Matcha made in heaven: ranking and reviewing the matcha of Eagle Rock

You’ve likely noticed the recent rise in popularity of a certain green drink. Whether you’re a matcha enjoyer or hater, the hype surrounding matcha-flavored treats is undeniable. Unfortunately, I’ve gone down the matcha rabbit hole– I say unfortunately because the drink is expensive. And after dropping six or seven dollars on a drink, I expect an out-of-body experience. That’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to rank and review some of the most popular matcha products in Eagle Rock, and give the people my words of truth. My brutal honesty serves so that others may go directly to the best, most worthy matcha rather than the low-quality, barely green, mostly-milk matcha (shameful). 

The more into my reviews I got, the more particular I became in my review, so I think it's important to add the basis of my ratings. There were several key factors in my review– the flavor of the matcha, the overall tastiness of the item, the price, and the appearance. Keep in mind my reviews are based on many personal opinions, so take everything with a grain of salt.

Without further ado, here is my honest ranking of matcha products:

5. ROCK Coffee House - Matcha Frappe: 2/10

The ROCK Coffee House is a popular cafe close to school, often crowded with students. This led me to wonder if the cafe’s popularity is due more to its location or the quality of its products. I entered with relatively high expectations for the drink. I was hoping for a nice, green color, solid icy consistency, and strong matcha flavor. I ordered the smallest size matcha frappe with no sweetener, the price totaling to $6. The drink took a while until it was ready, but appeared a good size and nice color. Unfortunately, the drink did not taste how I hoped. The flavor was weak, leading me to regret requesting no sweetener, as without it, the frappe was mostly milk with a slight bitterness. I was extremely disappointed, especially considering I’d heard good things about the matcha latte. Overall this drink was not my cup of tea, and I don’t see myself coming back for it.

4. Ding Tea - Matcha Milk Tea: 7/10

I noticed the drink made its way to #2 on the Ding Tea leaderboard, so I had high expectations. I ordered a small Matcha Milk Tea with golden boba which totaled $5.70. The drink had a nice matcha flavor, but was exceptionally sweet. Despite ordering the drink half-sweet, it still tasted moderately sugary. The flavor was tasty, but a bit artificial, the milk tea flavor more prominent than that of matcha. I was pleased with the amount of ice the drink came with, not too much, but enough to keep my drink cold. The boba was exceedingly small and a bit too firm for my liking, but it wasn’t bad by any measure. All things considered the drink was pretty good. The milk tea had a nice matcha flavor, though a bit overpowered by the sweetness of the drink. 

3. Starbucks - Matcha Latte: 7/10

The Starbucks on Colorado Blvd. is always full of people– but would its matcha live up to these crowds? Upon immediate revival, I noticed the drink’s vibrantly green color. The matcha was indulgently sweet, with a satisfying flavor. I’ve tried the Starbucks Matcha Latte both iced and hot in the past, and I can attest both temperatures taste good. The drink had a satisfyingly rich grassy flavor. Similar to Ding Tea, I felt the sweetness was a bit overpowering to the matcha flavor, and led it to feel slightly artificial, but I still found the drink delicious. I do feel the latte came with too much ice, especially for being a small size, but in hindsight I could have simply requested less ice. All in all, I found the drink pretty addictive, and have established it as one of the top Starbucks items. The Matcha Latte is a great option for someone looking to splurge on a delicious drink.

2. Yogurtland - Matcha Green Tea Froyo: 8.5/10

Yogurtland changes their flavors seasonally, so I was excited to discover a matcha flavor at our local Yogurtland. Right off the bat, I liked the vibrant green color of the dessert. The texture of the yogurt wasn’t quite as frozen as I like it, but that’s based on personal preference. The yogurt had a solid matcha flavor. It was relatively strong, and the sweetness didn’t overpower the green tea taste. It wasn’t overly artificial– tasting surprisingly similar like a matcha latte. The Yogurtland website claims the dessert is made with “high grade ceremonial green tea from Japan”, and this was believable by the taste of it. Overall, I was greatly impressed by the matcha item, and I’d recommend it to any matcha lovers.

1. Starbucks - Iced Lavender Oatmilk Matcha Latte: 9/10

The Iced Lavender Oat Milk Matcha Latte is another seasonal item, meaning it’s only available during Spring. I had high expectations for the drink, having heard much praise for it, and I must say my expectations were met. The drink combined the two flavor profiles nicely, without one overpowering the other. The bitterness of the matcha balanced perfectly with the floral taste of the lavender foam, creating a unique flavor. Similar to the original Starbucks Matcha Latte, I felt there was slightly too much ice, but I did enjoy the refreshing coldness of the drink. The Iced Lavender Oat Milk Matcha Latte is a fun, elevated version of the classic Starbucks Matcha Latte, but with a unique twist. Additionally, the green drink topped with the light purple foam looked pretty, so extra points for that. I would recommend this drink to anyone who likes matcha, and I’ll be starting a petition to move the drink to the permanent menu.