcha Milk Tea Taste Like?
Tea lovers switching to matcha milk tea always want to know, what does matcha milk tea taste like?
Upon tasting matcha for the first time, it has an alluring and unique flavor. The taste of matcha tea varies greatly depending on the method of preparation.
Tea blends and flavors are distinctively derived from tea made by combining a variety of leaves from a variety of tea plants. Matcha is brewed using a blending technique that balances the flavors of amino acids and chlorophyll which have been accumulated in the leaves by the shading process prior to harvest.
Depending on the way you are preparing the matcha milk tea, any of the following tastes can be dominant while drinking.
Bitter Taste
Besides, the ingredients we use for matcha tea preparation, matcha milk tastes similar to dark chocolate. Just like dark chocolate, it tastes like mild bitterness when tasted. The taste will be just as similar to red wine if you are a wine lover.
In matcha milk tea, you can detect a slight bitterness at first, but this will quickly change into a sweet, almost floral taste with an underlying umami-savory flavor.
In the aftertaste of matcha, there are also hints of floral or bittersweet flavors. The initial appeal of this flavor wears off quickly. The majority of people are obsessed with this taste. This bitter flavor may take some time to adjust to for some people.
Sweet Taste
Is matcha milk tea sweet when it also has a bitter taste?
When you taste matcha, you will also experience a feeling of sweetness. Initially, the taste is bitter, but in the end, it is sweet. In matcha, the sweet taste balances the bitter and complex flavors that are more prominent.
Vegetal Taste
Matcha is a green tea powder made from shaded tea leaves. These leaves undergo steaming and grinding and are then converted into fine powder. Thus, matcha green tea tastes similar to spinach, which is grassy and vegetal.
Umami Taste
One of the five basic tastes, along with bitter, sour, sweet, and salty, is umami or savoriness. Most commonly, this flavor is found in rich, savory broths and cooked meats.
There is an increased production of amino acids in matcha due to the shading process, which continues for about 3 to 4 weeks before harvesting. It is due to the presence of L-theanine and some other essential amino acids that matcha has an umami taste.
How Does a Bad Matcha Taste Like?
In bad matcha, bitterness or acidity dominate its flavor. Upon tasting it, it seems extra bitter and extremely unpleasant. The texture of bad matcha is also different and unappealing.
The improper storage of matcha leads to the product going out of date. The way you prepare tea from it greatly affects its taste. It is usually the tea makers who do not know how to compensate for the different flavors in matcha when preparing tea. Their ignorance results in bitterness exceeding the limit.
What Are The Best Ways to Make Matcha Into a Milk Tea?
How to make matcha green tea more alluring and tempting? Before making matcha milk tea, keep the following precautionary measurements in mind if you would like to enjoy its best taste.
Grade
There are always two types of matcha grades available in the market. One is “ceremonial grade matcha” and the second one is “culinary grade matcha”. Ceremonial-grade matcha is always preferable for drinking purposes including matcha milk tea. Culinary-grade matcha is more bitter and is often recommended for baking and cooking.
Temperature
Matcha tea should be made at a relatively low temperature. It is common to make tea with boiling water. Matcha milk taste, however, differs from this. A high temperature tends to make matcha bitter. A water temperature of 80C is ideal for making matcha milk tea.
Flavorings
To compensate for the bitter taste of matcha while making matcha milk tea, it is always a good idea to add some flavorings to it. Matcha milk tea can be flavored with either vanilla coffee syrup or lemon flavoring. It is also appealing to use chocolate or honey in matcha milk tea. These flavorings will make matcha taste less bitter or acidic.
Water
Make your matcha green tea with more water than you would normally use. When you mix one teaspoon of matcha powder in six ounces of water, the tea will have an intense and complex flavor. You can add more water to the tea and taste it. Adding water to the matcha will make the taste lighter so that you can comfortably enjoy it.
Mixing
Matcha can only make a suspension with water. You cannot get a true solution after mixing matcha in water. For better texture, complete dispersion of particles throughout the water is necessary. A multipronged bamboo whisk is a perfect solution for smooth mixing. As an alternative to multipronged bamboo, use a bottle. Add both water and matcha in a bottle and shake vigorously to get a well-mixed solution. Avoid the use of a spoon or a fork for mixing because it will never give you satisfactory results.
Is It Safe to Drink Matcha Every day?
Matcha lovers often ask, is drinking matcha every day unhealthy?
If you are drinking matcha in a moderate amount every day, then it cannot cause any side effects. But if you are drinking enough matcha that is causing elevated caffeine levels in your blood, it will be harmful. It can then lead to
Does Matcha Go Bad?
Matcha usually does not go bad. The shelf life of matcha tea is considerably longer. This allows you to store it for longer periods of time. However, long-term storage can cause matcha to lose its effectiveness and flavor. The health effects of matcha can also be lost.
Try to use matcha within 6 months when stored in airtight packaging. After this duration, the green color of matcha tea disappears. It appears opaque and becomes more bitter.
FAQs
Let’s check all the frequently asked questions.
Does Matcha Taste Better Hot Or Cold?
Answer: Matcha tastes better when cold. It is because when heated, matcha tastes more bitter which becomes unpleasant sometimes. Boiling matcha with water can totally ruin its taste. Many people ruin the taste of hot matcha because of their incompetency to make matcha milk tea. Cold matcha, on the other hand, masks the bitter taste.
What Is the Best Time to Drink Matcha Milk Tea?
Answer: Matcha milk tea, due to the presence of an amino acid called theanine, induces relaxation without causing drowsiness. You can take it in the mid of the day after some hectic tasks. But due to the presence of caffeine, it is always recommended to take matcha before 6 hours going to bed. This time period is needed for the complete elimination of caffeine from the body.
What Does Matcha Do for You?
Answer: Matcha contains a considerable amount of polyphenols, catechins, and amino acids including L-theanine, and some other anti-oxidants. These substances are effective in preventing cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and carcinogenic disorders. Matcha is also a great alternative to coffee because it offers more nutrition and fewer side effects.
Which Flavor Goes Well With Matcha?
Answer: You can use any flavor with matcha depending on your taste. Chocolate, vanilla syrup, honey, or lemon syrup can be used with matcha. All these flavorings mask the bitterness of matcha and give it a unique sweet taste.
Conclusion
Matcha milk tea has a greenish appearance and is a healthier alternative to tea, coffee, and ordinary green tea. But, what does matcha milk actually taste like?
The taste of matcha milk tea varies greatly depending on the way, you are preparing this tea. Matcha’s flavor and aroma are influenced by the sweeteners we use to mask its bitter taste. Matcha tastes bitter, earthy, and slightly sweet, aside from its flavoring agents.
