Partial to a green latte? Here are our favourite spots in the capital to grab a matcha with friends.
Matcha has experienced a massive boost in popularity over the past few years, with many swapping out their usual lattes for a caffeine fix without the crash.
The origins of matcha can be traced back to 12th-century, where it was first used as a medicinal plant in East Asian medicine, mainly in Buddhist monasteries. The tea was then cultivated in Asian homes and consumed for its health benefits. High in antioxidants, the drink is believed to help prevent several chronic diseases, as well as boosting brain function and heart health.
Matcha rose to popularity around 2015, when health queen and GOOP founder Gwyneth Paltrow shared an Instagram post of her trying the drink with the hashtag #goopapproved. Fast forward to today and its one of the trendiest drinks you can order, with numerous female drinkers on TikTok proudly labelling themselves ‘matcha girls’.
Want to get your fix? Here’s our list of the best coffee shops and matcha bars across London serving it up.
JENKI Matcha Bar
This place takes matcha seriously. It was founded by Claudia and Otto Boyer in 2020 and the duo are on a mission to spread the word of the alleged benefits of matcha to our bodies and brains (as opposed to traditional caffeine, which the duo says results in a jacked up energy that doesn’t really benefit us).
Its Spitalfields and Selfridge’s, outposts serve only the highest-quality matcha, sourced from Uji, Japan, which has since gone on to win Double Gold at the Great Taste Awards 2022. Here, you can get it hot or iced, with turmeric, ginger, rose or even added collagen. It also serves a ceremonial-grade matcha shot, too, for added benefits , with amino acid to help you feel both energised and relaxed at the same time. jenki.co.uk
TEASE
TEASE is a coffee shop that promotes ‘wellness on the go’. Its South Kensington and Mayfair branches serve a host of wellness-boosting drinks, each made with fresh and natural ingredients.
It uses only ceremonial grade matcha, and you’ll find a whole host of matcha drinks, including the Focus matcha with Reishi and Cordyceps, and Blue Earth, with added blue spirulina for an energy boost when you need it most. It also does a very refreshing matcha lemonade, which is the perfect way to get your matcha fix on sunny days. drinktease.co.uk
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Cafe Kitsune
Cafe Kitsune, owned by iconic French-Japanese fashion brand Maison Kitsune, might take the spot for the most aesthetic cafe in the whole of London, in our opinion. It boasts sleek interiors, and outdoor seating, which makes it the perfect spot for people-watching in Belgravia.
Here, matcha lovers can indulge in a traditional matcha latte, or even opt for the chestnut matcha latte, which is a slightly sweeter and nuttier take on the drink, which is perfect for those trying the drink for the first time (or for those who are convinced it tastes like grass). pantechnicon.com
Soft Serve Society
If you’re looking for your sweet treat fix, look no further than Soft Serve Society. You’ll likely have seen the social-media-friendly ice cream shop, famous for its swirly soft serves, on TikTok or Instagram, where it often goes viral for its decadent desserts and sweet treats, including the iced candyfloss latte (topped with actual candy floss), and its famous hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff.
Matcha-lovers will be in their element here, with a matcha-heavy menu featuring the likes of matcha sundae cups with Oreo crumbs and mochi balls, matcha milk bubble teas, matcha soft serve cones and even a matcha and white chocolate cookie. softservesociety.com
Read more: A nutritionist’s guide to healthy snacks that deliver a sweet fix
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Tsujiri
Tsujiri is a self-proclaimed matcha expert. With locations across the UK, in Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle, as well as two London venues in Camden and Chinatown, here you’ll find a range of matcha-infused desserts, including the matcha chocolate tart, matcha floats and soft serves, plus a matcha sundae, too.
Drinks wise, you’ll be able to choose from hot or iced, bubble tea or frappes, and it also sells matcha kits, too, so you can get your fix of the drink from the comfort of your own home. tsujiri.co.uk
Blank Street Coffee
Blank Street is another coffee shop that has taken London by storm, after opening its first outpost, a tiny coffee cart in a New York diner, back in 2020. Fast forward four years, and it has 24 London locations, and hopes to reach 30 by the end of the year.
From the slick interiors of its stores to the mint green branding and experimental menu, it’s easy to see how Blank Street achieved cult ‘cool’ status. On the menu, you’ll find a number of alternative lattes, including the strawberries and cream latte, and the iced pistachio latte, as well as a delicious chai cold brew. Matcha wise, you can pick from an iced blueberry matcha (It’s actually pink, and very Instagrammable), as well as iced matcha tea and a hot blueberry option. blankstreet.com
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How Matcha
How Matcha was born out of founder Deepak Shukla’s love for all things matcha. The cafe, situated in Marylebone, boasts a matcha-heavy drinks menu, as well as an all-day brunch with smashed avo and smoked salmon bagels.
When it comes to drinks, choose from the immune matcha blend with cinnamon, ginger and turmeric, or the glow matcha, with white chocolate and matcha whipped cream, and finally, the matcha boba with brown sugar and tapioca pearls. howmatcha.com
Poison Ivy Coffee
Let us introduce you to your new favourite coffee shop for sunday strolls and catch-ups with friends. Poison Ivy Coffee, situated in leafy west London, is a specialty coffee shop serving up NYC-style loaded bagels, a delicious apple crumble, and a number of delicious toasties.
The drinks menu is pretty special, too, with a cookies and cream hot chocolate, a range of signature healthy juices and, of course, a delicious matcha latte, which can be served hot or iced. poisonivycoffee.com
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