In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) discuss their journey in developing a countertop matcha mill and the challenges they face in sourcing high-quality tencha. They explore the unexpected flavor profiles discovered in fresh milled gyokuro and the science behind milling and flavor extraction. The conversation delves into the contradictions within the matcha industry, the power dynamics at play, and the future of specialty matcha.
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1:07:50
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1:07:50
The Price of Transparency
In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) delve into the complexities of transparency in the matcha industry. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers and brands in sharing sourcing information, the importance of consumer education, and the evolving market dynamics that influence pricing and quality. Ultimately, they envision a future where consumer preferences shape the matcha landscape, leading to a richer and more diverse culture around matcha consumption.
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1:02:34
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1:02:34
Matcha Sensory
In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) explore matcha through the lens of sensory science, flavor profiling, and quality assessment. They discuss cultural perspectives on taste, the socially-constructed nature of quality assessment, the role of descriptive analysis, and different frameworks for tasting. The episode concludes with comparative tastings examining the effects of temperature and dilution in matcha preparation, differences across matcha blends, and a comparison between two hand-picked, single-cultivar Asahi matchas made from Uji-grown tencha: one organic and kanreisha (shelf) shaded, the other conventionally grown and honzu shaded.
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1:12:38
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1:12:38
An Afternoon with a Chashi
https://forms.gle/48rLN1nXi6vAC1YF6In this episode, the hosts delve into the intricate world of matcha blending after spending an afternoon with a top-ranked chashi. The conversation covered topics such as new and exciting cultivars, compromises made when blending lower quality tencha, and their options of Chinese matcha which might surprise you!Koto Tea Space / Chajin Life in Bangkok recorded this great video referenced in the episode where they touch on one of the theories behind the "shiro" poetic naming convention and the role chashi's have played historically: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8U25u1BuK0
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1:12:21
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1:12:21
Currency of Trust
*Correction: Uji City produced only 37.6 tons of tencha in 2024, not 70 tons. I confused this number with the area of actively farmed tea cultivation in Uji City which is 73.6 hectares (source: https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/nosan/documents/r6chachosa2.pdf)In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) delve into the intricate relationship between trust and the matcha industry. They explore how trust serves as the primary undercurrent of the industry, the complexities surrounding Uji matcha, and the challenges of mislabeling and transparency in the supply chain. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the context behind matcha sourcing and production, as well as the evolving expectations of consumers in a rapidly changing market.
The Specialty Matcha Podcast is hosted by Ryan Ahn and Zongjun Li, cofounders of Sanko Matcha Products. We discuss the growth in popularity of matcha, innovation, and matcha science. We also interview thought leaders, tea merchants, and tea educators to discuss everything from sourcing, processing, blending, milling, storytelling, health claims, and much more.
Sanko Matcha Products is a startup dedicated to using functional design to create contemporary matcha gear and the use of new technology to innovate the matcha milling process.
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