Saihōji
Hagi Paradise
Tasted August 2020
About Saihōji: The company was started in the United Kingdom by a fellow named James, a lawyer by day and matcha enthusiast by night. Unsatisfied with what he was tasting in the U.K., James set out for Japan to taste all the matcha he could find. Although his passion for matcha began as a hobby, it quickly grew into a business as James wanted to share the superb flavors of the high quality matchas he discovered with his fellow Westerners. The company is named after the Saihō-ji moss temple in Kyoto. The temple is known for its stunning moss garden and an atmosphere of calm and reflection (check out the pictures on the website for some serenity). Saihō-ji matcha aims to capture and provide the meditative qualities of the garden through their specialty blends. They offer three ceremonial grade matcha blends. A unique feature of each blend is the labeling, which identifies the green tea varieties used in its making. I have yet to find other companies that provide this type of detail. Saihōji also offers matcha-ware made by Japanese artisans. James’s love and passion for matcha shines through every aspect of the brand, including their informative and detailed website, sleek and modern product design, and of course the superb quality of their matcha powder.
About Blend: This is a combination of “Samidori, Gokou and Asahi green teas from Uji in the Kyoto Prefecture and Nishio in the Aichi Prefecture”. The site describes the blend as full-bodied, with a nutty umami and a long finish.
Price: $36.00 per 20g
Scent: A bright and fresh scent of sweet raspberries and baby spinach.
Hagi Paradise Matcha Review
Color: An electric and vibrant green. Points 4.45
Texture + Foam: Velvety texture with a long finish. Frothing varied likely due to weather and humidity levels. On the best days, the froth formed a light cloud like layer with some bubble variation. Points 4
Taste: A balance of dry and mossy flavors, with an extra light bitterness true to green tea. A brothy umami finish with notes of oyster shell and algae. Trace of nutty almonds and a natural creaminess. Points 4.25
Final Score: 4.2 points out of 5
Thoughts: It is most interesting to compare Hagi Paradise to its sibling Tsutsui Paradise. I consider this blend a high quality ceremonial matcha that is true to its description written on line. Unlike Tsutsui, which is dominant in vegetal and umami notes, Hagi posses a well balanced dryness and light bitterness that creates flavor complexity. These tastes are very delicate so even the slightest addition of milk over power their flavor. Although this blend isn’t meant for lattes, it is a great compliment to dessert. It has a focused energy that is well matched for writing.
If I had to pick between the two sibling blends, Tsutsui is my favorite because I prefer a deeply smooth vegetal flavor. However, Hagi is really well priced for an incredible blend that offers complexity and exceptional quality. I recommend this blend for those who enjoy a bit more flavor intensity.