My Favourite Drink Matcha
Matcha is a distinct type of green tea that originates from Japan. Unlike traditional green tea, where the leaves are steeped in water or used in tea bags, matcha is made from whole leaves that are finely ground into a vibrant green powder. However, there are many different types of matcha powders, and they are labelled by “grades” based on their quality and depending on what they are used for.
For example, ceremonial grade matcha is the highest quality Matcha powder. Ceremonial matcha has a bright green colour, similar to fresh grass, and has a smooth texture once whisked. It is mostly used for traditional tea ceremonies or simply for drinking on its own. Additionally, there is culinary grade matcha, which is slightly darker and more bitter. This grade is mostly used for cooking or baking pastries and desserts. Besides these two grades, there are also blended or flavoured matcha powders commonly sold at grocery stores and often containing sweeteners. Blended powders or grocery store powders tend not to have a very appealing colour and have a very light green or even a yellowish appearance. While these can still be enjoyable, they are hit or miss and do not taste like traditional matcha. These powders are mostly used in cafes that do not specialize in traditional matcha, as they can be blended quickly rather than whisked properly.
I think matcha is a very complex drink, as it is not for everyone. You have to be a specific type of person to truly appreciate it and enjoy its flavour. I would describe the taste as earthy and somewhat bitter, although this can depend on the quality or what you add to it. For those who enjoy matcha, like me, you can also notice a subtle sweetness (if it is high quality) and even a sort of nutty taste. I love having matcha in many ways. I enjoy it by itself, without sweeteners and with either whole milk or oat milk. However, to do this, it must be a good ceremonial grade, so I can truly enjoy the taste of the matcha itself.
Personally, I find that the easiest way to identify good matcha is by its colour. The brighter and more vibrant the green, the fresher and higher quality it tends to be. When I first started drinking matcha, I noticed that powders with a dull or yellowish green colour often tasted bitter, grassy, or not like matcha at all. Bright green matcha, on the other hand, had a smooth, rich flavour that I really like. So if you are looking to try matcha, colour alone is definitely one of the best indicators of whether a matcha will be enjoyable.
Besides drinking matcha by itself, I also enjoy adding sweeteners. Although this is not traditional, matcha is very versatile and can be dressed up in many ways. I like adding simple vanilla syrup or brown sugar, however, there are also many other flavours I’ve tried, such as ube, pistachio, brown sugar, strawberry, apple pie, date, and even horchata syrup. For beginners or those who prefer sweeter drinks, adding syrups is a fun way to personalize and even elevate the matcha, making it even more delicious.
Some of my favourite places to have matcha include Arabica, a cafe in Whistler, where the matcha is incredibly green and has natural sweetness, so no syrup is even necessary. Another one of my favourites is Hey Happy in downtown Victoria, which offers numerous syrups, cold foams, and customization options. I love going there on weekends with Ella and getting a good quality matcha. I also enjoy Blank Street, though it only has stores in Europe, so I had to purchase a small tin of powder and bring it all the way to Canada.
Overall, matcha is one of my favourite drinks ever. However, it can also be a somewhat heartbreaking experience because I never know if it will be good. The worst is when I order it at a random cafe because I saw they had it i the menu instead of just getting a simple chai, only to get the whitest, most vanilla-flavoured milk drink, or a yellowish drink that tastes nothing like matcha. It’s especially frustrating because it can cost $8–$10, and with matcha’s recent popularity on TikTok, the price of good matcha has risen a lot, which is very sad. Overall Matcha is one of my favourite drinks and I would definitely recommend it!