Matcha Madness

Next week I’m going to all of your favorite places in Kansas City to try and find the BEST Matcha in Kansas City for Matcha Madness Week. Let me know which one your favorite is so I don’t miss out and make sure to keep updated on Instagram!

Matcha is popping up all over Kansas City, and chances are that your favorite local coffee shop already has it on their menu. There’s a lot of hype surrounding it and it’s health benefits, but does it actually live up to it’s increasingly positive reputation, and is it worth the price? I think so, and here’s why.

I have to have a cup (or three) of coffee every day. Literally I HAVE to, or I get withdrawal and the headaches are killer. I would stop-but I don’t want to. Coffee is my happy place and I call it my happy juice.

Usually, I go for a less-is-more approach when it comes to my coffee. Black coffee at home, a cappuccino on the regular, cold brew for days, and a latte now and again.

Side note: the new cloud foam at Starbucks is honestly, absolute trash; and I can’t believe I used the last of my Christmas gift card on it.

While a do enjoy a nice cup of tea before bed or on the occasion, it’s not something I usually ever order from a restaurant or café.

How I Discovered Matcha

The first time I tried matcha it was given to me by a barista at the downtown Kansas City Scooters who had misheard me when I ordered a mocha. This is what I like to call a Bob Ross moment- my little happy accident. Imagine my surprise when I took a big gulp of what I expected to be chocolatey espresso goodness and was instead met with a mouthful of matcha. After the initial shock and dismay of being met with a very green drink wore off, I was so pleased with it I purposely ordered one instead of coffee *gasp* for the rest of the week.

What Exactly Is Matcha?

Matcha is made from finely ground green tea leaves. When the powder is mixed with water it makes the trendy drink of the moment we call matcha. It’s green, delicious, and it does have some caffeine in it. Not as much as a cup of joe but more than your average steeped cup of green tea. It shouldn’t cost you more than your usual order, unless of course you want to spend more to try a “ceremonial grade” matcha, which I recently, unhappily discovered goes for $8 for a small at Kaldi (no thanks).

Are there Really Health Benefits to Matcha?

YES. I was skeptical at first, but after some research I discovered numerous scientific studies boasting the power of matcha like anticarcinogenic effects, decreased risk of breast cancer, enhanced fat oxidation., and both sustained attention and memory with increased relaxation. That’s only a few, and there are more.

Notable Kansas City Matcha

You can expect to find matcha in almost every coffee shop in Kansas City nowadays. Thou Mayest had a great matcha latte and also sold a fun twist on it with their recreational matcha latte that had CBD oil in it. Alas, their location in East Crossroads has closed and a new flagship location has yet to open. So I need a new spot for my matcha fix and I’m embarking on a weeklong journey to find it in which I need YOUR help!

What’s your favorite place to grab some match in Kansas City?? Let me know so I can try it!