Barista Pro Blend Matcha

Perfect for an everyday matcha latte!

I really enjoyed the Naoki Barista Pro Blend, the flavor is smooth, rich and sweet, without the bitter or grassy undertones that most matcha blends tend to have. It blended very smoothly, and has a vibrant green color. I prepared it in an iced matcha latte, with 60 ml of hot water and 200 ml (around one cup) of milk. The matcha whisked up very smoothly, and I poured it over strawberry puree and milk. The flavor works especially well with the milk, allowing the matcha flavor to remain present without overpowering the other flavors involved. The matcha was very easy to work with and whisked smoothly. It dissolved well when whisked with a bamboo whisk and produced a smooth, creamy mixture with a nice layer of foam. I did not have any issues with clumping, and it was easy to incorporate and blend into the finished drink. Overall, I think the Naoki Barista Pro Blend is a great matcha for lattes and other blended drinks. It has a nice flavor that holds up to milk, while remaining smooth and enjoyable on its own. A fantastic matcha to use for both matcha experts and those new to matcha!

Delicious

Tasty Blend for Lattes, Stands on It's Own

I was very fortunate to be selected to receive a sample of this blend to test and review...and I am late to the review, for which I apologize. But I hope it was worth the wait, because I greatly enjoyed my time with the Barista Pro Blend. Taste: What stands out to me about this blend is that the "strength" doesn't come from the grassy bitterness that I find is common in most latte-focused blends. Instead the flavor is strongly vegetal, yes, but also sweet and creamy in a way that makes it pleasant on it's own while allowing it to stand up to additions beautifully. Preparation: I did test the blend on it's own, but mostly I used it for either iced or hot lattes, with a ratio of 4oz milk to roughly 40-60 mL water (I admit, I usually just eyeball it). I tried it with a variety of homemade syrups, using anywhere from .5-1 TB, and also once tried it as a sweet, frappe-style blended drink, whipped cream and all. This blend held up to every preparation I tried, providing great flavor even in sweeter drinks, while still being excellent without or with very little sweetener. Was it easy to whisk and work with: Yes! My whisk needs a replacement, so I personally never got any picture-perfect foam, but it still worked up beautifully and did not give me any issues with blending or texture. Overall - If you want to enjoy lattes without sacrificing quality, this is a great blend. I know I will absolutely be getting it again!