Kirkland Ito En Matcha Blend Green Tea (100 Count)

No, and this is one of the most praised features in reviews. Five reviewers specifically mentioned that this tea doesn't get bitter even with long steeping times. You can leave the bag in your cup and sip over an hour without it turning harsh. That's unusual for green tea and makes it especially great for people who tend to forget about their tea or want to sip slowly at their desk.

This tea is made by Ito En, one of Japan's most respected tea companies, and sold under the Kirkland (Costco) label. It's Japanese green tea through and through — reviewers consistently praise the bright green color (actually green, not the brown or amber you get from lower-quality teas) and the fresh, genuine matcha flavor. Several reviewers who are familiar with premium Japanese teas say the quality is comparable to brands costing significantly more.

Reviewers who made the switch consistently say yes. The key reasons: it provides slow, sustained energy without the jitters or crash that coffee causes. It has a calming effect rather than an anxious buzz. And it's simple enough for a morning routine — just a tea bag and hot water, no grinding or brewing equipment. Multiple reviewers specifically highlight using it as their daily coffee replacement and feeling better for it.

These aren't your typical flat tea bags. They use an innovative floating bag design with a center-attached string and high-quality mesh nylon material. This design lets the bag move freely in your cup for better extraction. Reviewers specifically call out the mesh bag quality — it allows water to flow through more effectively than paper bags, which contributes to the brighter color and more complete flavor.

Absolutely — and reviewers say it makes excellent cold-brewed tea. Just drop a bag in cold water and refrigerate overnight. One of the standout qualities reviewers mention is that this tea remains flavorful at room temperature even after hours of steeping, which makes it perfect for cold brewing. You won't get that stale, flat taste that happens with many teas left sitting. It's one of the most popular ways people use this product during warmer months.

With this particular tea, most reviewers drink it straight with hot water — the flavor is smooth and refined enough that it doesn't need milk. That said, it also works well cold-brewed overnight with just water, which multiple reviewers rave about. If you enjoy matcha lattes, you could brew a bag strong and add milk, but this product really shines as a clean, straightforward green tea.

Reviewers have found two great methods. The easiest is cold brewing: drop a tea bag into a glass of cold water and refrigerate overnight — multiple reviewers say it makes excellent cold-brewed tea. The quick method is brewing a bag in a small amount of hot water, then pouring over ice. Either way, reviewers note this tea stays flavorful even at room temperature after hours, so your iced tea won't go flat.

This Kirkland Ito En tea is honestly one of the best ways to start with matcha. Unlike pure matcha powder (which requires a whisk, specific technique, and careful measurement), this is just a tea bag — add hot water and you're done. Reviewers specifically call out how beginner-friendly it is: the steeping time is forgiving (it never gets bitter even if you forget about it), the flavor is approachable without being too bold, and you get consistent results every single time.

A typical cup of this Kirkland Ito En matcha blend contains roughly 30-50mg of caffeine per bag, which is about half what you'd get from a cup of coffee. Reviewers specifically mention the slow, sustained caffeine release — you get gentle energy without jitters, which is why many people use it as a coffee alternative for their morning routine or all-day sipping at work.

This tea hits a sweet spot for several types of drinkers. Beginners love it because it's impossible to mess up — it never gets bitter, and it's just a tea bag. Coffee quitters appreciate the sustained calm energy. Office workers use it as an all-day sipper. Cold-brew fans steep it overnight for ready-to-drink iced tea. And tea enthusiasts respect the Ito En quality and the sencha-matcha blend. The one group it might not satisfy is matcha purists who want ceremonial-grade powder for traditional preparation.

This is a fair criticism that reviewers bring up. Each of the 100 tea bags is individually wrapped in plastic, which does create more waste than unwrapped tea bags. The wrapping does serve a purpose — it keeps each bag fresh and protects the matcha powder from moisture — but if minimizing plastic waste is important to you, this is worth knowing. It's one of the few consistent downsides reviewers mention about an otherwise highly-rated product.

Yes — tea enthusiasts in the reviews mention that this tea is suitable for making genmaicha by adding toasted rice. The sencha-matcha base works well with the nutty, toasty flavor of roasted rice, giving you a homemade genmaicha without having to buy a separate specialty tea. Just brew the tea bag normally and add a spoonful of toasted brown rice.

