Why matcha is a whole different vibe

I expected something special. Instead, I hated it. It was poor quality, watery, overly grassy, and nothing like the experience I had imagined.But I kept seeing the hype around it and wanted to understand what people loved so much. As someone who struggles with caffeine intolerance and gets jitters from coffee, I also wondered if matcha could be the alternative I had been looking for.So I started trying it everywhere I travelled – New York, California, London, and at home in Dubai. Slowly, I realised matcha is not just one drink. The grade of matcha matters, the texture matters, and even the milk you pair it with changes everything.Some people go by oat milk, others prefer almond. For me, coconut milk was the game-changer. I also learned I like my matcha thick and creamy, never thin or watery.Then there is the craft itself. Ceremonial-grade matcha is smoother and more refined. Making it properly is an art. If it is not whisked well, you end up with bitter clumps and an unpleasant taste.After what feels like a thousand trials, I finally found my top three matcha spots in Dubai. My taste evolved too. I started with a classic matcha latte, but now I love variations like strawberry matcha latte or vanilla matcha latte because I enjoy varied flavours rather than something too plain.What really made me fall in love with matcha, though, was not just the drink. It was the vibe around it – the community, the aesthetic, the feeling.I have probably introduced 80 per cent of my friends to matcha, and now many of them, even the guys, are matcha fans too.Unlike coffee, which gives me a spike and then a crash, matcha feels different. The energy is steadier, cleaner and more balanced. That is what keeps making me come back.Because matcha really is a whole different emotion.Now it is no longer, “Let’s grab coffee.” It is, “Let’s go get matcha.” And somewhere during that session with your friends, there will definitely be plenty of tea spilled too.My top matcha places1. TRIO - Strawberry Matcha Latte with coconut milk2. Knots Bakehouse - Vanilla Matcha Latte with coconut milk3. Costa - Matcha Latte with coconut milk