matcha (koicha or usucha)

Laughing Larry

先輩

8 Oct 2009

96

1

• 21 Nov 2009

• #1

Hi,

I have heard there are two kinds of japanese green tea powder "matcha"...Koicha and Usucha. Now, I'd like to purchase this Japanese Food Hall since 1976

I was wondering if it is koicha or usacha. Just for the record, I am not going to have any tea ceremony I'd just like to have a nice bowl of matcha!

btw, do I have to buy this as well to properly mix the matcha?

http://www.o-cha.com/green-tea/koicha-tea-whisk-48.html

Finally, any suggestions on how to prepare matcha is highly apprecieted!

thanks

 

Laughing Larry

先輩

8 Oct 2009

96

1

• 21 Nov 2009

• Thread starter
• #2

by the way, could you please help me with the first kanji? I know the 2 others mean mat and cha



thanks

 

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Moderator

Donor

Twenty-year veteran

8 Aug 2005

7,316

3,727

• 21 Nov 2009

• #3

koi is an adjective for "strong" or "deep" flavor, usui is the opposite, "weak." So this is probably in regards to the strength of the tea's flavor.

御 is an honorific, pronounced "o" or "go," depending on the word. Doesn't really translate to anything, just makes it polite.
抹 is actually pronounced "matsu" by itself, but the "tsu" is turned into a sokuon (signifying a long consonant) when in a compound like this.
茶 just means tea, "cha"

 

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

18 Jan 2006

3,652

310

• 21 Nov 2009

• #4

Difference between koicha and usucha:
http://greenteaforum.o-cha.com/post8065.html

 

Elizabeth

先輩

22 Apr 2003

9,839

135

• 22 Nov 2009

• #5

You should try to get Uji-macha, not always true, but as that is generally considered the best.


BTW, does anyone know where I could order the below variety ofﾂ ﾂ「窶處ﾃ､ﾂｪ窶慊ｰﾂ」窶堙個「窶ｹﾃ翰廬ﾂ」ﾂ？ Without returning to Japan.

(ﾂ静??ｰﾂｪ)ﾂ 窶卍ｩ窶敕､窶愿槐ｽYﾂ（窶堋?窶堋ｳ窶堙絶?堙遺?堋ｳ窶堙ｱﾂ）ﾂ (Originally bought Fasola Tax Free Akihabara, 3rd fl. Narita Airport).

 

Last edited: 22 Nov 2009

Laughing Larry

先輩

8 Oct 2009

96

1

• 22 Nov 2009

• Thread starter
• #6

just bought the one in the picture I posted above...tried to make a tea with a half spoon of matcha and some warm water in a bowl...all I got is a green liquid that was yummy anyway but not looking like real matcha...I mean no green syrup

anyway, I did stir it with a little metal fork as I do not have a bamboo whisk yet ☝

By the way, is it a big NO NO to add some brown sugar?

 

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Moderator

Donor

Twenty-year veteran

8 Aug 2005

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3,727

• 22 Nov 2009

• #7

Larry, you can add anything you want to your tea if it makes you happy. You aren't doing the tea ceremony

If your tea came out weak, just add more powder next time. a heaping spoonful is more like it. Just mix well and enjoy. Maybe try varying the temperature of the water; generally things will dissolve better in warmer liquid.