Matcha tea is a Japanese green tea made from finely grinded young tea leaves. Matcha is known for its rich flavor and its multiple health benefits. I fell in love with Matcha during a trip to Japan, where I got to experience the traditional matcha tea ceremony and learned its importance in Japanese culture. Nevertheless, matcha is enjoyed by people all around the world so after I moved to Houston, I was determined to find the places that served the best Matcha! Below are my top five favorite places to enjoy Matcha from.
1. Ninja Matcha
Address: 9889 Bellaire Blvd Suite D-220, Houston, TX 77036;
Hours: Sun 11AM-11PM; Mon-Thur 11AM-10PM; Fri - Sat 11AM-Midnight
This is my favorite place to get matcha, the flavor never disappoints! They have several matcha options and three different levels of matcha intensity so you can customize your drink to your taste. I typically get the iced strawberry matcha latte or the iced coconut matcha latte, but I also enjoy drinking their hot ceremonial matcha and hot Hojicha. This place also has different matcha desserts, including matcha ice cream!
2. Le’DRIP Coffee and Tea
Adress: 9889 Bellaire Blvd Suite E-205, Houston, TX 77036
Hours: 10AM-9PM
This is a charming Vietnamese coffee shop with a cozy atmosphere located in Chinatown. They have a unique and tasty coffee and tea selection. I love their cold Matcha Lattes but I usually get their hot strawberry Matcha Latte! It consists of matcha latte with small strawberry pieces that add a little bit of sweetness to the drink but does not overpower the rich and authentic matcha flavor.
3. Saigon Arts Matcha Cafe
Address: 6650 Corporate Dr suite e-1, Houston, TX 77036
Hours: Fri-Sun 11AM - 10PM; Mon-Thur 11AM-9PM
This is a matcha cafe located near Chinatown. They serve a variety of matcha based drinks and desserts. Even though they have creative matcha menu I always order a simple iced matcha latte because I enjoy its rich matcha flavor. It is a great location to have matcha with friends, they recently redecorated with beautiful Vietnamese inspired paintings that create a nice and cozy atmosphere.
4. Egg Haus
Address: 2042 E T C Jester Blvd, Houston, TX 77008
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-3; Sat-Sun 8-4
I originally went to Egg Haus for their avocado toast, which I ordered with a Matcha latte and the matcha was so good. I did not expect the matcha flavor to be so rich and tasty. I typically get their ceremonial matcha, which is matcha and hot water, or a Matcha Latte with no sweeteners (syrups). They also sell different matcha pastries that I have not tried yet, but it is on the list. This is a great place for brunch with friends!
5. La La Land Kind Cafe
Address: Location 1 - 600 N Shepherd Dr Suite 140, Houston, TX 77007
Location 2 - 888 Westheimer Rd Suite 106, Houston, TX 77006
Hours: 6:30AM-7:00PM
La La Land Kind Cafe is one of the most aesthetic coffee shops. Their contemporary style and use of bright colors create a nice and joyful atmosphere. Their main goal is to spread kindness so every time you buy a drink it comes with a positive quote stamped on their yellow coffee sleeves. They have a menu just for matcha! My favorite thing to get here is the iced lavender bloom matcha latte, which has lavender and vanilla syrup. Their matcha tends to be on the sweeter side, but it is good quality matcha and tastes really good.
Whether you are a matcha enthusiast or you are just starting to explore the delightful flavor of matcha, Houston is a great place to learn about the cultural significance of this tea. From cozy cafes with traditional matcha tea, to bustling coffee shops with innovative matcha desserts, Houston has it all!
About the author:
Sofia Urbina is a current Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering. She got her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Louisiana Tech University in 2023. Read more.
Further Reading:
Where to find delicious food in HTX!
A One-Woman Adventure: Exploring Houston’s Pizza Scene
Houston’s Northern China Cuisine Map