Cheap Vs. Expensive Matcha Taste Test

Understanding Matcha Basics

• 💡 The video explores whether expensive matcha is worth its price, noting a current global matcha shortage.
• 🧠 Matcha is a type of green tea made from steam-dried, finely ground tea leaves, not seaweed, despite some initial perceptions of a "fishy" taste.
• ⚡ Its caffeine provides a less intense experience compared to coffee, making it an alternative for those with sensitive stomachs.

Hot Matcha Tea Comparison

• 🍵 Two hot matcha teas were prepared: one with expensive matcha and one with cheap matcha.
• 👃 One host described the cheap matcha as tasting like Desitin, while the expensive one was smoother and more flavorful.
• ✅ The hosts initially preferred the smoother, more flavorful (expensive) matcha, which was identified as Ippodo Tea's Ummon Matcha ($63/ounce) over Matcha DNA's ($1.50/ounce).
• 🔬 Ceremonial grade matcha (expensive) uses younger leaves with more chlorophyll, while culinary grade (cheap) comes from a second harvest.

Matcha in Desserts

• 🍰 The hosts tasted matcha tiramisu and iced strawberry matcha lattes, noting that strawberry and matcha pair beautifully.
• 🎯 For the tiramisu, the more expensive matcha was used in one version and the cheaper in another.
• 🍓 The hosts again preferred the more expensive matcha in the tiramisu, finding it had a better consistency and taste.

Savory Matcha Dishes

• 🍝 A matcha gnocchi with a matcha mushroom creamy sauce was presented for a savory comparison.
• 🔥 The heat in the gnocchi dish brought out the bitterness of the matcha, making the difference between grades more pronounced.
• 🏆 In the gnocchi, the expensive matcha (Kettl's Kohata Matcha, $74/ounce) was definitively preferred, as it held up better in a heated, savory application compared to the cheap organic matcha ($1.75/ounce).

Final Verdict on Matcha Value

• ⚖️ The hosts concluded that the expensive, ceremonial grade matcha was generally preferred for its smoother taste and ability to perform better in various applications, especially heated dishes.
• 💡 The cheaper, culinary grade matcha was found to be less desirable in hot tea and savory dishes, sometimes having an unpleasant "Desitin" or "fishy" taste.
• 🔑 The video highlights that the price difference is significant, but the quality difference is also noticeable, particularly in how matcha is used.