How to Taste Matcha at Home: Explore TEN, Sakura and #8
You do not need a trained palate to discover the matcha you love.
All you need is a little time, the same preparation for each tea, and a few simple things to notice. If you usually enjoy matcha in a latte, tasting it with water offers another way to get to know the tea itself.
For your next tasting, explore three expressions of 100% Yame-grown matcha: TEN, Sakura and #8. Think of this as a small discovery at your own kitchen table, with no perfect answers required.
Set up a simple tasting at home
Choose two or three matchas, a scale, a sieve, a bowl and a bamboo whisk. Use the same water and preparation for each tea. If you have only one bowl, taste one at a time and rinse it between varieties.
- Sift 2g of matcha into your bowl.
- Add 60–70ml of water at about 70–80°C. Choose one temperature and volume within this range and keep them consistent for every sample.
- Whisk until evenly mixed and lightly foamy, using the same technique for each bowl.
- Take a small sip without milk or sweetener. Pause, make a note, and sip some plain water before moving to the next tea.
This is a starting point for comparison. Once you have a favorite, adjust the water or amount of matcha to suit your own cup. You can share the bowls with another tea lover and compare your impressions.
Four things to notice
| Notice | Ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Aroma | What do I notice before the first sip? |
| Taste | How do umami, sweetness and bitterness feel together? |
| Texture | Does the tea feel creamy, silky or light in my mouth? |
| Finish | What remains after I swallow, and do I want another sip? |
Write a few words in your own language. Our tasting notes are a guide; your preparation and personal preferences will shape what you notice. There is no need to find exactly the same words we use.
TEN: Creamy depth from rare Okumidori
New to Mukoh Matcha in 2026, TEN is made with 100% Okumidori from Yame. This highly sought-after cultivar gives our TEN its creamy umami, gentle sweetness and low bitterness.
In your tasting: Notice the mouthfeel first. Does it feel rounded and creamy? After swallowing, which impression stays with you: umami, sweetness, or both?
Sakura: Silky texture and gentle sweetness
Sakura is one of our returning bestsellers, selling out year after year. Its first-flush Yame tea brings together rich umami, gentle sweetness and a silky, balanced finish.
In your tasting: Pay attention to the transition from the first sip to the finish. Does the softness of the texture stand out? How does its sweetness feel beside TEN?
#8: Fresh aroma and everyday balance
Another returning bestseller, #8 is made with 100% first-flush Yabukita from Yame. It offers balanced umami, natural sweetness and a fresh, clean aroma.
In your tasting: Breathe in before sipping, then notice the balance across the whole bowl. Is this the one you would reach for every morning?
Start with the amount you want to explore
You can choose individual 20g, 30g, 50g or 100g tasting pouches through the links above. A 20g pouch provides approximately ten bowls when you use 2g per bowl, giving you room to revisit a tea on another day.
Prefer a wider comparison? Ceremonial Trial Set #S brings together TEN, MICHI, Sakura, Red, #8 and Ayame. Choose 20g, 30g, 50g or 100g per variety; each is packed separately in a plain silver foil pouch.
The branded packages pictured here are the regular packaged products. Individual tasting pouches and the trial set use plain silver packaging.
Keep a favorite for every kind of cup
You may choose TEN for an unhurried tasting, Sakura to share with a guest, and #8 for your everyday bowl. You might find a different favorite altogether. What matters is the tea you look forward to preparing again.
For everyday lattes, we also recommend Fuji, made from second-harvest Yame tea, and Kiku, made from third-harvest Yame tea. They are sold separately and are not included in Trial Set #S. Read our Fuji and Kiku latte guide for that comparison.
Compare the Yame matcha range →
For cafés and professional buyers, small tastings are also a useful first step before selecting bulk quantities. Visit each product page for current sizes and availability.
Available exclusively online. Shipped from Japan. Enter your delivery address at checkout to review shipping charges before payment, or contact us for help choosing your first matcha.
MUKOH MATCHA
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