Kettl
Asahi Honzu Single Cultivar Matcha
Reviewed May 2021
About Kettl: Kettl is by far one of my favorite matcha suppliers! Their products are fresh, varied, and unique. The founder, Zach Mangan, previously worked for a large green tea company that brought him to Japan where he first experienced the freshness of matcha. This sparked a desire to create a shorter supply chain of fresh tea to the United States. Zach spent the next two years building relationships with tea farmers and then established headquarters in Fukuoka, Japan. In 2016 Zach opened the Kettl shop and gallery in Brooklyn, NY. There are now two retail locations offering a variety of Japanese teas, matcha, and artistic tea ware. The relationships established with tea farmers allow Kettl to provide detailed product descriptions. It is from Kettl that I got the idea to create Flavor Profile charts as seen bellow.
About Blend: This is a very special matcha. It is a product of a single estate and single cultivar. Grown in Kyoto by Furukawa san and his wife, the blend was shaded by rice straw instead of plastic covering. Straw shading is done gradually and can produce deeper umami and vegetal flavor in matcha. The cultivar is also hand picked instead of machine harvested. The farm is located near the Uji river with nitrogen rich soil, all favoring conditions for cultivating umami rich matcha. Given the harvesting methods, this blend is a delicacy. As a cultivar, Asahi can be more difficult to grow, but is known for producing umami rich and sweet matcha.
Price: At the time of review, $50.00 per 20 grams
Scent: A light and gentle aroma of sweet pancakes, zucchini, and the fresh sent of a green forest in the morning.
Kettl Asahi Matcha
Color: Although the color of this matcha is unusual to what I am used to, it is so beautifully bright and vibrant I am giving it a perfect score. The powder, particularly when hit by sunlight, is almost a highlighter green color. It is lighter in color toward canary yellow on the color spectrum, but with no white or brown tones, which indicates fresh quality matcha. It has a silky, extra soft feel to the touch. The liquor color is vibrant green with an even lighter and brighter foam color. Points 5
Foam: The matcha froths quickly and easily, producing lovely micro-foam. It has some thicker non-soluble particles, but without any unpleasant clumps. The finish is long with low astringency. Points 4.95
Taste: If you’ve ever wondered what does “brothy umami” mean, Asahi cultivar is surely the definition. This matcha is deeply savory with kombu umami, accompanied by sweet notes of asparagus. There is virtually no bitterness, but a slight hint of roasted notes that can read metallic or ashen. The finish is round, making it easy to sip this matcha without any additions of milk or sweets. As koicha, this blends is a blossoming seaweed bouquet. Points 4.75
Final Score: 4.90 out of 5.00 points
Thoughts: The Asahi Honzu blend from Kettl is a sophisticated and luxurious matcha. This will not be everyones cup of tea. The monster umami, sweetness, and vegetal combination is a savory dance that takes some getting used to. My favorite preparation for Asahi is a traditional usucha poured over ice. The ice rounds out the flavors and further enhances the smoothness of this extraordinary blend. Experts level matcha.
