The matcha craze never dies. Here’s our round up of the very best.
1. Via Tokyo
Via Tokyo is so well known it may as well be synonymous for matcha in Hong Kong. The matcha soft serve here is smooth, fragrant and superbly strong in its green tea taste. If ice cream isn’t your thing, in which case you need to sit in a corner and evaluate all your life choices to date, the matcha and hojicha lattes, decadently topped with skillfully drawn coffee art, never disappoint.
Shop 1A & 1B, G/F, Lei Shun Court, 106-126 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay
2. Nakamura Tokichi
Its very first location outside of Japan, Nakamura Tokichi, located in The One is known for its long lines – and for being well worth the wait. Ingredients are freshly flown in daily from the Land of the Rising Sun, ensuring top quality and authentic taste. The Uji Kin Ice, combines shaved ice topped with matcha and Hojicha soft cream served with Hokkaido red bean paste and shiratama, is the perfect summer treat.
18/F, The One, 100 Nathan Road
3. I Cremeria
With two-going-on-three locations around Hong Kong, I Cremeria is another favourite among matcha goers. The soft serve is very rich yet light in texture, and is more icy than it is creamy. The mochi and crunchy cereal pair delightfully well with the red bean paste and the matcha ice cream in the Shiratama parfait, making it a popular order all year round.
1/F Fashion Walk Causeway Bay
OT-G03A Ocean Terminal Harbour City
1/F WTC More Causeway Bay (coming soon in Aug)
4. Sinmei Tea
This tiny café located on the fifth floor of an unsuspecting office building in Sheung Wan may not look like much on the outside, but is a haven of sorts for those who adore matcha. Sinmei does a mean matcha sizzling brownie: a scoop of vanilla ice cream sits atop it and is accompanied by a cup of matcha sauce for you to drizzle over your dessert.
5/F, CS Tower, 50 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
5. Sweets House Cha Cha
This takeaway joint was one of the pioneers of the matcha craze that took over the dessert scene of our city a couple of years back. The soft serve at Sweets House is comparatively lighter and less dense than many of its competitors, making it more suitable for those who like green tea but prefer a less concentrated flavour.
cookedDeli by city’super, B1/F., Time Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
city’super, 3/F, Harbour City, 17 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
(Three more locations in Tsing Yi, Sha Tin and Tai Po)
6. Cha-no-wa
Another Japanese export, Cha-no-wa specialises not in matcha drinks nor soft serve, but in pastries. The matcha roll cake consists of light, fluffy layers sandwiched between some of the most fragrant matcha cream your very lucky taste buds will ever have the pleasure of chancing upon. A delicious substitute to a traditional birthday cake if your loved one likes matcha.
B1, City’super, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Shop 260-261, 2/F, Cityplaza I, 18 Taikoo Shing Road, Tai Koo
C!tysuper – Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
7. Teakha
Although their specialty is tea, Teakha’s green tea cheesecake is touted as one of the best in the city. The richness of the cake is a harmonious blend of the two popular dessert flavours without one being more overpowering than the other. Located on the quirky Tai Ping Shan Road in Sheung Wan, this cosy little café is the ideal way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.
18 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan
8. Check In Tokyo
Check in Tokyo is new to the matcha trade but is slowly rising up the ranks. The soft serve is also on the lighter side, and comes with warabimochi, a traditional Japanese sweet often sold on the streets as a quick snack. Besides matcha, Check in Tokyo is popular for its other flavours as well, such as ramune (Japanese soda) and strawberry milk.
Shop 9B, G/F, 43P-43S Dundas Street, Mong Kok
