The first time I tried matcha was just two months ago. I’d gone out with a couple of friends for boba and confidently announced I wasn’t in a boba mood (a bold stance, honestly), and immediately got overruled. “Try matcha,” they said, like it was a personality upgrade waiting to happen.
I was hesitant at first… but after the first sip of the mango matcha I purchased, all the hype leading up to it… I actually didn’t end up liking it at first. I thought the mango taste was a little too much, like it was trying way too hard to convince me that this was the drink. I remember thinking, this is what everyone’s obsessed with? But after mixing it (like you’re supposed to!), something shifted. The flavors balanced out, the earthiness came through, and suddenly it wasn’t overwhelming, it was smooth, almost comforting. I ended up loving it, which felt like a plot twist I didn’t see coming.
The next day, right after work, I found myself at Binge Coffee House, this time purchasing a regular matcha. No mango, no distractions, just the regular drink itself. And that’s when it really clicked. Since that day, I’m pretty sure I have gotten over thirty-plus matchas in the past two months since first trying it. At this point, it’s less of a “trying something new” moment and more of a routine. A habit. Maybe even a small personality trait.
Insane, right? Well, it kinda isn’t all that crazy. It seems like matcha is the current craze at the moment, similar to the obsession with Stanley cups and Hydro Flasks a couple of years ago. I too fell for the hype, specifically around Stanley cups. I remember senior year of high school, immediately buying a Stanley cup. It was cute and trendy, what can I say? I fear the same thing may be applied here with matcha. It’s everywhere, on menus, on TikTok, in people’s hands like a quiet little status symbol. But it’s not just hype for the sake of hype. There’s something deeper going on, something about the way trends now aren’t just things one can buy, but things one can become. And matcha, somehow, fits perfectly into that.
And honestly? I get it. There’s something about it, the color, that soft, almost unreal shade of green that somehow makes me feel healthier just by looking at it. The ritual of mixing it, even if it’s just swirling it around with a straw, feels intentional, like you’re participating in something a little more thoughtful than grabbing a random drink. The way it makes me feel, not just caffeinated, but calm, like I’ve got my life a little more together than I actually do.
It’s funny, because two months ago I would’ve been the person saying, “I’m not into matcha.” And now? I walk into places already knowing what I’m going to order. No hesitation, no second guessing. Just matcha. Every time.
So is matcha truly a masterpiece of a drink or, like my brother says, eight dollars down the drain? Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain, from now till the unforeseeable future, I already see myself ordering matcha every chance I get.