Smile Tea
Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Tasted April 2021
About Smile Tea: Smile Tea Co was established in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The founders, Yuki from Kagoshima, Japan, and Ken from California, met several years prior when Yuki was on a mission to bring Birouen Tea House matcha to the USA. At that point in time, in Western culture matcha hadn’t been the wildly popular drink it is today. Although not instantly successful, Yuki remained positive and was often known for his friendly smile, hence the name “Smile Tea.” Birouen Tea House, the source of Smile Tea matcha, has been operating in Kagoshima for over 140 years, one of the oldest in the region. At the time of this review, Smile Tea offered one matcha blend and two loose leaf tea blends.
About Blend: Kagoshima Prefecture is known for more experimental flavors. The area has many volcanoes, which nourishes the soil and increases pH. The climate is mild and comparable to California, which means farms can be more experimental with what plant varieties they cultivate. The estate growing Birouen Tea House matcha has at least 12 different cultivars and is committed to organic farming.
Price: $21.50 per 40 grams, also available on Amazon
Scent: Smells of fresh seaweed and chocolate.
Smile Tea Matcha Review
Color: A vivid bright powder and a standard dark green liquor color, all revealing a fresh and good quality product. Points 4.5
Foam + Texture: Micro foam takes time to build and is slightly on the airy side. A smooth, but thin texture with a mid range finish. Points 3.5
Taste: A truly nutty matcha, with a tasty roasted umami flavor and natural creaminess. There is a sweetness in the finish. The bitterness is mild and short lived. There is also a hint of grassiness. When combined with a splash of oat milk a walnut-like flavor develops. As koicha, the flavor is reminiscent of dark chocolate and is umami rich. As a latte, the roasted umami carries the flavor profile and provides an interest to the drink. This is a well balanced matcha and is very pleasant and easy to drink.Points 4
Final Score: 4 out of 5 points
Thoughts: Did I mention Smile Tea matcha is being added to the favorites list? No surprise there. I think of this matcha as an everyday drink that is versatile in preparation methods. If you love thin tea without any additions, it works just as well as it does in a cold brew or latte. My favorite way of enjoying Smile Tea has been as a whisked thin tea with a dash of oat milk to create that unusual walnut flavor.
The only complaint is with the paper packaging. I find that the ziplock bags create a lot of matcha dust and need to be wrapped in an additional ziplock or container when stored in the fridge for a true air seal. Otherwise, this has been a wonderful matcha and I hope you get to try it.