Tag: matcha

Review – Sakura Signatures Fidget Toys

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“Don’t play with that!”
“Put that down!”
“Stop fidgeting!”

Those of us on Team Neurospicy have heard these lines all through our lives. Thankfully people are becoming much more understanding of things like fidgeting, and focus disorders in general. Enter the fidget toy. Designed specifically to fill that need, they’re available in all sorts of fantastic permutations and designs, catering to every type of movement. And nowadays, with the advent of things like 3D printing, making them has become more accessible than ever. Which also means making designs to cater to every aesthetic!

Enter Sakura Signatures, a small business designing and making all sorts of fantastic fidget toys and other custom products. They make a variety of products, but of course I was drawn to these.

First off, how adorable is this takeout bento packaging?! If you purchase two fidgets, you can select a third one for free and get them packaged like this. Since I wanted a few different mechanisms, I had to go for it.

For my bento, I selected three different designs with three different fidget methods. The matcha whisk is a nice loud ratcheting spinner, the bao is a quiet magnetic slider, and the tuna maki is a soft clicking key button. I love that they offer multiple styles and volumes, for all your fussbudget needs. You can also choose to get them on a keychain, like I did, or without the chain. I’m just very prone to losing things so I knew being able to attach them to a keychain or zipper would be best.

If you would like to see these in action (and really, isn’t that the most important part?) here’s a video of me testing them all out. Ignore the giggle. I just really enjoyed them!

@kimono_tsuki

Check out these absolutely precious fidget toys from @sakura_signatures! fidget fidgettoy kawaii matcha bao sushi

♬ original sound – Kimono Tsuki 着物月 – Kimono Tsuki 着物月

The dumpling is my favourite, due to the mechanism and the general quietness of it, but they’re all going to get a ton of use. If you’re like me and need to play with things to focus, and want something that suits your style and would not look out of place as an obi-kazari, be sure to check out Sakura Signatures. Personally, I’m really hoping they bring the Advent Calendar back for next year.

 I purchased this item myself and chose to review it.If you have a topically appropriate craft, product, or service you would like me to review, please contact me. 

Fragrance Review – Sorce Match Made In Heaven

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They say scent is the sense most strongly tied to memory. It’s also my strongest sense, likely to make up for how terrible my others are. I often try to wear subtle but significant fragrances when I’m doing something memorable so I can relive the moment by going back to that scent.

As you may remember I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect cherry blossom fragrance, and haven’t had a ton of luck so far, but I still seek out interesting perfumes with that particular note. However, I’m also very drawn to more traditionally western gourmand fragrances. It doesn’t hurt that my husband is particularly fond of those on me too.

Today I have the absolute perfect merging of these two worlds: Match Made In Heaven by Sorce Perfumery. It’s described by the perfumery as follows:

The scents of earthy green matcha tea and softly sweet cherry blossom petals find themselves to be an irresistible pairing, while vanilla soft serve, a hint of fresh-baked waffle cone, and a dusting of powdered sugar linger in the air.

The warm earthy green of matcha, the sweetness of ice cream, and the soft freshness of sakura, all in one pretty little package?  You know I had to give it a shot. I bought the 15ml spray because I wanted a smaller size to test but wanted to make sure I got the gorgeous shidarezakura (weeping cherry blossom) label. This is a small independent company and it’s clear they put so much effort into every aspect of their products; it seemed a shame not to share the pretty artwork as well as the fragrance.

Keith and I spent last weekend in one of the more Japanese areas of Los Angeles (more on that in an entry soon) and I figured that it would be the ideal time to try out this scent. Man, was I ever right. This perfume is incredible. The sakura is subtle, so my hunt for that particular note continues, but it strikes the absolute perfect balance between fresh and sweet. I can absolutely see this becoming one of my go-to signature scents, and I suspect I’ll be buying a larger bottle as soon as this one runs low. I may even grab a larger one to leave here in California and take this smaller one back to me next time I head home to Montreal so I’m never without it.

