[Review] Ippodo Tea - Horai & Tsukikake Matcha

When asked about “real matcha from Japan”, Ippodo Tea is usually one of the first tea companies to come up. In fact, that’s precisely how I learned about Ippodo Tea when researching Japanese matcha companies to include in my blog of where to buy matcha online.

I use a lot of matcha for lattes, so when my supply was running low I decided to have a taste of Ippodo Tea’s wide selection.

For this Ippodo Tea review, I tried the beginner recommended Horai matcha and limited edition Tsukikage (autumn exclusive). I also added in a chashaku, or bamboo matcha scoop, to my order to get to the free shipping minimum and because I didn’t already have one.

• Horai Matcha - 20g ($19.00)

• Tsukikage (Autumn Exclusive) - 20g ($17.00)

• Bamboo Tea Ladle (Chashaku) ($10.00)

About Ippodo Tea

Matcha latte made with Ippodo Tea’s Hourai Matcha that I enjoyed while writing this review.

When it come to matcha, there’s something incredibly satisfying about tiny tins with all Japanese labeling. And yet despite its international availability, Ippodo Tea’s matcha remains deeply rooted in its tradition with most of its packaging giving off an authentic air that makes it all the more delightful to open.

Ippodo Tea’s history runs far back, founded in 1717 in Kyoto and being family-run to this day. Although their tea is still cultivated in the region around Kyoto, its available online worldwide with stores in Kyoto, Tokyo, and New York City.

While their high quality tea selection includes a host of Japanese tea types like gyokuro, sencha, and bancha, matcha is undoubtedly Ippodo Tea’s selling point. My favorite feature on Ippodo Tea’s website is the matcha taste chart that classifies each matcha by taste profile and recommended audience (i.e. beginner). You can also take a short quiz to match with your ideal matcha.

Horai Matcha Review

The Horai matcha is labeled as having a rich flavor profile and best suited for beginner matcha drinkers, due to its smooth finish and sweetness. There’s also a touch of umami and low astringency, which I find ideal when making unsweetened matcha lattes (unless you like bitter lattes).

As is to be expected with high quality, freshly opened matcha, Horai has a brilliant, bright green color and ultra-fine texture. True to its description, I noticed right away how smooth this matcha tasted with almost no bitterness even when drunk straight without any milk or sweeteners.

Whether you’re a seasoned matcha connoisseur or just testing the powdery green waters, I’d recommend Horai as a safe bet.

Tsukikake (autumn exlusive) matcha review

The Tsukikake matcha is limited edition for the fall season, available from September to November. Of course in the season of pumpkin spice teas and chai, what better tea to get than an autumn matcha?

While the contents are the same as the Horai at 20g, Ippodo Tea’s Tsukikake instead comes packaged in a tiny shiny paper box with a little handle. Once opened, it’s a little tricky to find a way to close it back up securely again, so I had to seal it with a small clip. However, its unique packaging makes this a great gift!

The matcha itself was a lot more bitter and astringent than usual matcha, giving it a sharp finish and an almost grass-like flavor. Once you get past the initial sharpness, there’s something really invigorating about this matcha. I once heard that samurai used to drink matcha before heading off to battle and I can definitely see Tsukikake being the matcha of choice for that!

Tsukikake is a fantastic matcha to offset the sweetness of rich Japanese sweets like wagashi. While I probably wouldn’t recommend this Ippodo Tea matcha to beginners due to its intense sharpness, it’s definitely worth tasting if you’re into stronger kicks in your tea.

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