🍵 We Tried a Matcha Drink. Here's What We Actually Learned.
The matcha trend is everywhere — so we decided to stop scrolling and start sipping.
You've seen it. The vibrant green colour taking over café menus, Instagram feeds, and wellness routines. Matcha has had a moment for a while now — and that moment doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.
So, like any curious person who spends a lot of time thinking about drinks, we decided to experience it firsthand. The trend had taken on a life of its own — particularly in the form of those beautifully layered iced drinks taking over café menus everywhere. We picked one up — an iced chocolate matcha — sat down with it, and paid proper attention.
And honestly? It made us curious about something: how does the same ingredient taste so different depending on how it's prepared?
So… what actually is matcha?
Here's the thing worth pausing on: matcha is green tea.
Not inspired by green tea. Not a green tea alternative. It is green tea — just prepared in a completely different way.
Both matcha and traditional green tea come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference is in what happens after the leaves are harvested. With traditional green tea, the leaves are steeped in hot water and then removed — you drink the infusion.
“With matcha, the leaves are ground into a very fine, vivid powder and whisked directly into your drink. You're not steeping the leaf. You're consuming the whole thing.”
That deep, almost electric green colour? That's the whole leaf in your cup.
Why does it feel so different, then?
Because you're getting everything the leaf has — in one concentrated hit.
That means the flavour is more intense, more earthy, and more complex than a regular cup of green tea. It also means the caffeine content is higher. And for some people, that combination creates a focused, alert feeling they love. For others — especially those who are sensitive to caffeine or expecting something lighter — it can feel like quite a lot.
There's also the taste expectation gap. Many first-time drinkers encounter matcha through café lattes and iced drinks — sweetened, creamy, softened. Authentic matcha on its own is grassy, slightly bitter, and genuinely earthy. It's not unpleasant — it's just bold. And bold isn't for everyone, and that's completely fine.
What we found fascinating is that the same qualities that make some people say "this isn't for me" are exactly what make matcha devotees so passionate about it. The intensity is the point.
Why do so many people love it?
For matcha fans, it's rarely just about the drink. It's about the ritual.
The careful preparation. The vivid colour. The way it demands you slow down and pay attention — whether you're whisking it traditionally or savouring it in a beautifully layered iced drink on a warm afternoon.
Sound familiar? That's not so different from what we believe about any great cup of tea or coffee. The best brews aren't just beverages. They're small, intentional pauses in the middle of a busy day.
Whether matcha is your thing or not, there's something worth appreciating in the devotion people bring to it.
The takeaway
Matcha isn't a wellness miracle or a marketing gimmick — it's simply green tea in its most concentrated, whole-leaf form. Understanding that changes how you approach it: the flavour, the feeling, the ritual all make a lot more sense.
And if this has made you curious about what a beautifully crafted green tea actually tastes like — without the intensity of matcha — our green tea collection is a wonderful place to start. Sometimes the gentler path leads to the most satisfying cup.
Are you team matcha, or is green tea more your speed? We'd love to hear from you — drop a comment, or let us know on Facebook and Instagram.
With warmth, aroma, and a little indulgence, — Indulgence Coffee & Tea