7 best spots in Cape Town for matcha

If you are a true matcha fan, then it may come as no surprise to you that NicetoMatcha is featured on this list.

Located on the main road in Sea Point, this small but mighty cafe has brought matcha fans flocking from everywhere and with patrons often waiting in queues for their order.

Sourcing matcha powder from a farm in Uji, a region south of Kyoto and renowned for its tea production and tea ceremonial practices, NicetoMatcha prides itself on sourcing only the highest quality of organic ceremonial grade matcha.

With a passion and love for matcha, the brand has remained consistent in their offering, paying homage to the roots of matcha and even taking a trip to Japan when they ran out of stock of matcha powder, an indicator of how popular their matcha is among Capetonians.

Be sure to opt for the Vanilla bean and Sea Salt matcha served cold. It's the perfect balance of sweetness.

Time Out Insider Info: NicetoMatcha has recently launched Basque Matcha Cheesecake, and to say we are obsessed is the understatement of the century. The creaminess paired with the matcha flavour has 'whisked' us off our feet.

Address: 206 Main Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town.

Opening times: 7.30am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday.

With various locations in and around the central CBD, Love Matcha first opened its doors in Sea Point in February and has since become a staple among matcha lovers.

Founded by Elad, the concept of Love Matcha all began with a passion for matcha (excuse the pun there). Travelling to Japan, Elad dived head first to learn more about the production, tour the matcha farm fields and meet with the manufacturers behind the iconic green tea.

Sourcing the best matcha straight from the origins, Love Matcha's most popular drink is the strawberry matcha latte, made with strawberry puree free of artificial sugar, which has the perfect added sweetness.

Taking it a 'matcha' further, Love Matcha also offers matcha sushi.

Time Out Insider Info: Love Matcha is opening a new store on Kloof Street on 18 July.

Address:

• Mojo Market, Sea Point
• 1 Bright St, Somerset West
• 18 Main Rd, Rondebosch
• Table Bay Mall

Opening times:

• Mojo Market: 10am to 10pm
• Rondebosch: 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday, 
• Somerset West: 8am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday, Friday to Saturday 8am to 7pm and Sunday/public holidays from 8am to 5pm.
• Table Bay Mall: 9am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday. 9am to 6pm on Sundays.

Offering an authentic Japanese dining experience in Green Point, How's your oni is well known for their delicious onigiri, a Japanese rice ball shaped into a triangle with a filling of mushrooms, prawn or tuna and the like.

Staying true to their roots of authenticity, How's your oni offers matcha sourced from Matcha Moro, a local brand that specialises in Ceremonial organic matcha sourced from Japan.

Their options include the classic iced matcha and the blueberry iced matcha, made with homemade blueberry syrup, macadamia milk and topped with vibrant green matcha.

Address: 47 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town.

Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 12pm (noon) to 9pm. Closed on Sundays.

Located in the heart of the CBD on Buitengracht Street, Mochi Mochi is a Japanese café that celebrates the art of Japanese sweets and bites through a showcase where tradition meets innovation, fusing beloved delights in a playful and new way.

With a passion for authenticity, Mochi Mochi sources their ceremonial grade matcha from Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd, a family-owned business matcha farm established in 1836 as Morihan Seichajo and located in Ogura, Uji, Kyoto.

The matcha served at Mochi Mochi is one of the top blends from this leading matcha manufacturer and is titled  "Unryu" which translates as "Cloud Dragon".

Matcha options on the menu feature a classic matcha iced or hot, alongside other inventive drinks such as the matcha whisky lemonade that is made using Suntory Toki Whisky, matcha and lemon.

As they run out of treats quickly, be sure to head to the café early on the weekends to pair your matcha with one of their sweet matcha delights, including a matcha mochi cookie, matcha mochi and even matcha ice cream!

A personal favourite (I order it every time I visit), is the matcha mochi cookie topped with sea salt flakes it is an explosion of matcha flavour with every bite and is a must-try for matcha fans.

Address: Heritage Square - 71 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town

Opening times: 10am to 6pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays and Sundays.

Opening their doors in 2023, Norfolk Deli has become the go-to spot for the ultimate pastries and sweet treats. And what pairs perfectly with a sweet treat? (cue the drumroll, please). It is matcha, of course!

Sourcing their matcha from Ceremony, a local distributor that has become synonymous among South Africans for its high-quality offering, Norfolk Deli's most popular matcha options include the iced strawberry matcha, alongside their iced mango matcha.

Ceremony prides itself on authenticity and the ethos associated with matcha, holding up its principles and values in practice. The matcha distributed by Ceremony is sourced from the tea epicentre of Japan, Uji. Grown through ethical and sustainable practices, the first harvest tea leaves are handpicked in Spring to ensure a vibrant and ethereal matcha is produced with a umami flavour and sweet aftertaste.

