The old phrase ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is so last year. In the 21st century, there’s more that’s needed to fulfil the body and nourish the soul… Enter, the iced matcha. Gloriously green and glowing, with a caffeine kick, this majestic drink is the perfect way to start the day, get through the day, and finish the day. Move over apples, matchas are ready to take over your status.
Now, if you know me, you know I love matcha – see Gay man and gran – 72 hours in Amsterdam. But I took this love up a notch on a recent trip to New York. Staying in the heart of NYC for 4 days, I made it my mission to try as many different matchas as possible. Some might call me crazy or not fit for the job (Did I spend around $50 dollars on matcha? Let’s not talk about it.) Either way, I love me a matcha and I’m a hard one to please, so I have many a thought on many a matcha – here they are…
Let me just lead with a disclaimer. If you’re here to proclaim that all matcha tastes like grass, this is not the article for you. If you don’t like a cheeky sweet treat and trying something new, alas, again probably not the one for you. But, if you’re also in the trance of this gorgeous, green girliepop diva of a drink, then read on for some of my fave Matcha picks from New York.
Best overall matcha ⭐
Seoul Sweets (308 5th Avenue)
Seasonal iced oat milk matcha, with strawberry syrup and cold foam
I literally don’t even know where to begin. One single sip of this matcha got my hormones racing and quite honestly, I was aroused. The drink was sensational, and I don’t use that word lightly. Visually, stunning. Taste, divine. There was a beautifully fresh flavour, which came from the thick homemade strawberry syrup. Then, the level of sweetness and lightness of the matcha itself was perfectly balanced with a creamy surprise coming from the cold foam that was the cherry (strawberry) on the cake (matcha). Seoul Sweets was also a beautiful coffee shop serving Asian treats in a chic environment, with the perfect warm lighting for Insta – plus, a gorgeous barista. Need I say more?
The downside to this drink? The price tag. Coming in at just under $11 (including tax), this was one spenny bevvy. Was it worth it tho? Every. Single. Cent.
Aesthetic: 9/10
Flavour: 9.5/10
Value: 4/10
Overall rating: 9/10
Best plain iced matcha ⭐
Blue Bottle Coffee (a chain in NYC, but this one was in the Rockefeller Centre)
Iced oat matcha
Plain Jane? Not when you’re having a matcha. With the wealth of options of different flavours and tastes, sometimes you can’t beat the classics, and if you’re looking for a brilliant iced or hot matcha, Blue Bottle is your go-to. This matcha hit all the right notes with a gorgeous chill. She’s not pretentious with syrups and flavourings, but she is some magical green goodness.
The cup, however, is not something that adds to this enchantment… A plain cardboard cup, with no view into the drink and no lid? No thanks hun. They made up for it with the price, though. Again, clearly not cheap, but at $7 including tax, I thought this wasn’t too bad.
Aesthetic: 5/10 (soz paper cup)
Flavour: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Overall rating: 8/10
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Next best plain iced matcha ⭐
Joe Coffee (a chain in NYC, but this one was in Grand Central Station)
Iced oat matcha
Not much separates this matcha with Blue Bottle, other than the slightly less matcha magic and that it was $1 more expensive. If you’re rushing through Grand Central Station or are nearby and wanting a quick matcha, this is your go-to. However, if you fancy savouring the matcha magic, you might want to look up another branch to sit in – this one just does takeaway.
P.S. This café wins the award for the most LGBTQ+-inclusive café that I’ve seen in NYC. Pronoun badges? Rainbow flags on the coffee machines? LGBTQ+ staff? Count me in 🤝
Aesthetic: 8/10
Flavour: 8/10
Value: 6/10
Overall rating: 7.5/10
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Best flavoured matcha ⭐
Blank Street (another NYC chain, this was on 5th Avenue)
Daydream matcha
If you’re a die-hard matcha lover, you probably have a bit of a love-hate relationship with matcha from Blank Street. But it has to be said, in America, the flavour compared to the UK just tastes different. I took a gamble on this flavour after some persuading from the barista (perhaps some flirty magic) and settled on a large matcha with daydream syrup and oat milk. Not sure what I thought a daydream would taste like, but this one had a lovely cinnamon-bun-type flavour, with a hint of nutmeg. Was it slightly sweet and artificial? Yes (it’s America). Was it $8 dollars? Yes (it’s America). Did it have the best flavour? Absolutely, yes.
Aesthetic: 7/10
Flavour: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Most unique flavoured matcha ⭐
Gregorys coffee (a cute chain in New York. This one was on Madison Avenue)
Oat milk cherry blossom matcha, with vegan cold foam
Are we in Tokyo? Are we in NYC? Who knows, but this is definitely an interestingly flavoured matcha. In an unassuming café on the side of the street, the cherry blossom matcha emerges like a phoenix out of the ashes. The matcha itself is nice in taste, not quite as intense as Blue Bottle for example, but the real showstopper of this drink is the cold foam. A ripple of intense purple over the green matcha, with a floral taste rushing over your senses like a boat crashing over the seas. Dare I say, the first sip was borderline soapy, but when mixed up, it became a much more palatable cherry blossom flavour. Also, the cheapest drink on the line up and an aesthetic treat – chef’s kiss.
Aesthetic: 9/10
Flavour: 6.5/10
Value: 8/10
Overall rating: 7/10
If you can taste the matcha already or just want to get on holiday and enjoy an iced drink in the sun, see our summer holidays.
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Author and pronouns: Thomas Dadswell (he/him)
Last updated: 17/06/2025
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