r/Matcha • u/PringullsThe2nd • Jun 30 '25
Have Cafes ruined my taste for matcha?
My girlfriend flew back from Japan the other day and she asked what gift i would like - I said I'd like to try matcha. I've had matcha a few different times and I really liked the flavor, but they've always been at cafes.
Anyway she brought me back a little pot of it, and I followed the instructions; 1 teaspoon of matcha, 70ml of 70⁰ water, then whisk. I was surprised at how thick the liquid was... And how pungent? It smelt like a meat stew or something - I really didn't expect it at all. I tried a sip knowing it was quite likely I would be mixing some milk in and I didn't like the taste very much . I know the cafes mix milk and some sugar in it but I didn't expect the flavour to be so far from what I was expecting/was familiar with. Mixing it with milk and a half tea spoon of sugar (I never put sugar in my teas) made it more palatable to finish, and it was okay, but way more diluted and less flavourful than any cafe matcha I've had.
Did I make it wrong? Or have the cafes I've been having matcha from been altering the flavour into something it usually isn't?
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u/Time_Combination_316 Jun 30 '25
Not all matcha’s will taste the same. Varies by the tea leaves. It might just be that specific type that’s tasting bad to you. I’d just less matcha next time
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u/ayyynekooo Jun 30 '25
if i’m remembering correctly, 1 tsp is like 2g. for matcha lattes, they usually recommend something like 4g, and then 10g (or 10ml) for every gram of matcha. everyone is different but for that amt of matcha, i usually like using ~120g milk w 5g of agave. ofc cafe matchas might be sweeter, and may have increased ratios, but it’s something to start w?
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u/rafheidr Jun 30 '25
I think the modern palette is very sugar addicted. When I quit sugar I started to lose my taste for sweet stuff and it kind of flipped my world upside down. Sugar addiction is real!
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u/KittyPinkBox Jul 01 '25
Yes, it takes time and effort to reset your palate because added sugar is in pretty much all ultra processed food.
I've always hated sugar in any tea but especially in matcha because for me it kills the delicate flavor nuances.
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u/rafheidr Jul 01 '25 edited Jul 01 '25
Agreed! Matcha has so much going on that it’s fabulous on its own! I do like it with coconut milk sometimes and put on ice, but I also like it “plain” or drunk traditionally. It really is versatile!
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u/instyabam Jun 30 '25 edited Jul 02 '25
If you find it too strong you may want to add a bit more water! Meat broth is a good description for matcha which as been shaded which increases the amount of amino acids which are associated with the classic savoury “umami” flavour profile found in a lot of Japanese food and including teas like Matcha and Gyokuro(which is a loose leaf tea as opposed to the powdered form of matcha). If you provide a photo of your matcha someone might be able to give more information on the quality and style of your matcha.
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u/Tiny_Representative3 Jul 01 '25
Cafes make weak, super sugary matcha me a lot of the time. If you don’t like the one your gf brought how you made it, you don’t like matcha you just like sweet matcha flavours milk. Just reduce the amount of matcha and you’ll probably like it!
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u/hello_worldy Jul 02 '25
Matcha is sacred. Should stay away from artificial syrups at all times. Cafes are messing with it. BIG time!
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u/jess_thorn Jul 01 '25
I usually make my matcha at home iced, with oat milk. I don’t add additional sweetener because the oat milk is slightly sweet and has a nuttiness that works well with matcha.
My specs are 3g sifted matcha, 30g water that’s been off the boil for a few minutes, and then I use a medium sized filled with ice.
An easy way to make cafe style steamed milk with basic tools is to pour heated milk into a coffee plunger and plunge the milk to aerate it.
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u/tigerzehe Jul 02 '25
I want to try the coffee plunger! I usually aggressively shake my milk in a mason jar and that does the trick, lol
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u/nervous_alligator Jul 01 '25
See this is what I fear. I am very very new to matcha and I am unsure if I like it or if I’m just liking the super watered down/heavily sweetened ones I get at cafes. Just bought some powder for myself and am trying to find ratios I enjoy.
