An instant matcha is perfect for when I’m short on time or just lazy – usually in the office, but sometimes at home. While Nescafe came out with instant matcha capsules for their Dolce Gusto coffee machine in Japan, I’ve had a hard time trying to find Japanese branded instant matcha or matcha latte in Sydney and have had to settle for Taiwanese or Korean brands.

I’ve found Taiwanese matcha lattes to be closer in flavour to Japanese matcha lattes. This here is Greenmax Green Tea Au Lait.

Diluting one bag with 150 mL of water at 96°C, the latte is an opaque pale green-yellow colour with a fragrant matcha aroma. Upon tasting, the sweet vegetal notes of the matcha came through in the head with a pleasant hint of bitterness that’s well balanced by the sweetness. This flavour was sustained through the body and into the finish, with a creamy mouthfeel and without a prominent dairy flavour, leaving a lingering aftertaste of matcha. The matcha settles to the bottom of the cup between sips, so stirring is necessary to maintain a balanced sweetness and matcha flavour. Overall, it recalled the flavour of those served in Japanese cafes both in Japan and in Sydney.

ThisGreenmax Green Tea Au Lait contained 16 bags each containing 20 g. It was produced in Taiwan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2017.