Yamamasa Koyamaen Matsukaze Matcha 30g

Matsukaze is an accessible everyday matcha from Yamamasa Koyamaen, a historic Japanese tea producer based in Uji, Kyoto.

Rather than being extremely delicate or mild, Matsukaze has a more noticeable matcha character. Expect a full-bodied bowl with nutty and toasted notes, vegetal character, umami and a pleasant bitterness.

This makes Matsukaze particularly versatile. Drink it traditionally as usucha or add milk for a matcha latte without immediately losing the flavour of the tea.

What does Matsukaze taste like?

Matsukaze sits on the bolder side of Yamamasa Koyamaen’s range.

Yamamasa Koyamaen’s Matsukaze tastes like roasted, nutty, vegetal and savoury characteristics, although the exact flavour changes depending on water temperature, concentration and preparation.

Expect:

Nutty • Toasted • Vegetal • Umami • Pleasant bitterness

If you prefer matcha that is extremely sweet and almost completely free from bitterness, Matsukaze may not be the best choice. But if you enjoy a stronger, more traditional green tea character, there is a lot to like here.

Is Matsukaze good for usucha?

Yes.

Yamamasa Koyamaen recommends Matsukaze for everyday matcha drinking, making it an accessible choice for a regular bowl of usucha.

We recommend starting with:

2g matcha + 60–70ml water at around 75–80°C

Sift the matcha, add the water and whisk until evenly combined with a fine foam.

If you find the bitterness stronger than you prefer, try slightly cooler water.

Is Matsukaze good for matcha lattes?

Yes. This is one of Matsukaze’s strengths.

Its stronger matcha flavour works well with milk, where very delicate matcha can sometimes disappear.

For a simple latte, try:

2g Matsukaze + 30–40ml water + 100–120ml milk

You can adjust the amount of milk depending on how strongly you want to taste the matcha.

It also works well for iced matcha and lightly sweetened matcha drinks.

What about koicha?

We recommend Matsukaze primarily for usucha and matcha lattes rather than koicha.

Koicha uses considerably more matcha with very little water, so bitterness and astringency become much more concentrated. For koicha, we would choose one of Yamamasa Koyamaen’s higher grades specifically suited to that style of preparation.

An everyday Yamamasa Koyamaen matcha

Matsukaze is one of the more accessible ways to experience Yamamasa Koyamaen.

It doesn’t need to pretend to be the most luxurious matcha in their range.

Its strength is versatility.

Drink it straight in the morning. Whisk it into a latte. Use it as your everyday matcha without feeling like every scoop needs to be saved for a special occasion.

Real Japanese matcha. Made in Uji, Kyoto.

FAQs

What is Yamamasa Koyamaen Matsukaze?

Matsukaze is an everyday Japanese matcha from Yamamasa Koyamaen in Uji, Kyoto. It has a stronger matcha character with nutty, toasted, vegetal and umami notes.

Is Matsukaze good for matcha lattes?

Yes. Matsukaze is particularly well suited to matcha lattes because its stronger flavour can remain noticeable after milk is added.

Can I drink Matsukaze as usucha?

Yes. Matsukaze can be prepared traditionally as usucha. Try around 2g of matcha with 60–70ml of water at approximately 75–80°C.

Is Matsukaze suitable for koicha?

We don’t recommend Matsukaze as our first choice for koicha. Its stronger bitterness becomes more concentrated when prepared thick. We recommend it primarily for usucha and lattes.

Is Matsukaze bitter?

Matsukaze has noticeable bitterness compared with smoother matcha higher in Yamamasa Koyamaen’s range. It is balanced by umami, vegetal, nutty and toasted characteristics.

Is Matsukaze ceremonial grade?

Rather than relying on the loosely defined term “ceremonial grade,” we identify Matsukaze by its producer and intended uses. It is made by Yamamasa Koyamaen and is suitable for traditional usucha as well as matcha lattes.

Where is Matsukaze made?

Matsukaze is made by Yamamasa Koyamaen in Uji, Kyoto, Japan.

What are the ingredients?

Matsukaze contains 100% green tea (Camellia sinensis) with no additives. Your Yamamasa documentation also identifies it as non-GMO.

How many servings are in a 30g tin?

At 2g per serving, a 30g tin makes approximately 15 servings.

How should I store Matsukaze?

Keep unopened matcha somewhere cool, dry and dark, away from heat, humidity and strong smells. Yamamasa’s documentation specifically recommends these storage conditions.

Once opened, close the container tightly and use it while fresh.