Matcha: the green drink growing increasingly popular in Punekars' mugs

Indian Express

3 days ago

Written by Kivi Lydia Vito
From social media trends to aesthetic cafés, the green-coloured drink matcha has taken over social media feeds and now, mugs of young Indians and Punekars. So what's really brewing behind this bright green obsession?
Matcha originated in China but found its cultural home in Japan, where it became central to traditional tea ceremonies. It's made from the top three leaves of the tea plant, which are shade-grown to boost their bright green colour and earthy flavour. The leaves are then steamed, dried, and stone-ground into a fine powder. Unlike regular tea, where the leaves are steeped and removed, matcha is whisked directly into water or milk, so you end up consuming the whole leaf. That means more antioxidants, more caffeine, and a bold, creamy taste that packs a punch.
For some, the matcha journey began long before it went viral. Anaika Kusalkar, 24, says, 'The first time I had matcha was in 2012 during a trip to Bangkok, but not as a drink. It was in a matcha-flavoured Kit Kat. Later, when I moved there for college, I tried matcha boba and it quickly became one of my favourites. My mom travels quite a bit, so she often brings back a variety of matcha products. So that's what I drink or eat when I'm craving one.'
Then there are those who grew into the flavour over time. Aarushi Bhatnagar, 19, first tasted matcha in 2017 during a family trip to New York. 'I used to watch a lot of food videos and was always intrigued by things like matcha, boba, and Japanese cheesecakes. I saw matcha at a crepe stand in Times Square and decided to try it, but I didn't like it then since it was quite bitter,' she recalls.
But as an avid baker, Bhatnagar later began experimenting with matcha at home, using it in drinks and desserts. 'I ordered my first matcha powder online and slowly warmed up to the taste. Now, I usually get it from cafés like Café Bahaar or Bai Mu Dan, which serve excellent matcha,' she said.
Noor Shergill, 20, had a similar journey. Coffee didn't sit well with her, causing acne, anxiety, and palpitations. 'It just didn't agree with me, so I turned to matcha and never looked back.' Her first matcha was from Starbucks, but it quickly became part of her routine.
'It keeps me alert without the crash and feels gentler than coffee. I usually have it at Cafe Bahaar or Bai Mu Dan in Pune, or I order from Amazon,' she says explaining how Matcha is more than just a drink, 'It's refreshing and helps me get through tough days. At this point, it's not really about wellness trends. It's become my little daily indulgence.'
Azenla, 27, a doctor, says, 'I was first introduced to matcha through a matcha-flavoured KitKat, and that sparked my curiosity. Eventually, I began drinking it regularly. In my experience, matcha provides a more sustained and smoother caffeine boost compared to coffee. While it can be expensive, what I really like is that it's packed with antioxidants and the caffeine releases slowly, so it keeps you alert without the jitters or crash that coffee brings.'
And for others, the hype didn't quite live up to expectations. Ankita Sharma, 18, decided to try matcha after months of being bombarded by perfectly lit café shots and aesthetic reels online. 'I kept seeing posts and reels about matcha for two months straight. It was all over my explore page, and everyone made it look so cool and refreshing,' she says.
Eventually, she gave in to the trend and ordered a matcha frappe from Starbucks. But the first sip didn't quite live up to the online hype. Sharma adds, 'I didn't like it at all. It tasted like grass. I was expecting something, but it just wasn't for me.'
Whether it's loved for its calming vibes, caffeine without the crash, or simply for its creamy green aesthetic, matcha seems to mean something different to young punekars sipping it.
(The writer is an intern with Indian Express)