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Culture August 4, 2016
Sitting out on the elegant café patio downtown, your matcha latte with foam styled in the shape of a leaf steams in a cream mug. No filter is needed for this artsy snapshot that you post on Instagram. Green tea has been trendy here in the States, but lately, matcha tea is increasing in popularity.
This Japanese powdered tea is the strongest of all types of green tea because the entire leaf is ground. Drinking matcha in any form is a simple way to gain nutrients that will improve your health, and according to Matcha Source, “Matcha powdered green tea has 137 times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea.” So, not only is it tasty, it’s remarkably healthy for you.
In addition to the health perks, Health Ambition points out that “caffeine in Matcha green tea provides a much more balanced and even relaxing energy than the jittery rush of a cup of coffee.” This effect, due to high levels of catechin and amino acid L-Theanine, explains its rise in popularity as a substitute to the good old cup of jo.
If you are looking for a trendy and healthy matcha tea while in a major city, these shops will provide the best:
With multiple locations in the city, Samovar is sure to please the matcha lover. Their tea bar in the Mission district is perfect for a quick green tea fix, and their two lounges, located in Yerba Buena Gardens and the Castro, are full restaurants. They offer matcha shots, shakes, lattes, and even a selection of four different types of matcha that you can order online.
There are three Thinking Cup locations throughout Boston. Each offers a matcha beverage in either hot or cold form, tailored to the different tastes of every matcha fan.
Of all the numerous tea shops in New York, Ippodo remains on the top, especially when it comes to green tea. The company stays true to traditional Japanese ways of preparing matcha and even has workshops to teach you. Some of its menu highlights are Matcha Slushy, Matcha Soy Latte, Koicha (thick matcha) and Shaken Matcha.
Urth Caffé receives their tea directly from a local tea farmer who harvests it just for their stores. If you’re bold, try one of their matcha espressos or maybe a Monkey Granita, which is a milkshake with matcha, banana, and espresso. There are six locations scattered across the Los Angeles County area.
Tea Bar has two locations in Portland, both with a simplistic approach to the interior design and menu. Choose from matcha milk tea, lattes, honey matcha, or other hot and iced tea forms.
Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, this shop specializes in only premium, organic teas. Their matcha tea is hand-whisked when you order and can be served as is or in latte form. Try their Green Vitality smoothie, which has matcha, banana, soy milk, mint syrup, and super-greens.
Any matcha lovers who find themselves in one of these six cities should definitely set some time aside to stop at these stylish tea shops. If you have never tried matcha before, it’s definitely worth a shot.
