Guess what? If drinking matcha is your entire personality, that’s ok — and you’re not alone. The vibrant, grassy green powder originating from Japan has the nation swept off its feet.
Why is it so special? The tea leaves are grown in the shade to increase chlorophyll levels in the leaves before being finely ground into a chalky powder, which is then enjoyed in drinks and certain foods. Not only does it have a longer and slower caffeine release than coffee, but it also is said to boast many health benefits, provided you’re not drowning it in sweeteners and syrups.
What was once a speciality drink is now available on every street corner, but it’s not guaranteed to be the good stuff. The authentic way to drink matcha is by using a handmade bamboo whisk to mix up ceremonial grade matcha with hot water, until it is light and frothy. Adaptations of this have become popularised in recent years, with the likes of iced matcha and matcha lattes proving extremely popular.
Regardless of how you enjoy it, there a few things you need to look out for when consuming matcha: it shouldn’t taste fishy or have a gritty texture, and it definitely shouldn’t be a dull yellowish green colour. Matcha is an expensive product, and there are many cafés selling the cheapest kind around. So, with that in mind, we’ve compiled the best places in the city to satisfy your matcha craving, while avoiding the rough spots.
Best independent spot: Neighbourhood Cafe Yukari
Neighbourhood Cafe Yukari
This small family-run Japanese cafe in Kew serves up one of the best matcha lattes in London. If you’re not that into the green stuff, it’s worth visiting for the food or even for some live jazz, which takes place in the café in the evenings. Their small menu favours quality over quantity, with the bento box soba noodles being popular choices. This is undoubtedly Kew’s best local little independent café. Can you name a better place for a matcha pit stop?
Best for authentic matcha: Jenki
Jenki’s matcha bars have gained quite the cult status in the matcha community. They sell their own matcha products, which come from Japan’s prime matcha-producing city, Uji. The tea leaves used to make the matcha are ground down with a stone, offering an ultra-traditional product. Jenki have four sites across the capital in Borough Market, Spitalfields, Selfridges and Covent Garden. Each order is freshly whisked with 100 per cent ceremonial grade matcha. On warmer days, make sure you try out their matchagato soft serve, which takes inspiration from the affogato.
Best for the matcha-curious: Blank Street
If you’re trying to get into matcha but you find the flavour too intense, Blank Street’s blueberry matcha makes a great starting point. Of course, this isn’t the most authentic way to drink matcha, but it’s sweet, palatable and delicious. Blank Street pre-mixes their ceremonial grade matcha into squeezy bottles for speed, so you won’t catch a whisk in sight — but on the plus side, you won’t have to wait very long for your drink. Think of this as the fast food of matcha.
Best for strawberry iced matcha: Dead Good Coffee
The newly opened Dead Good Coffee is found on the Kingsland Road. Aside from serving up “dead good” coffee, a staple on their menu is the iced strawberry matcha, which is a collaboration with Lovergirl. The strawberry syrup is made in-house, which means it isn’t sickly sweet like some others on the market. The syrup is blended with matcha from the Rare Tea Company and served over ice with your choice of milk.
Best for matcha smoothies: Elevate
If you’ve ever wondered what the fuss is about with Erewhon smoothies, Elevate is probably the closest thing you can get in London. They have a lot of matcha on the menu, but perhaps the best is matcha cloud, which is a thick coconut matcha smoothie blended with banana, coconut milk, coconut yoghurt and lion’s mane. Despite this being a smoothie, it’s very light and low on the sugar, which is great if you’re looking for a post-gym beverage or something to drink as a healthy alternative to sweeter matcha blends. It is, however, priced at £8.90, so not a cheap one.
Best for matcha desserts: Tsujiri
There are other Tsujiri’s, but the best outpost of this matcha specialist is located in the heart of Chinatown. Tsujiiri was established in 1860, and is partly responsible for bringing high-quality matcha to the rest of the world. No surprise it’s far from a regular café, and is a go-to spot for all things matcha. They serve matcha soft serve, an array of matcha-infused desserts and of course, a variety of matcha to drink, using the highest grade products.
Best hidden spot: Jujuhome Cha
Could this be London’s most top secret matcha spot? Jujuhome is a design-forward home store located in Hackney Wick, but hidden deep inside is Jujuhome Cha. The motto reads “Whisk with care, sipped with chill. Cha no rush,” which pretty much says it all. Jujuhome uses Yunomi Life matcha, which is a spring harvest tea grown in Japan without the use of pesticides or fertilisers. This is the kind of place you’ll want to show your friends.
Best for matcha and a sweet treat: Matchado
Matchado is famed for its matcha lattes, and they do a variety of fruit flavours such as peach, mango, strawberry and blueberry. If you’re stopping by for a drink, be sure you check out the baked goods too, especially if you’re a sucker for a drink and a sweet treat. Many of their matcha-infused goodies are award-winning, so this is a great place to buy your matcha cakes for dinner parties and birthdays.
Best for sitting in: Sontag London
Ever had a sea salt matcha latte? What about sparkling yuzu matcha? Sontag London’s menu isn’t all as adventurous as these two, but it certainly knows how to keep matcha drinkers on their toes. The café boasts beautifully minimal interiors and plenty of seating, so this is a great spot for settling in and people watching. The menu also features hojicha, which is another Japanese green tea, but with a more robust, nutty flavour. This is worth a try if you love matcha, but want to take your time and try something new.