Matcha Powder

Does anyone know where I could buy matcha green tea powder in Chicago? I don't have a car, so it would have to be somewhere I could get to on public.

Thanks!

probonobaker wrote:Does anyone know where I could buy matcha green tea powder in Chicago? I don't have a car, so it would have to be somewhere I could get to on public.

Thanks!

Probono,

I checked my favorite onground tea store, Todd & Holland, and they didn't have matcha.

I checked my favorite online tea store, Mighty Tea, and they didn't either.

Now, Upton tea (http://www.uptontea.com/) has it, but I have only limited (though so far, so good) experience with this company.

Question: are you going to do a classic tea ceremony with this stuff, if I may ask?

Hammond

No, actually I am going to cook with it. Primarily desserts (cookies, panna cotta, scones). Though, of course I will drink some as well. I would like good quality matcha, but of course I will not need the top shelf variety for my purposes.

Thank you for the suggestion! I will look into that source.

Probonobaker,

Checked out your site -- like the look of those green tea cookies.

The whole topic of cooking with tea is very interesting to me. Aside from tea smoked duck at Lao Sze Chuan, I have not had the tea flavor in many solid foods. I understand that tea can be used as a kind of spice (maybe in Burmese cooking?), but those in the know (e.g., Bill Todd of Todd & Holland) are not enthusiastic about such usages.

Hammond

The matcha at my house, which I readily credit with keeping the local fauna out in the yard where they belong, was purchased from Mitsuwa in Arlington Heights. My wife, who makes all kinds of Barnumesque claims for the sapidity of green tea ice cream yet still knows the path of the Red Line, suggests you try Toguri at 851 W. Belmont. Trust, but verify: I'd call first.

Speaking of beverages available at Mitsuwa, I present you with GOD:



Very simple list of ingredients: coffee, condensed milk powder, sugar, emulsifier.

We haven't tried it yet. We're kind of afraid of drinking GOD.

Thanks for the suggestion Choey. I will try that place out. I love Mitsuwa, but alas I have been unable to convince a friend with a car to make the trek out there with me in quite a while.

Hammond, the green tea cookies are great. The tea provides such a unique flavor. Here are some other recipes using tea (primarily matcha) from other sites:

http://www.robotmouse.com/catswhiskers/eblog/index.php?showimage=50

(check out her pictures! wow. . .)

http://scentofgreenbananas.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_scentofgreenbananas_archive.html

(Scroll down to 'green tea-ramisu ')

http://scentofgreenbananas.blogspot.com/2005_03_01_scentofgreenbananas_archive.html

(Scroll down to 'matcha cupcakes with pistachio cream and totoro "truffles" ')

-gemma

I know it's not matcha, but this recipe is one that I have been meaning to try... It's Miso Cookies....

Dear Probonobaker,

In the spirit of LTH, I would like to offer you some free matcha powder that I have on hand. It seems to be of good quality (cost me about $6 for a tiny tin) and is unopened. Alas, I never made the green tea ice cream it was intended for. But no matter. The question is: how to get it to you? I live in Lincoln Square and rarely get to Hyde Park. I would be happy to mail some to you in a small plastic envelope inside a larger paper one if you will send me a note.

Regards,
Molly

I get mine in Chinatown, which is easy to get to by public transportation. Ten Ren has it for sure, but a lot of places in Chinatown do and it is really inexpensive.

I make desserts with it as well and am curious as to what different desserts people are using it for...

Good luck.
HIKARI

Resurrecting this thread since I've been looking for a source for matcha powder, Japanese Uji would be nice but any good quality tea would also do. Looking to find a place within city limits, as I am in the same predicament as the thread starter (no car).
Will be used mainly for baking and desserts.

I don't mean to get off-topic, but reading upthread about using tea in cooking brings to mind Thunder Tea Rice, which is a Chinese dish from my clan (Hakka). I thought I'd share this link to someone's blog about the dish:

http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/2005/07/imbb-17-thunder-tea-rice-ritual.html

Basically it's rice with various vegetables and nuts (fresh and preserved), served in a CONCENTRATED tea "soup". Enjoy!

Looking for a source in the western suburbs.

Todd & Holland in Forrest Park has a few. Here's the least expensive
http://www.todd-holland.com/TeaCart/pc/ ... 7p3004.htm

Adagio Teas in Naperville

Thanks.

Ended up ordering Korean green tea powder on Amazon. Will be trying it and will report back.

Call Tensuke Market in Elk Grove to see if it's on their shelves.

+1 (847) 806-1200
IL, USA

Upton Tea is a great company....order from there all the time. Don't know about the matcha.

toria wrote:Upton Tea is a great company....order from there all the time. Don't know about the matcha.

Ditto.