Ippodo Tea Ummon review
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Community Rating
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Product Details
- Brand
- Ippodo Tea
- Origin
- Uji, Kyoto
- Grade
- Ceremonial
- Cultivars
- Unknown
- Sizes
- 20g, 40g
- Lab Tested
- Radiation
- Description
Legendary Ippodo flagship; intensely umami, sweet, no bitterness; widely considered benchmark premium matcha
Expert Review
By Matcha Spot Team
TL;DR
The matcha most people use as a benchmark when they're describing what good Uji koicha tastes like.
Overview
Ummon has been on the shelves long enough that it functions as a reference point. When someone says it tastes like a real Uji koicha, they often mean something close to this.
Flavor
Heavy umami, full sweetness, no bitterness or astringency to interrupt. Vegetal is a notch below Kanza's, which makes it feel more drinkable day to day.
Verdict
Koicha-first, but unlike Kanza or Tenju it isn't so expensive that thin preparations feel wasteful. If you're trying to learn what premium Ippodo style tastes like before committing to Kanza, start here.
Lab Testing
Measured contaminant levels from brand and independent reports. Hover a row to learn how to read it. Lower is better.
Radiation
* Brand-wide result: Ippodo's teas were tested annually (2011 to 2020) for radioactive cesium by a third-party lab (Japan Food Inspection Corporation), with none detected; not a measurement specific to this product.
Figures are reported by the linked source and shown in standardized units. Matcha Spot does not independently verify lab results.
Share your experience with this matcha
Sign in to leave a reviewCommunity Reviews (2)
meli55Ok I get the hype now
I had been writing off Ippodo since the big price increases recently but a friend gifted me Ummon for my birthday and oh wow. The umami is so much richer than what I'm used to from Yame, almost ocean-y? Different category entirely. I'm not switching teams but I will absolutely buy this again when I want to feel fancy. Lasted me about 3 weeks of usacha-only drinking.
The umami benchmark
If somebody asks me what "umami in matcha" is supposed to mean I tell them to buy Ummon. There is no other Ippodo I've had that hits the same. As koicha it's almost broth-like. Sweet finish that lingers but doesn't get cloying. Pricey but I would rather buy this than anything in the Sayaka tier.
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