Is matcha tea just horrible? How do I make it taste nice?

Ive so far managed to avoid the matcha hype but part of me does wonder if I'm missing out on some benefits and I want to like it but I'm put off trying it in case like you I find it revolting

Is it a total case of Emperors new clothes and all the influencers are bugging it up the money?

It's vile, no health benefits can outweigh how grim it tastes. Stick with proper tea, Ringtons is the best but if you don't have a van delivery near you Yorkshire Tea is an acceptable second choice.

If you lived near me I’d buy it from you. I love an iced matcha latte. I mix the powder with 60ml of water, froth it up then pour it over milk and ice.

But have you tried it with the correct temperature of water? It makes a huge difference to the taste.

I think the mistake is making it with water (if indeed you are doing that, OP); it's much nicer with milk and, IMO, frothed hot milk.

What is it with people with horrible tasting drinks? Not just matcha. It's Red Bull, BuzzBalls etc. My friend's DD had some BuzzBalls and my friend who likes cocktails sampled the dregs and they said it's horrible

Shite like Red Bull is in no way comparable to matcha.

I don't know OP. It's just....not nice.

Matcha is a traditional drink. Just say you’re ignorant and have done with it.

That's hardly fair. 'traditional' doesn't mean you have to like it, or pretend to like it. I don't like it made 'traditionally' ie with water.

The poster I quoted said it’s a ‘fad’. That is offensive and the reason I commented. Liking it has nothing to do with it, for the record I don’t like the taste but I wouldn’t say a traditional cultural drink is a fad!

Ah, I see.
TBF it is a fad in the UK, I think, especially in its frothed-milk and flavoured forms.
But I only like it with frothed milk, so I am obviously into it in its fad form

I’m similar, for me I can only drink matcha in an iced drink with syrup! It’s far too earthy for my liking.

I think you need to bin it! Decent matcha shouldn't taste fishy and for ceremonial grade, decent matcha, you'll be paying more than £8. I drink Dirt-tea matcha with Lion's mane added in an attempt to stave off menopausal brain fog. Its delicious. I put a scoop in a glass and whisk with hot but not boiling water until smooth and the top with almond milk and ice. Its stopped me drinking so much coffee and I feel I have more constant energy levels.

Tbh, it’s probably for the best if the matcha trend dies. The health benefits are massively overstated anyway.

It makes no sense to me that people who don’t actually like it are lacing it with all sorts of other things to make it palatable. If you don’t like it then just drink something else. The global matcha trend has actually been pretty bad for Japanese tea culture, making it far harder for tea growers to make their living from less fashionable teas like sencha.

As an aside, the term “ceremonial grade” is completely meaningless. It’s an unregulated western term that companies can put on any product they like. There is no “ceremonial grade” standard that it has to be produced to. IME the places serving the best matcha in London don’t use the term, whereas pret do.

I agree re the ceremonial grade thing. I asked my tea supplier who does a really nice culinary grade one and they told me it was just a marketing ploy used in the west to charge more.

And yes, I have a tea supplier😁

We went to Japan and made our own matcha tea in a tea ceremony experience which was one of the most awkward things we have ever done. Honestly, it was SO quiet and awkward and I swear a part of me died inside. None of us liked it except my 13 year old who weirdly loved it.

If it smells of fish you've overpaid for cheap shit.

Good matcha is lovely, smells like grass and green tea in the tin, when whisked with hot water is slightly bitter with a grassy flavour. I like it with a bit of honey to sweeten in coconut, soy or cow's milk - oat milk tastes nice but is a bit heavy.

It's disgusting. Like really disgusting.

This!!
vile stuff

I think it started with some companies applying the term to their highest quality teas but since the term isn’t regulated, anyone can slap it on anything, so a lot of stuff with that label now is far lower grade than the lowest quality stuff from decent suppliers.

If you’re really into good tea, then I’d personally recommend the organic genmaicha from Katsute 100. I bought some at a pop up stall that they had somewhere and it was really good, if expensive.

Thanks. I’ll have a look.

have it with almond milk and a small bit of vanilla

I love matcha! Isn’t supposed to taste like fish though, more like grass.

How are you making it? I love an iced matcha made with milk and some syrup. Strawberry or vanilla.

🤢 give it away there’s nothing that would make me drink it.