Haru Japanese Barista Matcha Green Tea Powder - Culinary Grade 12oz

I drink this primarily for the health benefit of the catechins found in green tea. I prefer a powdered version rather than a tea bag as the catechins are more available - you are drinking the entire leaf not just what leaches from a tea bag into your cup of hot water. Though likely not as flavorful or smooth as ceremonial grade, this culinary grade tea has a nice flavor, nice color and a reasonable price. I have purchased this regularly for over a year and will continue to do so. Relative to quality - there are a lot of disturbing reports regarding low-cost powders grown in particular countries being contaminated with chemicals and heavy metals (lead in particular) so - deserved or not, I avoid them and, instead, look for Japanese sourced product that has higher likely-hood of better quality and quality control. This powder is Japanese sourced.

As someone who really wanted to have a good Matcha latte and frappeccino that was both authentic and affordable so I turned to Amazon as I usually do and ordered this. It has a really authentic taste which is so rare and for the price and cute packaging this was definitely worth it. I will say though for those of you that don't know if you like Matcha it does taste similar to fish for some people and although it is really good with most people you want to beware of that but this brand doesn't taste like that to me or others that have tried it.

I ordered this because I love getting matcha at Dunkin and Starbucks and this one was the cheapest I found on Amazon. I like it as a frappe so I don’t heat the milk. The first time I made it I just mixed it with a spoon which was a huge mistake. It was very clumpy and wouldn’t mix. I went and got a cheap no name personal mixer similar to a magic bullet and that made all the difference. I got the same frothy mix as I order out. Just add a spoon of sugar to it to sweeten it. I saw a few other reviews saying it was brown and had a bad taste but those people must have gotten a bad batch. Mine was green and tasted exactly like the chain brands I get out. I was very impressed. It saves me the money and time of having to run to DD to get it. I would definitely buy this again.

Decent matcha powder that’s slightly duller in color than very fancy matchas. I’ve had finer milled and higher quality, but that would come at a premium cost. This one is fine for every day/home uses.I use this matcha powder to make flavored milk drinks (warm and cold) for myself. I use the wooden spoon it came with to mix about a spoonful of the powder with warm or hot water, then add in water or milk. I use a tiny whisk to mix the powder first. Once I tried to skip the step and poured cold milk directly in and it clumped at the bottom, and was hard to mix in.If you make a concentrated paste or liquid mix with hot water first, you can add in honey, collagen powder and milk. I can’t stand the taste of collagen powders but my cracking joints need it occasionally. The matcha flavor helps mask the collagen enough to be palatable.I haven’t tried baking with it but I think the color will hold.

It is a true good matcha flavor. I add it to my green tea smoothies to give them the added flavor that is lacking when you mix your green tea with milk and ice. So much better than any restaurant. Its a big bag especially considering you only need a partial teaspoon full for a smoothie with strong flavor. Quality bag that is handling opening and closing easily and not falling over on the counter. Unlike some other brands I've tried that can be so cheap on their bag. This one is a keeper for repeat purchase.

Please do not buy this matcha! I have been drinking it every day for a week and when I tell you I am so sick I am SICK. i am convinced there is some sort of chemical in this matcha that is poisoning me. First off I should have stopped drinking immediately after how bitter it was. A chemical taste. But I thought hm maybe that’s just me, ya know some matcha can be bitter. So I add more sugar to my lattes. First the debilitating migraines started. They would begin mid day (I drink it in the morning) and would then fizzle out toward bed time. Then the nausea. Now I am on day 6 and I have body aches, chills and a whole head migraine. I made my boyfriend a matcha latte as well over the weekend and he was ill as well right after drinking. My skin has become so dry it’s flaking off in patches. We both decided to open up the bag and take a big whiff and when I tell you the smell that came from this bag would singe off your eyebrows. I know I’m stupid for not inspecting this product before carelessly adding it into my latte but that’s what happens when you trust Amazon way too much. My face is covered in acne, I have severe brain fog. Now mind you, I am a normal healthy 29 year old woman that never had any of these issues until after drinking this matcha in just a weeks span. Please listen to me and do NOT buy. I went on poison control website to take necessary precautions. I work in an urgent care and we did every test and I am NOT sick with anything viral. If I could sue this company I would but I will never have any solid evidence that this is what is happening to me.