Tea Review: Sugimoto Reserve Mizuki Matcha (Sugimoto Tea)

Sugimoto Reserve Mizuki Matcha
Sugimoto Tea
Type: Green
Origin: Japan, Fukuoka Prefecture, Yame
Product Description:  

“Mizuki” means celebration, happiness, fresh, and beautiful. It was chosen to represent a beautiful green tea field and perfectly describes this incredible ceremonial grade matcha from Yame, Fukuoka. Thick and creamy, this matcha is intensely nutty in aroma and flavor, similar to fresh pine nuts. It’s rich in umami and has no astringency. When it’s gone, it leaves a lingering steamed milk finish.

Temperature: 175° F

Tea Amount: ~1 gram (1 teaspoon)
Water: ~2 ounces (1/4 cup)

The matcha powder is vibrant green with a savory aroma that reminds me of macadamia nuts, roasted nori and sesame.

The tea in the warmed bowl has an aroma that is thick with umami and notes of freshly ground nuts.

After whisking, the aroma has notes of roasted nuts and cooked snow peas.  The taste is smooth and savory with no detectable astringency and with a lightly nutty finish.

I first tasted this matcha when it was introduced by Sugimoto Tea at Northwest Tea Festival last year and purchased a canister right away.  The texture is smooth and the flavor and aroma are delightfully thick with umami.  Usually the froth from whisking matcha tends to mute the aroma of the tea, so I was quite surprised that there was a distinct and pleasant aroma after whisking Mizuki Matcha.

This tea was purchased by me.