Lucuma Matcha

Another sample from CrowKettle! Robust.

I needed a pick-me-up due to an early morning vet visit (I got up before 7! That time of the morning just should not exist..), and subsequent nap. Since all the matcha is making my kitchen smell amazing, I figured I should probably try to drink it all up first, before all my other teas smell like it too.

This one is odd. I’ve never had Lucuma, but the matcha smelled like fruit and, well, matcha. I think I’d have to compare a plain matcha to this one, as I just can’t really pick out the flavour. It’s not bad by any means, more like I don’t know what I’m looking for, and so I’m feeling a little lost, flavour-wise!

As always, this is a nice matcha. I made it as a latte with 2 tbsp water, 8 oz almond milk, 1/2 tsp sugar. Yum! If I have enough brains in the morning, I’ll make the rest of this up in a travel mug for a pre-math caffeine boost.

No idea what Lucuma is, but I guess it’s a fruit from the picture! :P #detectiveskills

I actually really like this. Maybe it’s because it has the stronger flavouring, or maybe because I finally got the right consistency, but whatever – I like it! It tastes like matcha, and it’s a bit sweet, and it blends well with my milk. All good things. I guess there’s something else in there – possibly fruity, but I’m just happy enough with this that I don’t need to investigate further. I just drank 6 oz and I sorta want to go make 6 oz more!

Thank you CrowKettle!

Lucuma Matcha

Buy it here: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/lucuma-matcha.html

So this matcha is very earthy smelling in the dry form. When I opened the bag there was really nothing remarkable about the smell other than sort of an earthy aroma mixed in with the matcha aroma. I shrugged and was like “okay” lol I just didn’t know what to think. I have never heard of Lucuma let alone had Lucuma before so what do I know!?!

I did however want to expand my horizons and the health benefits of Lucuma really interested me as well. Especially helping with skin inflammations and as an immune system booster!

So I prepared the matcha of course and took a sip. It just tasted like matcha but of course a Red Leaf Tea quality matcha which equals GOOD STUFF!

I added my ice and milk – as in my typical latte preparation of course, but this time did not yet add the splash of vanilla creamer. Took a sip – still the same – wonderful matcha flavor, but nothing else.

So then I added my splash of vanilla low fat creamer, hummm now this is an interesting turn of events. I taste a light fruitiness here! Is it my imagination perhaps? Is it wishful thinking? Is it that somehow magically the creamer brought out the fruity flavor? Maybe it is a mental thing since this is now the way I usually enjoy my matcha – I have myself fooled into thinking things always taste better this way? I don’t know. I am willing to admit if that is the case but maybe had I just added some sugar (there is sugar in the creamer I am sure – its not sugar free and even if it were it would have some kind of sweetener in it in the place of sugar right?). So I am thinking … this must be a fruit that is complimented and made more predominant with the addition of some kind of sugar, not the creamer at all!

So next time I have this I will leave the creamer out and add some sugar which ironically I had considered doing before adding my creamer but I just didn’t want THAT much sugar in my matcha. Still for the sake of science next time I will!

So then, how does this matcha TASTE? Well, its matcha tasting, with this light juicy like flavor similar to a melon. The fruit looks like an avocado to me. I looked up the Lucuma Fruit and found that it is supposed to have a flavor similar to a sweet potato and maple and you know what I do get that! Its light mind you and even at the Robust flavor I selected I still feel the matcha flavor itself is the predominant flavor here. It is richer as a matcha though and I think that is due to the Lucuma! Still I get this melon flavor too. It truly is interesting and nothing about it tastes bad at all. I just don’t really have my mind wrapped around it yet HOWEVER if you are adventurous and want to try something out of the box this is a good one to select for sure!

My Matcha was composed of the following:

Options:
Size : Small
Matcha Quality: Starter (Basic Grade)
Flavor: Robust
Storage: Add Small Metal Tin Container (Holds up to 45g)

Again here is where to pick up some of your own!!

http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/lucuma-matcha.html

This is robust flavoring and I still don’t quite know what “this” is. I think I picked it out for the funny name. It’s jammy and sweet, but not in a fruity way, and it’s slightly buttery. I can see where the “sweet potato” reference comes in. Despite my best whisking efforts this matcha tends to come out clumpy or grainy… I’ve whisked like a champ tonight and I’ve lost count on how many matcha lattes I’ve made myself. Maybe over ten. Not excessive at all. At least it makes the kitchen smell sweet and it helps to make Archer more watchable studying for my last final more enjoyable.

This may not be a keeper but it was, and still is, a neat experience!

Backlog:

Prior to tasting this tea I can’t recall having ever tasted Lucuma. It’s sweet and like the description suggests – maple-y. It makes a sweet, creamy matcha.

My specs for this Matcha were classic grade with a distinctive level of favoring. The Lucuma has a very mild flavor to it though, that you could bump this up to robust and I’d probably be satisfied with it.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/02/07/lucuma-flavored-matcha-green-tea-red-leaf-tea/