Two years ago, I tried my first matcha. If I’m being honest, I was not immediately obsessed; it took awhile to grow on me. However, after a couple coffee shop visits and at-home barista attempts, my love for matcha began.

The drink is somewhat of a hot commodity right now in most coffee shops, but what exactly is it? Matcha is a finely ground powder of high-grade green tea leaves that originated in China, but has gained popularity, especially in America and Europe. Typically, the powder is whisked with warm water to create a concentrate (basically an espresso shot—except with matcha), and poured over the milk of choice. 

Foremost, we must take a minute to acknowledge the color. I mean, it’s so radiant and pretty, and for some reason just looking at it puts me in a good mood! Not to mention, the green color is all natural, the matcha has so many health benefits and it tastes heavenly. Matcha has its own earthy, unique flavor, and is unlike any drink I’ve tried before. Yet, with such tastiness comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, not many coffee shops are able to properly achieve and execute the art of a matcha latte. 

When ordering a matcha at a coffee shop, there is a slight possibility that the taste may resemble that of…grass. Just remember—It is not your fault—it’s the matcha’s! That is why matcha lovers like myself recommend investing in high-quality matcha powder, and making sure to take the proper steps while making a matcha latte. 

It can be difficult to find high-grade matcha because either there are so many options in the market, or the price is ridiculously high. I am here to help! By no means have I tried every brand out there, but I have one recommendation: the renowned Chamberlain Coffee. Chamberlain Coffee is the current matcha powder I use, and so far I have no complaints. The color is a pretty vivid green, and it tastes very smooth. Not only that, Emma also just released mango and vanilla flavored matcha! Yes, she can do it all folks. The price is not too bad either, considering it is $22 for about 20 servings. Compare $1.10 to the average price of $5.00 for a matcha latte at a coffee shop, give or take. 

So you have your matcha powder. The next and final step to becoming a matcha aficionado: actually making the drink. There are a couple common mistakes when it comes to this step. Before you even whisk the matcha, you must sift it to get rid of any clumps and ensure that your drink will be nice and frothy. Use either a whisk or a frother to mix sweetener (I like honey or agave), the powder, and warm water—not hot! Hot water will alter the taste significantly. After this step, just pour over milk (I prefer oat) and ice if desired, and you are done! 

Although drinking matcha is not necessarily a cost-effective choice, it is still a fun beverage to make when you are feeling like trying something new. Sure, it can be pricey, but so are lattes at any coffee shop. I think that everyone should try matcha at least once in their lives, because not only is it uniquely tasty, but it is additionally an instant mood booster. Give it a try;  you may end up finding your new preferred drink of choice!  Who knows, you might end up liking it so matcha.