The weather is so HOT of late, that it would be so refreshing to have an iced cold Matcha Latte.
Matcha has traditionally been part of Japanese tea ceremonies, and its modern version of Matcha Latte has become popular with café-goers.
I love it for its smooth, creamy mouthfeel, and after-taste of distinct subtle bitterness.
As to the difference between Matcha and normal green tea, Matcha powder contains the whole ground tea leaves, and is said to contain up to 10 times antioxidant of the standard type.
However, do be careful about drink Matcha too late at night.
Matcha also contains caffeine, which is is alkalizing (rather than coffee which can be acidic) and is released into the bloodstream slowly.
Here are some 12 Matcha Latte & Drinks that can be found in Singapore:
The Matcha Project
2 Marina Boulevard, #B1-08C, The Sail, Singapore 018987 (Raffles Place, Downtown MRT Station)
Tel: +65 9223 0245 (General Enquiries)
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun, PH
The quaint little shop tucked in a corner of The Sail in the CBD , specialises in Japanese Matcha beverages, indicating readers’ interest in Matcha drinks.
The Matcha Project imports Matcha and other tea powders directly from Kyoto, Uji in Japan, and prepares their Matcha Latte ($5.50 for hot, $6.00 for iced) ala minute.
The matcha powder is a summer-harvest type, where flavours are bolder and stronger, and flavours can cut through the milk.
The additional good thing is, their Matcha Latte has minimal sweetness for us fans to enjoy the original flavours of the matcha. The Matcha Project (The Sail, Raffles Place)
Kurasu
331 North Bridge Road, Odeon Towers #02-01 Singapore 188720
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 5:30pm (Mon – Sun)
A friend bought me a takeaway cup, and I went ”This is LEGIT”, and IMMEDIATELY went down to the café to try more after that.
The Matcha Latte ($5) available in both hot and iced, was made using Morihan matcha powder from Kyoto.
Morihan is one of well known, long established green tea shops over in Japan.
Smooth and slightly milky, with distinct matcha notes – this Matcha Latte was delicious. Kurasu Singapore (Odeon Towers)
Tsujiri
6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Clarke Quay Central #01-74, Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6221 4282
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm
Probably one of the most known Japanese green tea cafés in Singapore. Tsujiri is said to be a 155-year-old traditional Japanese tea brand serving the highest quality Matcha with a contemporary twist.
However, do not confuse them with Japan’s Gion or Saryo Tsujri – which the Japanese are more familiar with.
The O-Matcha Latte ($5.60, $6.20) is a customer favourite, made using matcha harvested from Tsujiri’s own plantation in Uji, Kyoto.
I found the latte slightly sweeter than the usual Japanese style, but was still a smooth, refreshing drink.
Hvala
111 Somerset Rd, TripleOne Somerset, Singapore 238164
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Hvala has changed its concept from waffles, egglets to… MATCHA.
The owner revealed they always wanted to do “Matcha”, but finally got the chance when its previous neighbour Tsujiri moved away. They currently have outlets at CHIJMES and TripleOne Somerset.
They currently serve Matcha Latte using matcha from 2 different regions in Japan – the Uji Matcha Latte ($5.20) in which the flavour profile is described as “vegetal and slightly astringent”; and Nisho Matcha Latte ($5.60) with a rounder flavour and more vibrant colour comparatively.
I was pleasantly surprised to see my Matcha on the Latte being hand whisked (to ensure freshness), and am currently hooked on its Matcha + Houjicha Latte.
Matchaya – The Cathay
The Cathay, #01-08/09, 2 Handy Road, Singapore 229233
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Sun – Thu), 11am – 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)
Established since August 2015, Matchaya aspire to be the first locally branded modern Japanese teahouse in Singapore, and they source their raw materials from different prefectures in Japan.
Their Matcha Milk ($4.50 for hot, $4.90 for iced, $5.40 for bottled) contains matcha specially sourced from 4th generation tea farmers in Uji and a 3rd generation grand tea-master in Shizuoka.
Only the 1st flush spring harvest shaded green tea is utilized, which is shaded for a minimum of 14 days.
We found their Matcha slightly on the lighter side, and preferred the Houjicha – if we need to choose one.