If you’re looking for a pure, clean sakura note, then move on. However, if you’re looking for something warm, comforting, a little sexy, a little fresh, and entirely unique, don’t skip out on Match Made In Heaven by Sorce.

 I purchased this item myself and chose to review it.If you have a topically appropriate craft, product, or service you would like me to review, please contact me. 

Review – Matcha Set from Tangpin Tea

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Today I am sharing with you this lovely matcha set from Tangpin Tea on Etsy. I have been on the hunt for a more complete matcha set including a whisk and when I saw this one I fell in love with the green drip glaze and reached out to the seller.

This set is comprised of a chawan (茶碗, tea bowl), a chashaku  (茶杓, tea scoop), a chasen (茶筅,  tea whisk), and a naoshi (直し, whisk stand). Essentially, the very basic elements needed to properly prepare a bowl of matcha. For actual tea ceremony there are many more pieces needed, but if what you’re looking for is a pretty, affordable set to make your own comforting bowl of matcha, it’s perfect!

Now, please bear in mind that this review is coming from the perspective of someone who has not studied tea ceremony – I am just someone who enjoys matcha and little soothing rituals!

Appearance-wise, this set appeals to me greatly. As I’ve mentioned, I absolutely loved the glaze – it’s hard to capture in photos but it almost has a cyan-to-celadon gradient to it, it’s got much more depth in person. I also like that it’s subtle, not a huge contrast against the white. It’s also available in a pinkish red and a light brown drip, all on the same white base, but I can’t speak to the depth or variation in those. I only have one other chawan and it’s got a much heavier, almost “earthy” feel to it, whereas this one feels delicate without feeling flimsy or fragile. It feels spring-like! Perfect for looking forward to the upcoming change of seasons.

The chashaku and chasen are quite standard-looking and made of bamboo, but they have a good comfortable feel to them. The whisk is well-made and I don’t anticipate it deforming or losing bits any time soon and there are no signs of splitting or warping on the scoop.

This set is mass-produced, and while it’s certainly not on par with artisan-made individual pieces, I think for the price it’s absolutely lovely! It’s great for everyday use and I wouldn’t feel terrified of using it regularly.

 I purchased this item at a discounted price for honest review purposes.If you have a topically appropriate craft, product, or service you would like me to review, please contact me. 

Tea Time – “Matchai” Latte

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Hello everyone! I was all set to change the mannequin today to feature my adorable new obi with shrimp on it and then I went and drove a utility knife into the base of my finger. Whoops! It hurts like the dickens, and I’m afraid of getting blood everywhere, so no kitsuke for a while!

Instead, I thought I would share this “recipe” for a matcha-based drink I make and enjoy when it’s hot and muggy out. I hope you try it out and like it too; it’s a nice twist on a typical matcha latte. It’s a delicious combination of earthy matcha and sweet, spicy chai. I present to you the matchai latte!

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp matcha of your choice (I’m using David’s Tea Matcha Matsu here)
  • 2 oz hot water
  • 2 cups chai (you can make your own, but I use Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai for this and it’s delicious and a lot easier)
  • Optional- If you’re not using a pre-mixed chai drink, a dash of honey or sugar can help balance out the earthiness of the matcha





Instructions

  • To make the matcha concentrate, whisk the tea and hot water vigorously or use a matcha shaker if you’re lazy like me (I like this one from David’s Teas) until your matcha and water are well-blended and form a thin paste. If you’re using a sweetener, add it here.
  • Pour your matcha concentrate into a tall glass, then add ice cubes if you like your drink really cold (personally I find the cold temperature of the chai enough to cool the drink down). If using ice, don’t pour the matcha concentrate over the ice, it tends to clump up and get stuck and not blend well.
  • Fill the glass with your chai beverage.
  • If you’re feeling fancy you can top the drink with a dollop of whipped cream or whipped coconut milk and a dusting of matcha. I think this adds a nice richness to the drink and makes it look elevated.