From the loved crookies, a croissant topped with a cookie, in options such as the pistachio white chocolate chip crookie, made with real butter cookie dough, pistachio mascarpone cream and white chocolate dip to their classic cake slices such as Chocolate Peppermint Crisp, Norfolk Deli is a must-visit.

Address: 6 Norfolk Road, Seapoint, Cape Town

Opening times: 7am to 3pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sea Point is home to another great option for matcha, while known for their delicious and premium coffee, Naked Coffee also offers matcha!

Naked Coffee sources its matcha from Matcha Moro, a local distributor that sources its ceremonial grade matcha from a family-run farm in Uji, Kyoto.

The matcha produced at the farm is stone ground upon order, ensuring that the freshness and high quality of the matcha is retained. In addition, it is 100% organic certified.

A delicious combo is their chocolate croissant with a matcha latte, for that perfect mid-day pick-me-up. If you are in the mood for something sweeter, opt for the strawberry iced matcha latte.

Address: 2 Wisbeach Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town

Opening times: 7am to 5.30pm on Monday to Saturday. 8am to 3pm on Sundays.

With multiple locations in Cape Town, Bootlegger fans will be thrilled to know that their favourite all-day café uses premium matcha from Ceremony.

Although the popular franchise is known for the speciality-grade coffee, their principles of using sustainable and high-quality products are applied to their matcha offering as well.

One of the elite pairings with their matcha is one of their mouth-watering egg box buns, either the classic egg or salmon bun paired with a refreshing iced matcha or matcha latte.

Time Out Insider Info: If you are a fan of Ceremony matcha, their matcha is used at the following restaurants and cafés: Our Local on Kloof Street, Ou Meul Bakery and Cafe and The General Store on Bree Street.

Address: multiple locations

Opening times: Visit their website here for all the details.

It is often believed that a version of matcha was the first type of tea to be consumed in Japan, according to the Japanese Tea Association, a non-profit and non-governmental organisation that aims to expand the world of Japanese tea through global collaboration.

While many may not be aware, the concept of tea was brought to Japan from China. According to Yamamasa Koyamaen Co., a tea farm established in 1861 and located in Uji, often considered the sanctum of Japanese tea heritage, the founder of the Rinzai sect, a school of Zen Buddhism, Eisai brought tea seeds from the Song dynasty of China. These seeds were then planted in various locations across Japan, namely Uji, Ninnaji and Daigo.

Powdered green tea became revered in Japan for its medicinal and meditative purposes by monks of Zen Buddhism, leading to the creation of Chanoyu, a Japanese tea ceremony and art form that is guided by four principles: harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity.

There is more to this Instagram-worthy green tea than meets the eye, as Botha Kruger, the founder of WAZA Japan, a Cape Town-based specialist importer, retailer and wholesaler of premium Japanese goods, emphasises its strong connection to Buddhism and spiritual practices.

"It was in the 15th - 16th centuries when the more rustic, calm and formal 'way of tea' was introduced in Japan and strongly linked to Zen Buddhism. Concentrated tea like matcha helped with long periods of meditation. The way in which important historical figures like Sen no Rikyū formalised the layout of the tea house and the ritual of the tea ceremony, had more to do with spiritualism, mindfulness and discipline."

With cafes and matcha spots emerging all over the city, we consulted with Botha to discover the key ways to ensure that the matcha is authentic.

It is important to note that there are different forms of matcha, culinary and ceremonial. Culinary is used as an ingredient for many dishes, including desserts, baked goods and even sauces or as a spice. Ceremonial, on the other hand, is considered a higher-grade matcha used for tea ceremonies and made from finely ground younger green tea leaves.

Botha highlights that there are five ways to identify the quality of the matcha you are drinking:

1. Place of origin: Ensure that the matcha sourced was grown and harvested in Japan.

2. Harvest date: Traditionally in Japan, only the first flush tea leaves of the first harvest of the season, usually between April and May, are used to make matcha. The best quality matcha is made from the initial first flush planted and harvested.

3. Granular or not: One of the first key indicators of good quality matcha is if it is stone ground and fine in powder, smooth and silky. If the powder is produced using a traditional "ishiusu", stone mills made from hard granite that finely and slowly grind dried tencha leaves without any heat produce it will yield the results of good quality matcha. If this process is not adopted it can be seen in the colours, flavour and nutrients of the matcha powder.

4. Labelling: The description must read matcha and not 'matcha-type' or 'powdered tea'.

5. Shelf-life: Good quality matcha does not have a long shelf-life given that the prepared tencha is stored until needed and then ground into matcha to ensure the best colour, flavour and shelf-life. The grinding date can be an indicator of the quality of the matcha.

Botha adds, "If unopened, a sealed tin of matcha can last up to 12 months, but larger packs are 6 months. Once opened, it is best to consume matcha within 6-8 weeks."