Our latest harvest of ceremonial matcha has just arrived at Waterloo Tea and it's an exciting reminder of how far this vibrant green tea has come. Once something only tea nerds knew about, matcha is now everywhere: café menus, supermarket shelves, Instagram reels, TikTok recipes...you name it. In just a few years, it's gone from a quiet tradition to a symbol of wellness, ritual, and modern café culture.

We’ve been serving and sourcing matcha at Waterloo Tea long before it became the latest drink trend. Watching it take off has been brilliant - not just because more people are discovering it, but because it’s sparking a real curiosity about tea in general.

From tradition to trend

Matcha’s story starts in Japan, where it has been at the heart of tea ceremonies for centuries. Unlike most green tea, where you steep the leaves are steeped and then take them out, matcha is made from shade-grown leaves that are carefully stone-ground into a fine powder. When whisked with water, you consume the whole leaf - which makes it rich, intense and completely unique. 

Fast forward to 2025 in the UK, and that same vibrant green bowl has become a staple in cafés across the country. What was once a meditative ritual is now a drink people enjoy every day - energising, comforting, and yes, very photograph worthy.

Why matcha has become so popular

There are a couple of reasons that help to explain why matcha has taken off so fast. Firstly, it’s packed with antioxidants and naturally contains L-theanine, which helps smooth out caffeine. Coffee has long been the go-to source of caffeine, and while it delivers on its promise, it often leads to a quick spike followed by a big crash. L-theanine, present in all teas but especially abundant in matcha, offers a gentler way to get the caffeine kick people crave to help get through the day. It provides a sustained boost with a gradual decline rather than a sudden drop - the perfect sweet spot.

A well-made matcha latte or matcha-based drink is just as photogenic as it is delicious, so it’s no wonder it’s all over social media. A bright green drink really stands out when everyone around you is sipping various shades of beige. Add in the fact that tea is served whisked and that latte art is still possible, and it’s easy to see why people are eager to give it a try.

Matcha is moving beyond being just a trend - it’s cementing itself as a staple on the UK drinks scene.

Classic matcha vs ceremonial matcha

Not all matcha is created equal.

At Waterloo Tea, we offer two high quality options:

Ceremonial matcha, which is the pinnacle - bright, smooth and perfect for traditional preparation. 

Classic matcha, which is more versatile and works just as well in lattes or smoothies as it does in a classic matcha tea. 

Both are carefully sourced so that every cup gives you the experience of matcha that you'd expect - vibrant, smooth and that distinct matcha mouthfeel. 

Beyond the bowl

Part of what makes matcha so fun is how adaptable it is. Whisking it traditionally is still the best way to enjoy a cup in my opinion, but there’s no wrong way to get creative. Stir it into a morning smoothie, shake it over ice on a hot day, mix it into a latte with milk (or plant based alternatives if you're that way inclined), or even use it in baking for that vibrant green pop.

Matcha fits into whatever your day looks like, whether you’re after a mindful ritual or a quick pick-me-up.

What’s next for matcha in the UK?

If recent years are anything to go by, matcha is only going to get bigger. People are looking for balance - a little energy, a little calm - and matcha slots perfectly into that.

But it doesn’t stop there. Other Japanese tea powders are starting to appear on UK menus too - most notably houjicha powder. It’s a roasted and ground green tea that gives a naturally sweet, toasty flavour rather than the grassy undertones you may get from matcha. Already big in Japan for lattes and desserts, we’re expecting it to be the next big thing here.

At Waterloo Tea, we’re already offering houjicha powder as a part of our Japanese tea collection - you can try it for yourself here. 

Discover matcha with Waterloo Tea

Curious to try matcha for yourself? Our ceremonial-grade matcha and the teaware to prepare it are available here. And if you want to stay ahead of the curve, try our houjicha powder - a naturally sweet, roasted alternative that could easily become the UK’s next favourite.