Matcha suddenly became popular

Matcha is quite popular on the menu at large cafes and tea shops in Ho Chi Minh City. Even now, sidewalk carts focus on selling matcha, instead of just coffee, milk tea, and fruit tea.

Matcha and milk coffee: which cup do you choose? - Photo: HOANG LAM

Matcha - finely ground green tea powder from the buds and young leaves of the green tea plant, grown and processed specifically according to Japanese tradition - has become a trend in our country in recent years.

Matcha all kinds

If in previous years, matcha was rarely on the menu. Now the characteristic green color appears in all kinds of drinks from latte, smoothie, cold whisk to ice cream, cake, jelly topping.

In the menu of shops, matcha is becoming a convenient weapon to attract customers. Coffee House has nearly 20 types of drinks with matcha ingredients.

Young people drinking matcha together - Photo: HOANG LAM

On Valentine's Day this year, Highland launches a new dish, Strawberry Matcha Filter Coffee - a combination of filter coffee with sweet strawberry flavor, adding a layer of smooth matcha cream foam and green tea jelly topping.

Phuc Long also adds baked matcha cheesecake and sells matcha rolls.

The small Midori matcha & coffee shop is located in a quiet alley on Pasteur Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. This shop is popular among young people because of its delicious matcha products.

Most of the visitors enjoy a cup of matcha mixed in many styles. This place also regularly holds workshops on how to make matcha, attracting many young people.

Matcha tea processing

"At Midori, about 90% of customers order matcha, only 10% choose coffee," shared Ms. Minh Trang - owner of Midori.

According to Ms. Trang, from the beginning the shop was positioned as a space dedicated to those who love matcha, so it is not too surprising that matcha dominates.

To have a truly delicious cup of matcha, the first thing is to "choose the right place to trust", that is, choose the right reputable tea house.

The current market has a wide variety of matcha from Taiwan and China at cheap prices, to more high-end tea houses in Japan - where tea drinking culture has been elevated to the level of tea ceremony.

Japanese Matcha is still highly appreciated for its color, aftertaste (not bitter but often sweet) as well as its special harvesting style.

Flavors are limitless

The creativity in combining ingredients has turned matcha into a world of unlimited flavors. A cup of matcha is now more than just tea with milk.

Drinkers can choose matcha cold-whisk (the technique of whisking cold powder directly with milk) to feel the original tea flavor more deeply; or combine it with coconut water to create a refreshing tropical flavor layer.

Some places even combine matcha and earl grey, creating a symphony between the rich green tea flavor and the delicate scent of bergamot.

Matcha tea cups of many types - Photo: HOANG LAM

Many stores also offer different types of milk, light cow's milk, rich almond milk, or sweet oat milk to balance or highlight the tea flavor according to each customer's preference.

One of the reasons why matcha is increasingly popular, especially among urban youth, is because of its caffeine content, strong enough to replace a morning cup of coffee, but providing a gentler feeling of alertness.

According to a study on the effects of matcha extract on the Journal of Physical Education & Sport website, 1g of matcha powder contains about 35mg of caffeine - lower than traditional black coffee but more special because the caffeine in matcha combined with L-theanine - a natural amino acid only found in tea leaves - helps the body absorb more slowly, prolonging the feeling of alertness without causing restlessness, nervousness or fatigue after "energy loss" as some people often experience when drinking coffee.

In Vietnam, the recent boom is largely due to the consumption trends of young people Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and partly Gen Y - who are not only interested in taste but also prioritize health and experience.

Recently, BBC reported that the demand for matcha has skyrocketed worldwide. Japan reported that 4,176 tons of matcha were produced in 2023, three times more than in 2010.

Market reports suggest that the popularity of the drink is largely due to its health benefits. Green grinch drinks and desserts are also popular on social media.

HOANG LAM

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/matcha-bong-nhien-ma-phu-song-20250612134532029.htm