No doubt about it—matcha has soared in popularity in the U.S. over the past few years. Demand is so high that brands like Ippodo have had to pause production on some of their best-selling powders just to keep up. There’s even a National Matcha Day (May 2, if you’re wondering).
In NYC alone, matcha cafes are everywhere. We recently stopped by one that serves iced drinks and a matcha Basque cheesecake, and we had Ivy Woolenberg visit our office to make her famous matcha brookies. (Yes, the TikTok-viral ones. Yes, they lived up to the hype.)
Matcha originated in Japan, where it’s long been revered in tea ceremonies and daily rituals. It’s not just tea—it’s a practice, a tradition, and a craft. In recent years, it’s been remixed into lattes and desserts across the globe.
In the U.S. specifically, matcha’s popularity has been fueled by a mix of things: the subtle, grassy flavor, the gorgeous green hue, the health benefits, and—let’s be honest—probably the aesthetics. It’s that perfect balance of energy and calm and in that caffeinated sweet spot: You get more caffeine than green tea, less than coffee, and none of the jitters. It’s essentially clarity in a cup.
Jump to our best matcha recipes ↓
Photo by Julia Gartland
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a type of finely ground green tea made from specially grown and processed tea leaves. Unlike traditional green tea (which steeps leaves in a bag), you’re consuming the whole leaf—which means you’re also getting more antioxidants, caffeine, and chlorophyll.
There are two main types of matcha you’ll find in stores:
Ceremonial vs. Culinary Matcha
Ceremonial grade is made with younger, higher-quality leaves and has a naturally sweet, smooth flavor. It’s intended to be whisked with hot water and enjoyed on its own. You’ll also notice it’s more of a bright green color.
Culinary grade is slightly more bitter and a bit less vibrant in color—it’s perfect for mixing into smoothies, baking, cooking, or sweetened drinks (also because it’s cheaper).
How to Use Matcha Powder
Matcha isn’t just for tea. It’s incredibly versatile, which is why we’ve seen it pop up in everything from brownies to steak rubs. Depending on the grade, here’s how to use it:
• In baking: Add culinary matcha to cookies, cakes, or muffins for a subtle green tea flavor and a gorgeous hue.
• In drinks: Make iced matcha lattes, matcha lemonades, or even matcha-espresso combos.
• In savory recipes: Yes, it can work! Think matcha spice rubs or tahini dressings with a hint of earthiness.
How to Make Matcha (Hot & Iced)
Hot Matcha:
Use a bamboo whisk (or frother) to blend 1 tsp of ceremonial matcha with about 2 oz of hot water (175°F—not boiling!). Whisk in an “M” (some people say a zig zag) motion until frothy (you don’t want to wish in circles). Add more water or milk as you like.
Note that a fork or spoon won’t work here—you really want the bamboo whisk (or a whisk in general). Jade Leaf Matcha has a wonderful and affordable starter set for all this.
Iced Matcha:
Shake or whisk 1 tsp matcha with a splash of hot water until smooth. Pour over ice and top with cold milk (we love oat) or water. Sweeten if desired. This is also where people get creative and swirl in strawberry or lavender syrups for a pop of color.
Photo by Ty Mecham
How to Store Matcha
Matcha is sensitive to light, air, and heat and if you store it incorrectly, it can go bad quickly. In general, it doesn’t have the same shelf-life as other tea. You want to store it in an airtight container in the fridge to keep it fresh. It should be vibrant green; if it turns dull or brownish, it’s probably past its prime.
Our Favorite Matcha Powders
We’ve tested, read the reviews, and scrolled Reddit so you don’t have to. These are the top-rated matcha powders worth trying:
• Ippodo Tea, from $19 – The gold standard for ceremonial matcha. It’s so good that the original ones are currently sold out due to demand.
• Jade Leaf, from $16 – A solid pick with affordable ceremonial options and a great starter kit. I also love their sweetened latte mixes, which I think is a great starting point for non-matcha drinkers.
• Rishi Organic Everyday, $48 – Recommended by avid matcha drinkers for its balance and reliability. Plus, it’s available at a lot of different stores and a bunch of places online.
• Chamberlain Coffee, $27 – Surprisingly great quality, even if you’re skeptical of influencer brands. You can also get a lot of the accessories to go with.
• Naoki Matcha, $27 – Highly rated on Amazon, with over 5,000 glowing reviews and on pretty much every “best ever” list.
Photo by Mark Weinberg
Our Best Matcha Recipes
You can cook with matcha all day, honestly—from lattes and breakfasts to desserts and even dinner. These are our favorite matcha recipes on Food52:
Drinks & Lattes
White Hot Chocolate With Matcha & Rose
Matcha Tamarind Latte
Matcha Cream Frappe
Matcha Maca Tahini Latte
Matcha Palmer
Baking & Sweets
Matcha Brownies
Matcha Butter Cookies
Matcha Coconut Mochi Cake
Matcha Swiss Roll
Matcha Snickerdoodles
Black Sesame Cupcakes w/ Matcha Buttercream
Banana Matcha Muffins
Matcha Posset
Matcha White Chocolate Bark With Raspberries
Matcha White Chocolate Cheesecake
Savory Ideas
Matcha Steak
Matcha Tahini Carrots With Garlic Breadcrumbs
Frozen & No-Bake
Matcha Mint Chip Ice Cream
Matcha Chia Pudding Pops
Green Tea Lime pie Smoothie Bowl
Matcha Magic Shell
Matcha Affogato
Meet The Matcha Brookies Taking Over the Internet
Everyone’s Freaking Out About This New Matcha Cafe
What is your favorite way to make matcha? Any go-to brands?
