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? Foxtrot Switches to Spirit!

Post author By needmatcha.com
Post date August 12, 2019

Just a month ago, I had a terribly sweet and pretty disgusting matcha latte from Foxtrot Market. Well, I found myself back at a Foxtrot with a friend and behind the bar I spotted a familiar bag of Spirit Tea's Kodemari matcha.

So, of course, I asked, "Hey did you switch to using Spirit Tea?!"

And the barista said, "Yea just this week we started using this, but it clumps too much."

So I offered, "Well I'll show you how to use it if you give me the drink!"

Their method of making it was definitely terrible. The barista put the matcha in the carafe with the milk, inserted the steam wand and proceeded to burn the shit out of such good matcha. And it was clumpy. We discussed for a few minutes of how they could improve the drink using the tools they currently had (no sieve, no whisk, no just-less-than-boiling water) and it turned out a little better.

So, currently, I would give this drink a C, but I think they'll get there and be offering much better matcha lattes soon enough. I emailed the management and offered to help with training or even hosting a tasting for the staff or the public. No reply.

Tags Chicago, Foxtrot Market, Spirit

Drinks Shops

? A Spotted Matcha Latte at Dollop

Post author By needmatcha.com
Post date July 31, 2019
No Comments on ? A Spotted Matcha Latte at Dollop

Overall: Avoid

I've been to several Dollops & have had a wide range of matcha success. It clearly just depends on the care & experience of the barista.

Dollops that usually get it right are the locations at Damen/Augusta and

Definitely looks like matcha. Tastes a tiny bit like matcha. But also tastes like a glass of dirty oat milk. Not good for Oatly. Not good for Spirit Tea. Not good for Dollop. Not good for matcha. Not for me. Several other customers seemed to be fine with it, though.

I'll go back to other Dollops, but this was certainly the worst I've had from Dollop and one of the worst in the city, especially considering the ingredients and equipment were top notch.

Tags Bad, Chicago, Dollop

Drinks Products Shops

? Wesley Andrews Coffee & Tea, Minneapolis, MN

Post author By needmatcha.com
Post date July 17, 2019

previously used Sprit (2g), switched to "Humble" bcs of personal connection to the new brand: Humble MATCHA MPLS humble.global matcha.global

from Uji

menu:
latte, hot tea, cold tea, thai latte

I had iced latte with oat milk. has touch of house-made sweet vanilla syrup

Was a little bit chunky, but not enough to detract from the quality.

Tags Good, Minneapolis, Wesley Andrews

Products

? Ujido Summer Harvest

Post author By needmatcha.com
Post date July 17, 2019

Overall: Avoid

Date of Taste: 7/10/2019

Time of Taste: 9:15 AM

Rating: Just Okay

Brand: Ujido

Price: $8

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ABMhfl

Region: Uji

Use for: Lattes (probably sweetened), maybe use it for iced matcha with coconut water or regular water+sweetener

When tasted...

Temp: Hot Water

Amount: ½ tsp

Notes:

A little too bitter & just off tasting.

Plenty of decent matchas near this price point. However, in a pinch, this was the only matcha at the grocery in Msp. So, I'm glad they had it and glad it was reasonably priced for a halfway-decent product.

Has a little graininess (similar but not as bad as Sawada)

Definitely use this for lattes only. And maybe use a touch less than you normally would (just a tinsy bit less). And add just a teensy bit more honey or sweetener than you usually would.

After the fact...

Some research turned up that Ujido calls this a "High Culinary" grade matcha, which means it's for cooking. The idea of "High" culinary is their admission that it's not really great for just drinking, but they want you to think it is. That said, the price isn't terrible for easily accessible decent matcha, but it is, in fact, definitely cooking grade matcha.

Tags Bad, Culinary, Ujido

Drinks Products Shops

? Decent Double Matcha Iced Latte at Dollop on Damen & Augusta

Post author By needmatcha.com
Post date July 17, 2019

Overall: Good Enough

Some Dollops know how to do it.

Some Dollops don't.

The Dollop at Damen & Augusta is okay.

20 ounce iced milk with double Matcha. Good. Matcha not super flavorful. Not well mixed. A little chunky

I think they use Kilogram Tea. And to my knowledge, KT only supplies organic matcha. And in my experience, most organic matcha powders are less flavorful than their (inorganic ?) counterparts. KT matcha tastes like a Kagoshima.

Here's the weblink to Kilogram's Organci Matcha: https://kilogramtea.com/collections/matcha/products/organic-matcha-100-gram-bag (and turns out it is from Kagoshima!)

I've taken to always asking for double the matcha at this Dollop.

Often it's too chunky and not well mixed, which is why I ask for double. If I'm able, I take it home and throw it in the blender and enjoy the real flavor, but usually it's on the go and it's good enough.