For this specific product, reviewers mention a few downsides worth knowing: each tea bag is individually plastic-wrapped, which creates more waste than you might want. The matcha powder can sometimes spill when you open the packet. And the string attached to the bag is a bit short — it can fall into your cup. On the matcha front in general, it does contain caffeine (though less than coffee), so it's not ideal right before bed.

Many reviewers of this Kirkland Ito En tea switched from coffee specifically for this reason. They report a calming effect throughout the day rather than the anxious energy coffee can produce. Green tea naturally contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation, and the slower caffeine release means no jittery spikes. Several reviewers use it for meditation and relaxation, which tells you something about the kind of calm energy it provides.

They offer different benefits. Matcha green tea provides antioxidants (catechins), L-theanine for calm focus, and gentler caffeine delivery. Reviewers of this Kirkland Ito En tea specifically mention sustained energy without jitters, a calming effect, and better hydration than coffee. Some even report sore throat relief when adding honey. One reviewer noted it works well for interstitial cystitis sufferers because it's non-acidic — something coffee definitely can't claim.

Matcha is known for being rich in antioxidants, particularly catechins like EGCG. Reviewers of this Kirkland Ito En blend report specific benefits they've experienced: calm sustained energy without jitters, a soothing calming effect throughout the day, better hydration, and sore throat relief when brewed with honey. One reviewer with interstitial cystitis found it works well because it's non-acidic, unlike coffee or many other teas.

Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest quality — it's stone-ground pure matcha powder meant for traditional tea ceremony. This Kirkland Ito En product is a matcha-sencha blend in tea bag form, so it's not competing with ceremonial grade. But that's actually its strength: it delivers genuine matcha flavor with zero preparation skill needed. Reviewers who drink both premium matcha and this tea bag say the quality is impressive for the format and price point.

Many reviewers of this Kirkland Ito En tea drink it daily — some go through multiple cups a day as an all-day sipper. The caffeine release is slow and sustained, so people report calm energy without the jitters you get from coffee. The 100-bag box is specifically designed for daily drinkers, giving you over three months of tea at a fraction of what you'd pay at a café.

This tea does contain caffeine — roughly 30-50mg per bag — so it's not ideal for young children. For older kids and teens, the moderate caffeine is less than a cola or energy drink, and the L-theanine provides a calmer effect than other caffeine sources. The approachable, non-bitter flavor and simple preparation make it easy for teens to enjoy, but you'd want to limit consumption based on your child's age and caffeine sensitivity.

Green tea catechins and caffeine have been studied for modest metabolic effects, and matcha generally has higher concentrations of these compounds than regular green tea. This Kirkland Ito En blend contains matcha powder, so you do get some of those benefits. But the real weight-loss angle reviewers mention is using it as a zero-calorie coffee replacement — skipping the cream, sugar, and syrups you might add to coffee. It's naturally smooth with no bitterness, so most people drink it plain.

Pure matcha powder gram-for-gram has comparable caffeine to coffee, but this Kirkland Ito En tea bag — which is a matcha-sencha blend — has roughly half the caffeine of a cup of coffee. The key difference reviewers highlight is how the caffeine feels: it's a slow, sustained energy release rather than a spike and crash. Multiple reviewers switched from coffee specifically because this tea gives them calm alertness without jitters.

For this Kirkland Ito En matcha blend specifically — Pros: bright green color and fresh matcha taste, never gets bitter even with long steeping, slow sustained energy without jitters, works for both hot and cold brewing, and excellent value at 100 bags. Cons: individual plastic wrapping creates waste, the short string can fall into your cup, and matcha powder may spill when opening packets. It's a matcha-sencha blend rather than pure matcha, which is either a pro or con depending on what you're after.

With this Kirkland Ito En product, you don't need a whisk at all — that's the whole point. Traditional matcha requires a bamboo whisk (chasen) to blend the powder into water, but these tea bags contain a matcha-sencha blend that brews like any other tea bag. Just add hot water (ideally around 175°F) and steep. You get matcha flavor with absolutely zero special equipment.