In the UAE, from mid-morning, the café displays gradually turn green. Layered iced glasses with milk and Matcha sit on tables, phones are raised, and conversations slow down a bit for a few precise and calculated photos.

What was once just a traditional Japanese tea has now taken on a new identity in the UAE; a blend of a calm routine, visual beauty, and a social experience. Matcha is no longer just a drink; it has become part of a lifestyle, especially among young women, a trend that many refer to as the 'Matcha Culture'.

A glance at social media in the UAE is enough to see this change: friendly gatherings with coordinated styles, cafés with neutral colors, and green Matcha cups perfectly framed in the shot. But it’s not just about appearances. This trend has also changed the way cafés are used.
Unlike coffee, which is often consumed quickly and on the go, Matcha provides an excuse to pause; to sit, chat, or even spend time alone in a café.

In Dubai, this trend is clearly visible. Some cafés focus on quality and simplicity, others offer Matcha with new flavors and combinations, while some have turned it into a visual and social experience. Even older cafés have aligned their menus with this wave; a sign that Matcha is no longer a temporary trend.

In Abu Dhabi, however, the atmosphere is a bit different. Here, Matcha has formed more around a loyal community than a fleeting trend; a more compact and focused experience that has its regular customers.

The popularity of Matcha in the UAE has emerged somewhere between a healthy lifestyle, design, and social connection. This drink has a milder energy compared to coffee, but more importantly, it aligns with a lifestyle that values balance and conscious choices.

For many girls in the UAE, Matcha has become an excuse to meet, relax, and create shared moments; from trying new flavors to enjoying the café atmosphere.

Now, Matcha is part of the identity of cafés in the UAE; not a replacement for coffee, but alongside it, with its own culture. On 'Matcha Day', this trend is more visible than ever; tables filled with green cups, conversations that have become longer, and a generation experiencing a new form of gathering around a simple drink.

In the UAE, Matcha is not just consumed; it is experienced, shared, and gradually becoming part of daily life.

✨ How about you? Is Matcha your favorite drink too? 


Source: Gulf News