The Assembly Ground
2 Handy Road #01-21, The Grand Cathay, Singapore 229233 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station)
Tel: +65 6733 3375
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 9:30pm (Sat – Sun)
Even though The Assembly Ground which is set up by the Benjamin Barker team (which is technically not a Japanese café), their Green Tea Latte has gained some popularity among café hoppers.
The Green Tea Latte ($6.50 Hot, $8.00 Iced), is known for its creaminess and frothiness, with a good balance of the bitter notes of matcha and sweetness.
They have also just introduced a Matcha Cold Brew ($8) if you want your drink in a convenient takeaway bottle.
Nana’s Green Tea
The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura, 60B Orchard Road, #03-80/82, Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT)
Tel: +65 6684 4312
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Established 15 years ago in Tokyo, Nana’s Green Tea is a Japanese cafe specialising in matcha from Kyoto.
The Matcha Latte ($6.50) contains premium fine powdered green tea leaves blended with milk.
Take note that the hot version is unsweetened, while the cold latte is sweetened. Nana’s Green Tea Café (Plaza Singapura)
Tachihara Coffee
9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-96 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 7am – 8:30pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 7:30pm (Sat – Sun)
Pullman Bakery, famous for their Hokkaido curry buns and other Danish pastries, is a name that Japanese bread lovers should recognise.
Do you know that it first started off as “Tachihara Bakery” way back in 1978 in Hokkaido Japan?
The Ice Matcha Latte ($4.50) was relatively sweet, overpowering everything else. As a matcha lover, I would have preferred more distinct notes of green tea. Tachihara Coffee (Millenia Walk
Maccha House Singapore
Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, #B1-40, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Maccha House specialises in traditional Maccha beverages and desserts created from this fine green tea powder, all sourced from Kyoto Japan.
While they also serve hot food items, most are really here for their desserts, such as the Maccha Soft Serve Anmitsu with Rice-flour Dumplings, and Maccha Parfaits which come with rice flour, chocolate or soy milk pudding.
They serve the Hot Maccha drink the traditional way – whisked with a bamboo chasen out of a bowl.
Their Maccha Latte is considerately not as bitter, so some may like this version? Maccha House (Orchard Central)
108 Matcha Saro
Suntec City Mall #B1-K5, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 10am – 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)
This is 108 Matcha Saro’s first outlet in South-East Asia, located at the revamped basement level of Suntec City (the escalator leading to the money changer).
The Iced Matcha Green Tea ($4.90) is hand-whisked using a bamboo whisk upon order for Iced and Hot Matcha Latte ($4.90) with an option of either milk or soy milk for the lactose-intolerant.
However, it could be slightly too sweet, and sadly, there are no options to reduce the sugar level.
Other options include Jelly Matcha/ Hojicha Latte ($5.90), Matcha Almond Milk Tofu ($5.90/ Float $6.90) and Matcha Smoothie ($5.90/ Float $6.90).
%Arabica Singapore
56 Arab Street Singapore 199753
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 8am – 8pm (Fri – Sat)
%Arabica originally from Hong Kong technically (then Kyoto Japan), is known to be one of the best coffee shops around.
Other than coffee, a recommended is the Matcha Latte ($8.60 for hot, $9.60 for iced), which has a beautiful balance of powdery bitter green tea and full bodied milk, which I thought had the perfect texture – neither too diluted nor heavy.
Kagurazaka Saryo 神楽坂茶寮
VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-59, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Known to have 9 outlets in Japan with 14 years of history, Kagurazaka Saryo’s first flagship store in Singapore is located at VivoCity.
One of their highlights is the Nitro Tea ($7.90) prepared directly from taps with nitrogen infused in it to create a smooth and creamy texture in addition to the usual matcha and hojicha.
Coming in 2 different flavours, Matcha (no sugar added) and Matcha Hojicha, both drinks are served with a set of warabimochi and kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) by the side.
The first sip of the nitro matcha was delightful, strong, fizzy, refreshing with distinctive matcha taste in it.
The hojicha layer, on the other hand, was sweet and rich and overpowered the refreshing layer of matcha.
I will definitely recommend the Matcha Nitro Drink instead of the Matcha Hojicha Nitro Drink.
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* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.