It’s green, tastes grassy and is everywhere… what’s the appeal of matcha?

It’s as green as Kermit the Frog and has a unique taste that’s grassy according to some. Glance at any trendy coffee shop or tea room menu around Nottingham and you’ll see matcha in some incarnation.

It’s not new – it first started creeping into drinks in the UK around a decade ago. I remember sipping on a matcha latte years ago, wondering if it would ever catch on but now the slime-coloured beverage, which looks like it’s been dredged from the River Trent, seems to have become an obsession especially with Gen Z thanks to social media trends and purported heath benefits.

The global matcha market is currently valued at £1.8 billion and rather than a passing fad it’s become a lifestyle staple. Google searches for “matcha near me” have skyrocketed by over 5,000% in the past year alone.

So what is matcha? It’s a vibrant Japanese green tea powder made from finely powdered dried tea leaves.

Originating in China, it has been around for centuries and be traced back to the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. A Buddhist monk is credited with bringing the seeds to Japan in the 1100s where it was turned into powered green tea. Considered to be the highest quality tea leaves in the country, it was used at tea ceremonies.

Fast forward to 2025 and you’ll find matcha used for much more than lattes. You can have it hot or cold. Look out for matcha frappuccinos, milkshakes, flavoured matcha teas, smoothies, lemonade and even cocktails. And chances are anyone who has ever eaten at one of Nottingham’s most popular restaurants, Kushi-ya, has had matcha cheesecake for dessert.

Matcha is Bird & Blend’s fastest growing product range. The company says its a reflection of the growing demand for natural feel-good energy as coffee drinkers replace their morning caffeine boost with antioxidant rich matcha, which delivers lasting energy alongside the additional benefits of traditional green tea.

The Nottingham tea shop is putting its own twist on the flavour for summer with an iced mint choc chip matcha latte and butterscotch matcha latte.

Matcha enthusiasts can also experiment with a selection box of 12 with the goodness of the base ingredients and extra flavour such as gingernut, birthday cake, salted caramel, banana and peaches and cream.

Joyce Maina, head of tea at Bird & Blend said: “We’ve seen a continued rise in matcha’s popularity over the past few years, driven by a growing interest in wellness, Japanese culture, mindful rituals and clean energy. At Bird & Blend Tea Co, we’re passionate about making matcha fun and accessible and now have the largest range with pure, ceremonial grade and a wide variety of flavoured matcha in Europe.