That’s it! You now have a delicious, refreshing, and unique drink that will rival the fanciest tea/coffee place.

(None of the links here are affiliate links, I just thought I’d share what I use!)

Tea Time – Tea Squared Selection

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Today for you I have a great selection of green teas from Tea Squared. They were kind enough to send me a variety of loose-leaf green teas as well as some flavoured matcha latte powders. They’re based in Canada, so if you’re like me and looking for new tea suppliers without having to pay through the nose in shipping and duty, they’re a great place to check out. I’ve been trying them out for a week now, and ready to share my thoughts!

First up, we have the green teas. I wanted to sample a variety of these, to get a feel for the tea in its purest form as well as how it blends with other ingredients.

Sencha Fujiyama – This is a classic loose-leaf sencha tea. I always think teas like this are the best way to tell if a company knows what they’re doing. It’s very easy to mask a mediocre tea leaf with flavours and additives, but in pure form like this the tea itself has to be good, and Tea Squared got it right here. It’s light, fresh, and grassy. The colour is lovely, a bright clear green. If you’re looking for a clean sencha tea to go with everything from meals to sweets, this is definitely worth a shot.

Ryokucha – This is a blend of  sencha  and matcha tea with roasted rice. It adds a wonderful, earthy, toasted note that pairs so well with the light taste of green tea. It’s one of my favourites, and I have several different brands floating around the house. This one compared fantastically to them all. It strikes the perfect balance between the tea and the rice, and makes a great comforting cup.

Sencha Sensation – This is familiar sencha tea with a fun and colourful blend of natural ingredients like fruit, nuts, and pink peppercorns. I was very intrigued by the combination, and very pleased by the results. I was a little worried the tea would get lost under all the strong aromatics, but it’s very well-balanced. It’s a little fresh, a little fruity, and a little spicy. I can’t wait until the weather gets warmer to try this one iced and sweetened with a little honey!

These teas were all great, and I would recommend any of them.

After the classic sencha teas, I tried a couple of their Ma-Cha line of matcha lattes. These are meant to be mixed with a small amount of boiling water to create a sort of concentrate, which is then mixed with steamed or cold milk.

Vanilla Almond Ma-Cha Latte – This one was deliciously sweet but not overpowering. Personally, I noticed the vanilla more than the almond, but that’s not to say the almond wasn’t present – it was definitely noticeable. I made it with the unsweetened cashew milk I had on hand, and it was absolutely delicious. I bet it would be even better with almond milk, but I didn’t have any on hand. Once I’ve gone through the large bag they sent, I’m definitely going to be buying the individual packet size of these to keep at work and for travel.

Naughty Cacao Ma-Cha Latte – This one ended up being much darker than I expected. It looks like a really rich chocolate milk than a matcha drink. Heck, it tastes like a really rich chocolate milk, but with those familiar earthy notes from the matcha that pair incredibly well with the chocolate. I thought the chili would be a gimmick but it’s definitely present, and you can feel a lovely warmth build up in your throat as you drink it. Nothing unpleasant or overwhelming but it definitely makes its presence known. If you’re really not a spice fan, this one might not be for you.

There is one negative with these, minor as it is. You’re probably thinking it. Yes, the lady on the packaging is a little cringe-inducing for anyone familiar with geisha and kimono in general. I suspect she’s from a stock photo site, and I don’t fault the company for using her. I do hope they find a more authentic-looking image if they redo the packaging in the future though.

If you’re looking for an authentic matcha experience, these won’t scratch your itch. However, if you’re looking for a healthy and delicious alternative to some of the drinks at your local coffee-house that has the familiar earthiness of green tea with some interesting overlapping notes, they’re absolutely worth a shot.

 I received this item from the retailer or manufacturer for honest review purposes.If you have a topically appropriate craft, product, or service you would like me to review, please contact me.