Golden Matcha!?
Yes, you read that correctly! Golden Matcha is a thing, although it is not entirely made of gold. Rather, KIN-SAI Matcha (Kinsai Kinpaku iri Matcha) is a ceremonial grade matcha, blended with actual edible gold flakes! We started calling it Golden Matcha and it started to stick. We initially thought this was a joke, or just fancy marketing - upon opening a small tin we were surprised to see gold flakes speckled throughout the matcha powder. Golden matcha lives up to it’s name and doesn’t skim out on the gold flakes either!
Yamashiro, Kyoto - The Birth Place of Japanese Tea
The Yamashiro region of Kyoto Prefecture has been cultivating exceptional tea for over 800 years. In Kizugawa-city, the area's unique soil composition and climate create ideal conditions for tea cultivation. Fukujuen, established in this historic region, has been crafting superior teas since 1790, maintaining traditions while embracing innovation. It’s worth the visit if you are ever traveling through Kyoto, Japan. The famous Uji Green Tea is from here.
Traditional Craftsmanship
Fukujuen tea masters are pretty bad-ass, in our opinion. They cut no corners! Meticulous in selecting and hand-plucking the finest leaves during the first spring harvest. This region is something out of fairytale or anime cartoon. We could barely believe such perfect conditions like this exist. Imagine morning mists and dew gently watering the rolling hills of tea trees… leading to the development of rich umami flavours. Matcha from this region is very popular locally in Japan and gaining traction globally. The leaves cultivated in this region are still stone-ground following ancient methods, creating matcha powder of legendary quality.
What Makes KIN-SAI Matcha Unique?
Real Edible Gold Flakes
KIN-SAI presents itself in an elegant 15g tin, containing vivid green matcha powder interspersed with 23-karat edible gold flakes. The matcha itself offers a distinct umami flavour profile with subtle sweetness and a smooth, creamy texture. The addition of gold flakes creates a mesmerizing visual effect without affecting the tea's natural taste. If you hold a glass up to the light, you will see gold flakes floating throughout the finished matcha tea. It sparkles! Bling, bling!
(Check out the amazing health benefits that matcha tea has to offer)
How To Tell Quality Matcha from Low-Grade
The brilliant moss green colour and silky-smooth texture immediately identify this as premium ceremonial-grade matcha. Its fresh aroma carries sweet grassy notes characteristic of the highest-quality green tea, while the powder demonstrates the fine, consistent texture that marks superior processing. If you take a pinch of matcha between your fingers, you can spread it easily on a piece of paper as if it were paint. The powder is THAT fine. Pretty impressive.
Preparation Suggestions
We had a delightful time preparing a golden matcha beverage and were almost hypnotized by the amount of gold floating around. Here are some guidelines we like to use:
Traditional Method (no milk)
- Heat water to 70-80°C (158-176°F)
- Sift 2g matcha into a ceremonial bowl
- Add 60ml water
- Whisk in "M" motion until frothy
- Observe golden flakes dancing in the emerald brew
Golden Matcha Latte
- Sift 2g KIN-SAI matcha into a glass or mug
- Add 30ml hot water (70°C)
- Whisk until smooth
- Heat 200ml milk of choice
- Combine in a slow pour
- If you want to be lazy, use an electric frother
Premium Matcha Vs. Culinary Grade
While culinary grade serves well in recipes, baking, smoothies, sweet Starbucks-style lattes - ceremonial grade like KIN-SAI offers a superior drinking experience with:
- More refined flavour profile, no bitterness, baby!
- Smoother texture - spreads like paint on paper
- Bright vibrant, emerald green colour
- Natural sweetness, you can skip the sweetener
The Way You Serve Tea Matters!
In formal settings, KIN-SAI Golden Matcha creates an unforgettable presentation, with gold flakes adding an element of luxury to traditional tea ceremony aesthetics. Gold, for most cultures, symbolizes prosperity and celebration, making it perfect for special occasions. We only bust this puppy out when we want to impress guests and go the distance.
KIN-SAI represents a pinnacle of matcha craftsmanship, where centuries-old tradition meets modern golden luxury. It literally has gold embedded throughout. Initially, we were worried about consuming a metal like this, but we learned quickly that gold is totally safe to consume and is pretty much just for looks. But this doesn’t take away from the unique, cool tea experience. Not for a second.
(Ever wondered if matcha tea helps with weight loss? So have we!)