(frfr) affordable & gd quality SG matcha 🍵✨🫶

i'm currently in my ✨ matcha era ✨and a huge favourite of mine has been naoki 🤭 over the past 3mths i've been through quite a few tins from them so here's my thoughts~ ranked from lowest to highest price point!

(their prices have been fluctuating a little esp w 9.9 a couple wks ago so do take the numbers w a pinch of salt)

🍵 Barista Blend

💰$11.37/30g

⭐️ 3.5/5

you really can't fault the Barista Blend — it's a great starting place for beginner matcha-ers! it's not vvv fragrant or tasty, but it's really decent especially at this price point. tbh i was abit concerned bc i got a concerningly strong whiff of seaweed when i first opened the packet (???) but i found i cldn't taste it at all latte-style which was gr8 :>

also, interesting thing to note: this is the only matcha powder on my list not marketed as ceremonial grade!

👤 BEST FOR - the beginner who doesn't want to spend too much

🍵 Barista Pro Blend

💰$18.89/30g

⭐️ 3/5

i was disappointed by how much i did not like this 🙁 esp accounting for the increase in price from the regular Barista Blend...it felt surprisingly umami-y and bitter to me ?? i'm quite careful to make sure my water isn't too hot too (which accentuates bitterness) but imo this rly lacked the sweet fragrance that i like in a matcha, esp the smell that emanates when you whisk it. latte-style this wasn't particularly tasty either, making it my least favourite of the bunch :" but it cld defo be a matter of personal taste & it definitely wasn't bad, just not my style~

👤 BEST FOR - the not-so-beginner who wants to try a deeper flavour

🍵 Superior Blend

💰$19.69/30g

⭐️ 4/5

ooh this is what i always reco when friends ask me about my fav matcha....it's the perfect balance of price & quality! esp being only $1 more than the pro blend but with a richer tea-taste. it's def noticeably carries a more nuanced depth of flavour than either of the previous blends. overall i quite enjoyed how this was a nice middle ground between umami, bitter, deep, sweet, fragrant (: and i'm on my 2nd tin alr so defo a favourite of mine

👤 BEST FOR - someone tryna deepen their matcha palette & appreciate a more well-rounded blend...w/o breaking the bank

🍵 Fragrant Yame Blend

💰$25.99/30g

⭐️ 4/5 (3.5 for price...)

aight aight now we gettin into the Fancier Matchas™️ this was indeed fragrant! it was the sweetest blend out of the lot & i cld rly smell that when i was whisking which super enhanced the matcha making experience hehe. in fact i think this was the sweetest matcha out of all the ones i tried ! the bitterness paired v well imo with the more floral notes in this matcha, which i rly enjoyed esp latte-style. i didn't notice much of an umami taste tbh but i like my matchas lighter & more floral-leaning, so that was all g with me 👌

👤 BEST FOR - someone who wants to/can appreciate the deeper layered notes in a higher-quality brand

🍵 Chiran Single-Origin

💰$32.99/30g

⭐️ 5/5 (2.5 for price...)

ahhh this was my FAVOURITE blend out of the lot...ngl i wake up thinking of my chiran lattes sometimes 🥲🥲 but it's just way too expensive to consume for my regular matcha fix

👤 BEST FOR - a premium experience, like a special once-a-week matcha you use to reward yourself yanno bc this is rly too bougie to drink everyday

let me know your experience with naoki && please reco any other good matcha brands in sg cause i wanna expand my collection hehe #MyLemon8Diary #matcha