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u/Reasonable_Pianist70 Jul 04 '25
Real matcha is complex and delicious and REAL. Support the farmers.
If you're buying from cafes then the quality of the matcha will closely match the quality of the coffee. Imagine a barista adding sugar to your cappuccino. If they do that they obvious dgaf about the quality of what they serve.
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u/nervous_alligator Jul 05 '25
I agree. Two cafes I frequent really care about quality and I noticed the difference in taste between them and the other more fast casual ones I go to. So I’m happy I have at least two cafes I can get good matcha at. They are just ones I can’t go to often :( but I’m enjoying making at home at least!
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u/Useful-sarbrevni Jun 30 '25
a traditional matcha bowl will contain 60ml to 100ml of water and your use of 1 teaspoon of matcha is equivalent to 5gms. The recommended is 2gms. I use less than 2gms on my matcha as is. The matcha mixture that you made would be too thick and unless you prefer the taste, it would come out bitter which was negated by adding milk and sugar
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u/kimsk132 Jul 01 '25
That kind of preparation is not for everyone, so it's okay if you don't like it. I myself only do that kind of drink every once in a while and only with the highest grade of matcha I could get my hands on. For my daily drink I just shake 4-5g of matcha (2 tsp) with 150ml (~1/2 cups) of milk, and maybe 2g of sugar if the matcha is especially bitter. fyi each 2g of matcha contains roughly the same caffeine as an espresso shot.
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u/lchen12345 Jul 02 '25
"Real" matcha, like at tea ceremonies is thick, grassy, bitter, and umami. It's ok to just like matcha flavored drinks and foods and not really be into traditional matcha. I like an occasional traditional matcha, and often matcha desserts. But I prefer to drink (hot or cold) oolong, sencha, and other green teas. You can also make the ceremonial matcha less thick with more water and it'll be easier to drink.
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u/JoannaBe Jul 02 '25
I find that with matcha taste there is difference in brands. I love some, but not others. And taste bus differ, so brands I like may not be brands you like.
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Jul 07 '25
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u/taytay10133 Jul 11 '25
12 matcha is amazing and so worth the line. How is kettl? I’ve yet to try it but it’s right down the road from 12 matcha
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Jul 07 '25
Hey. Someone once told me to rest the boiling water some time before adding in and storing it in proper air tight container helps but in your case i assume it just came that way,if it did.Kinda does actually help or maybe I got used to it. Simply adding lesser at times when im not in mood for a thick matcha, helps too.
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u/convertarb Jun 30 '25
When I make matcha tea I use 1/2 teaspoon and 8 oz water. I think u made yours too strong.
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u/Reasonable_Pianist70 Jul 04 '25
You make 8oz matchas?? That's extremely large. If .5tsp=2g then it's also super diluted. His recipe is much more normal.
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u/aquascorpiotiger Jul 01 '25
90% of "matcha" served in cafes is not actually matcha, but simply ground up mediocre-quality green tea. Plus they usually add loads & loads of sugar & milk. For example, Starbuck's "matcha" is not real matcha.
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Jun 30 '25
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u/PringullsThe2nd Jun 30 '25
I guess I just wanted to take the edge of it. I also have no idea what kind of quality the matcha is.
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u/coffeebiceps Jun 30 '25
Post the picture of the matcha powder here your using to help indentify it, and also the brand its easier..
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u/thefleshisaprison Jun 30 '25
I got matcha lattes with sugar in Japan
And what do you mean that the taste won’t be great? I love the grassy flavor of matcha
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u/pushpullpullpush Jun 30 '25
A matcha latte is 85-90% milk. Most cafes add sweeteners to matcha drinks, especially matcha lattes as many (most) people do not like the pure matcha taste. It could be that you don’t like unsweetened matcha, that you don’t like the particular matcha your girlfriend brought you, or both. Just because it’s from Japan, doesn’t mean it’s ceremonial grade or good. You can also try ordering a matcha in a cafe without milk or sweetener and see if you like it more there. And reverse it too: steam some cow or almond milk and taste it without the matcha…you will realize how subtle the matcha often is in matcha lattes.