michael
Member since March 2026
Been passionate about "real" matcha since my first sip in Asia over a decade ago. Oh and I created Matcha Spot!
A quality mid-tier Yame matcha with nutty notes and a subtle seaweed leaning umami flavor.
A pleasant, well-rounded matcha suitable for daily drinking at an unbeatable value.
A mild matcha with a pleasant bitter finish, best suited for lattes.
An umami-rich, brothy matcha that leaves you wanting more.
A neutral flavor profile that works well as a daily usacha, but be mindful of water and powder ratios.
A delicate and well-balanced organic matcha with low bitterness. Great ceremonial grade entry point for those based in the US.
Pleasantly suprised
Pleasantly surprised with my first taste of Kan by Ippodo today. I prepped it as usacha - 4oz water with ~2g matcha (1 tsp). I got an initial rush of umami, quickly followed by roasted/nutty notes, with a slight bitter finish. Brothy and smooth overall. I was expecting a lot more bitterness based on other reviews. It was minor, on par with Sayaka. I actually think it's more well-rounded than Sayaka. It’s also a bit cheaper than Sayaka per gram ($1.20 vs $1.35 on the US site), but comes in a 20g instead of 40g size. I think this makes it appealing to both try and have in your rotation given the Ippodo price increases. Lower initial investment and less pressure to consume quickly to avoid oxidization. I’d definitely purchase again.
A nutty, brothy Yame matcha with a creamy microfoam texture and lingering sweetness, and no bitterness whatsoever. A new all-time favorite.