Matcha Kōmyō

Ol******, 2025-12-27 07:32 JST, UKRAINE

I’ve been trying the Maruyasu Matcha Kōmyō for a little while now, and, well… it’s definitely an edgy one. Right off the bat, it hits with a punch. There’s astringency that makes you sit up and notice. It’s not the kind of matcha that sneaks up on you with sweetness; in fact, for my taste, it’s almost lacking in that creamy, mellow note I usually like. You can sense hints of walnut and fresh tea leaf, yes, but to me, it leans toward something I’d almost call Yabukita-like, though I suspect there isn’t much Yabukita in it at all. It’s sharp, crisp, a bit dry, and makes its presence felt on the palate. What’s interesting is how water temperature completely changes the experience. At 85–90℃, it softens, the edges round out a little, and the nuttiness comes forward more pleasantly. Drop the temp too low, like 75℃, and… well, it just feels flat and overly astringent, not something I’d enjoy casually. So, there’s a little bit of an experiment involved finding your personal sweet spot can really make the difference. Texture-wise, it’s a bit rustic, less powdery smooth than some other brands, which I actually kind of like. There’s a body to it, a bit of “bite,” that you feel in the mouth so if you prefer a matcha that’s soft and immediately sweet, this might not be your first choice. But if you like to explore, if you enjoy matcha with character that can shift depending on how you whisk it, Kōmyō has a lot to offer. Overall, it’s not love at first sip for me. It’s more of a “get to know each other” matcha, the kind that challenges your palate and rewards patience and experimentation. I think it’s interesting, yes, maybe even fun in a curious sort of way but it’s not a matcha you fall head-over-heels for immediately. You need to play with it, adjust temps, maybe even revisit it a few times to really see what it can do. If you enjoy a matcha with presence (edgy, slightly astringent, with a nutty, crisp quality), then Kōmyō is worth a try. Just… temper expectations if you’re chasing that classic creamy sweetness. It’s a tea you adapt to, rather than one that adapts to you.

Did you find this review useful? (16)

la******, 2025-04-10 03:15 JST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Did you find this review useful? (2)

Pa******, 2025-01-25 23:24 JST, THAILAND

Very salty, I love it taste. Good Package. I love this brand.

Did you find this review useful? (9)

La******, 2024-08-20 05:16 JST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

As others said, does better at high temperatures. It is fine, but there are others better for the price point.

Did you find this review useful? (7)

Jo******, 2023-06-01 22:03 JST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I had hesitations on buying this, but the previous review convinced me I should try it out and I don't regret it. I get walnuts and crisp autumn leaves in the body and fresh cream in the aftertaste. The fresh cream helps mellow out the harshness from the body, but there’s not enough of it to add much substance to the aftertaste beyond this. It has an edge that I interpret as kind of “round”. It fills the whole palate and has a snap you without being astringent. Depending on how you prep this it CAN have a bit of a drying astringency after swallowing, separate from this snap. At around 85°C, you'll get more of a drying texture and the dried autumn leaf, with a slight nuttiness. There’s a bit of cream that mellows its slight astringency but not a whole lot. The snap and slight astringency is noticeable. At around 90°C, there’s a nuttier taste with less of the dried leaf quality, and a creamier aftertaste that balances out the snap and drying astringency quite well. The bolder body also mixes well with the snap, drawing the focus away from it. This is my preferred temp, it’s very well-balanced here but still lacking a bit in the aftertaste. If you drop to 75°C you’ll have a bad time unless you really enjoy snappy and astringent matcha. Dried leaf is predominant here and there’s little cream to balance out its snap. The astringency has a bite that makes my face scrunch up. It’s a fun matcha experience for sure. Listen to the 85°-90°C suggestion and you’ll have a great time. I would have liked to see a bit more cream in the taste, I think that would have given it a bit of sweetness it’s otherwise lacking.

Did you find this review useful? (14)

Ri******, 2023-03-29 04:51 JST, JAPAN

I was intrigued to try this matcha after trying and falling in love with the Maruyasa Jiko (which I have purchased 5 or 6 tins of since its release). I was reluctant to purchase this because of the description of it being an "edgy" matcha as I anticipated a very savory matcha (which I find less enjoyable). While this matcha does possess a nutty character, it's a lot more subtle than other matchas with this flavor profile. It has a very prominent creaminess to go along with a sweetness at the end that makes it enjoyable and surprising at the same time. While I personally prefer the Jiko due to its more pronounced sweetness, this matcha is a worthy counterpart and really distinguishes the Maruyasa brand among the matcha offerings on Sazen. I hope other blends are released in the future - the quality you get for the price is almost criminal.

Did you find this review useful? (9)