Once enjoyed just in Japan and in coffee shops with a very specific focus, matcha has slowly but surely taken over the world. During the past years, it became everyone’s favorite flavor, as it adapted to all tastes – you can have lattes, shakes, lemonades, ice-creams, cakes, and more. Mix it with ube or vanilla, and we have a winner. We kept up with the trends, of course – so without further ado, here are our 5 favorite matcha shops in San Diego.
1. PARU
This spot is well-known for tea lovers that want the ‘real deal’. They have ceremonial grade matcha, and the staff is more than excited to teach you all about it. Depending on how deep you want to get into it, Paru even offers private and group tea experiences. The shop has all sorts of matcha: their house-milled matcha, some for those that have been drinking it for a while and are looking for a pure experience, and for those who are just discovering it. Just ask! They’ll happily guide you.
2. Holy Matcha
This first shop specialized in matcha in San Diego is the place to be if you like matcha-inspired drinks. They have an impressive amount of lates, a matcha lemonade, matcha horchata, and more. Matcha lovers who prefer a pure drink prefer other spots, often saying that the depth of flavor isn’t there so much – but if you’re looking for a bit of a fusion, don’t miss it.
3. Cafe Maiko
Matcha lovers come to this spot for the drink itself, but their unique touch is how they incorporate it in delicious deserts. Their matcha is imported from Uji, Japan, and all of their other ingredients are made in-house. Their Ube Cold Foam Matcha Latte is a dream, but check out their Cheese Strawberry Matcha Latte if you’re feeling a little adventurous. This cafe is called ‘a dream’, and it’s for good reason – almost anything you can imagine matcha flavored, they have it.
4. The Forum Coffee House
This cafe isn’t exclusively a stop for matcha, but they dedicated a fair amount of their menu to it, and people love the results. From a classic latte to a horchata or a green tea with maple syrup, you’ll find something your heart desires. You may often see a line here, or no available seats, but it usually moves fast.
5. The Keep Coffee
This spot is beloved for many of its drinks, but nothing beats their Matcha V, a delicious, thick latte made with whole and condensed milk, for extra goodness. They also have normal lattes, lattes with foam, and even ceremonial matcha, served traditionally – with just hot water.