Last week, I picked up some Maeda-en Matcha (Green Tea Powder) from M2M for $10, thinking this container would be full. Surprise, surprise, there was a little bag inside with roughly 3 tablespoons of powder. Granted, it smelled so good, I wanted to snort it and the color was magnetic (with any food coloring). But dang, it’s expensive.
I made green tea ice cream, a simple way to let the flavor and aroma shine. One tablespoon of matcha made 4 servings of ice cream. Again, I was thinking, dang this stuff is expensive. Then everyone tasted the ice cream and it suddenly seamed worth it. This was a definite winner, a sophisticated green tea ice cream, worthy of an upscale Japanese restaurant.
I will likely try some cheaper options to compare. Stay tuned!
Just discovered your blog–it’s fantastic!
we’re big green tea fans. I love the various flavours too though must confess haven’t done anything beyond tea…I tasted green tea ice cream at a Haggen Daas otlet at bangkok…must confess I didn’t acquire the taste
Cool! What fun!
Thanks e for kc! We’re flattered!
Knife, I love teas too…must be in our blood.
Asianmommy, ice cream is fun to make but even more fun to eat!
sometimes it’s worth it to pay a little extra for a superior ingredient. definitely let us know if you get similar results with a less expensive variety, because your ice cream looks irresistible.
Grace, I’m always open to paying a little more for superior ingredients. The cost difference here is quite steep though so I will definitely post on alternatives.
The same thing happened to me when I purchased matcha as JAS; tiny bag in an oversized tin. A few decent lattes later, it was gone. In hindsight, wish I tried baking with it.
Then I purchased a whole pound of matcha for $40 at culinaryteas.com, which is strong and bitter. I like my green tea flavored ice cream not-too-smooth and bitter which the matcha from culinaryteas.com would be appropiate for.
For baked goods and drinks, I prefer very smooth and slightly bitter. I never got ideal results from using this strong tea powder in baking and my lattes. But I still use it for the sake of not wasting it.
I have always loved the quality of teas from mightyleaf.com so I will try their matcha when I order next.
Thanks for all the great info Ellen! Let us know how the mighty leaf matcha is!