Blend 98 Matcha

Pricing as disclosed

• 30g — $89.00
• 100g — $249.00
• 250g — $529.00
• 500g — $952.00
• 1000g — $1713.00

Everything disclosed on the product page

Tagline

effusive, polished, lingering

Grade Tier

Hyperpremium

Origin

Ujitawara, Kyoto, Japan -- described as 'our favorite matcha coop'

Price 30 Servings

$89.00 ($2.37/serving)

Price 100 Servings

$1.99/serving

Price 250 Servings

$1.69/serving

Price 500 Servings

$1.52/serving

Price 1000 Servings

$1.37/serving

Tasting Notes

Crazy umami; tastes reminiscent of just-picked asparagus; aroma of the powder is hyperfresh cacao; lustrous whorls and creamy yet light texture, mouthfeel, and drawn-out finish when made thick

Characteristics

Site frames this product against the 'five tell-tale signs of a great matcha': maximum umami, electric green color, intoxicating vegetal aroma, creamy frothability (via traditional granite grinding mills), and a long stunning finish

Health Functional Claim

Loaded with l-theanine, said to help keep you focused and alert for hours

Ingredients

100% extraordinary green tea leaves, ground up into a fine powder; no sugar, additives, or any other nonsense

Serving Size

One gram (1g) = one serving, combined with 2-3 ounces of hot water

Packaging

Mylar bag flushed with nitrogen to eliminate oxygen

Storage

Store cold (in the fridge), in black glass

Reviews

57 reviews listed; no numeric star rating displayed

Subscription

Auto-Refill: immediate 20% off, complimentary German-made black-violet glass jar

Research notes

This is the only one of the 9 products where an explicit health/functional claim (l-theanine / focus and alertness) is stated on the page.

Secondary sources

{
  "rating_or_verdict": "Tested, excluded from top picks",
  "notes": "Solid performer with mild bitterness and 'subtle notes of green apple skins and arugula', but not distinctive enough for the top tier."
}

{
  "tier": "Tier 1 - Almost Too Good (best overall)",
  "price_noted": "$29.00",
  "notes": "Ranked #1 of 25 brands tested."
}