Melbourne's matcha madness
Matcha has been gaining popularity in Melbourne, but is it just a fad or a new Melbourne staple?
The popularity of matcha now rivals that of coffee in Melbourne.
Globally, it is so popular that its sudden claim to fame had caused a shortage in supplies, hiking up prices and in some cases contributing to nearly half of the annual income in coffee shops.
We can’t help but wonder what has sparked the surge in Melbourne’s craving for matcha too. And how does it even rival coffee?
What is matcha?
Matcha is made of green tea leaves that have been finely ground to make a green powder that can be dissolved in water and used to make caffeinated drinks.
The caffeine in matcha is deposited in smaller amounts over a longer period of time in comparison to coffee beans, meaning matcha’s energy boost will kick in gradually throughout the day instead of instantly like coffee.
What makes it so trendy?
Matcha creates a deep green colour when used in drinks, the brighter the green the better.
The aesthetic of the colourful drink mixed with the homey and cozy cafe scene in Melbourne creates photo opportunities for influencers and the daily commuters alike. It also serves as a nice colourful drink to carry around during the day.
Strawberry matcha is especially popular, as it brings a new refreshing taste to the drink.
I sought out to understand the city’s obsession with matcha and to find Melbourne’s best strawberry matcha.
Chayō (351 Clayton Rd, Clayton VIC 3168)
7/10
A corner cafe located in the heart of Clayton, two minutes walking distance from the station, Chayō’s strawberry matcha serves authentic Japanese cuisine and drinks.
I ordered a small strawberry matcha with one sugar.
The strawberry puree was not too sweet but complemented the bitterness of the matcha with a refreshing fruity flavour.
It was a strong contender and would be great for those who love the rich and slightly bitter taste of matcha.
Although the matcha was good quality and had a vibrant green colour, the bitterness was overpowering.
The price point was also high at $9 for a small-size drink, bringing down the rating slightly.
The 1985 Kafé (59 Springs Rd, Clayton South VIC 3169)
8/10
This is a small cozy and local cafe, five minutes by car from Clayton station, which incorporates anime and cartoon characters into its drinks.
At the 1985 Kafé, I tried a strawberry matcha, which had a fun addition of a favoured cartoon-shaped ice cube for decoration.
The ice was strawberry flavoured and the matcha was good quality. The strawberry puree was a nice addition, but it was slightly too overpowering in comparison to the matcha, so there was a little bit of an imbalance between the two flavours.
Overall, the matcha was refreshing and creamy and I would definitely recommend it. The pricing was reasonable in comparison to other places as well, at $8.
My top two contenders are:
The Butter Room (16 Katherine Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000)
8.5/10
Located close to Flinders Street Station, The Butter Room is a Korean-influenced bakery with Korean-flavoured pastries, sweet and savoury alike.
At The Butter Room, I tried a berry cream matcha.
The drink was creamy and sweet, but the only negative I could find was the relatively high price point for an iced berry matcha, at $11.
Tori’s (28 Niagara Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000)
8.7/10
Within walking distance from Melbourne Central, Tori’s strawberry matcha made with soy has a perfect balance of earthy and fruity flavours and there is seldom a queue to enter this small and cozy cafe.
The slight bitterness of the matcha is complemented by the soy milk, also making it lactose-free-friendly!
The only negative is, again, the price point being on the higher end, at $10.
Tori’s matcha was lighter and slightly more refreshing due to the use of soy milk in the drink, in comparison to the creaminess of The Butter Room’s matcha.
The sweetness of the berry puree in The Butter Room’s matcha slightly overpowered the matcha in the drink, even after mixing it. Tori’s strawberry puree was not too sweet and blended perfectly with the earthy flavour of the matcha.
The light and refreshing flavour of the Tori’s matcha was what distinguished the two matchas for me, crowning Tori’s the best strawberry matcha in Melbourne for me.
Yet avid matcha enjoyer Penelope Kyriacou says she is not a big fan of strawberry matcha and instead recommends the blueberry matcha from Industry Beans.
Kyriacou described the matcha as “a different alternative” to the typical red berry matcha and a better “fruity flavour that compliments the flavour of the matcha”.
Her main compliments are that the drink is refreshing and a departure from the usual combination of strawberry and matcha.
This begs the question: is blueberry matcha the next big thing?
