This is an interesting tea, for sure. Generally speaking, it looks very much like matcha, however, it is actually pulverized sencha leaves and, as I found out, really is a different drink than matcha. I prepared the tea using the same approach I use for preparing matcha. I noticed that when I whisked the water and ground tea combination, there was very little froth, which is usually plentiful when preparing real matcha. The powder did dissolve very easily, however. When compared to matcha, the flavor of this tea was much bolder. The primary flavors that came across were grassy and earthy notes. The tea was not as sweet as I've tasted in a good matcha, although it did possess a very subtle fruity sweetness. I personally did not love this tea because I found the vegetal notes a little too strong, although I do think it's an interesting drink and those that enjoy raw green tea flavors will delight in this. For maximum enjoyment, I think that this tea should not be approached as a matcha substitute but instead as a powdered sencha with its own unique properties. In a pinch, I guess it could work as a matcha substitute, but to really be appreciated, it should be approached without preconceived expectations from past matcha-drinking experiences.

— To purchase Mellow Monk Matcha-Style Powered Green Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

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