Matcha, the green tea powder with a distinctive taste has a significant fan base around the world and Macau is not an exception. Locally, there is no shortage of places that serve a variety of matcha-based drinks and sweets, from traditional tea to the decidedly non-traditional, including lattes, desserts, and even matcha milk jam. Luckily, there is no need to research as we’ve done it for you! Here is a list of the best places in Macau to get your matcha fix.
Matcha Cafe Maiko
The first shop of this international chain was opened in Hawaii. It quickly spread to other states of the US and finally landed in Macau, minutes away from Senado Square. All the matcha is imported from Uji in Kyoto Prefecture, a city renowned for the superior quality green tea production. One of their specialties is parfait with matcha, hojicha or a mix of both, matcha pudding, red beans, crunchy corn flakes, and jelly. Apart from that, you’ll find shaved ice, ice-cream in a waffle cone and a myriad of hot and cold tea drinks.
Matcha Cafe Maiko Edificio Kam Loi, 7 Rua do Cmte. Mata e Oliveira, Macau, +853 2831 0383, www.matchacafe-maiko.com
Gozen Matcha
For those who crave something beyond the classic matcha latte, Gozen Matcha is the place. With probably the most diverse matcha-based menu, this cozy cafe with friendly owners has ice-cream, cakes, pudding, matcha sugar, drinks and a variety of matcha sets. Try their in-house made soft ice-cream. There are three flavors–soy, matcha and, hojicha. You can also order a mixed, half and half one. To make it healthier, Gozen Matcha doesn’t add any cream, just milk.
Gozen Matcha 57 Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, Macau, +853 2852 2552, www.facebook.com/gozenmatchamacau
Tealosophy Tea Bar
The main Tealosophy shop has been closed, but luckily their takeaway bar is still alive and well. The shop is very small with a big counter where the tea specialists do their magic. It resembles a laboratory, for the numerous glass vessels and the concentration on the faces of staff–they really take the process of tea brewing seriously here. At Tealosophy Tea Bar, they use high-quality teas directly imported from China and Kyoto, Japan. There are no nasty chemicals or unnatural ingredients.
In addition to drinks such as yame sencha green tea, genmaicha latte and a perfectly balanced matcha latte, they also serve matcha ice cream and pudding.
Tealosophy Tea Bar Nga Lai Building, Rua do Campo, 2A Rua Formosa, Macau, +853 2892 1326, www.facebook.com/tealosophyteabar
Royal Place
A cake shop located on vibrant Beco da Melancia, Royal Place serves up Japanese-style drinks, desserts and ice cream. Their Uji matcha latte is the only one in Macau with matcha and fresh milk separated for presentation. To drink, mix well and experience the rich taste of green tea.
The Uji hojicha drink has less caffeine and theanine, for those who crave green tea flavor but need to mind the level of stimulants. Hojicha green tea leaves are roasted over charcoal–you’ll notice the difference in color and flavor. They also have matcha ice cream, matcha rollcakes, layer cake with Yu Matcha Powder and tarts with creamy matcha filling.
Royal Place 2A Beco de Melancia, Macau, +853 6611 8126, www.facebook.com/royalplace.seong
OOPS Warehouse
Matcha drinks, matcha cakes…how about matcha jam? Indulge yourself with OOPS Warehouse ‘s house-made matcha milk jam on toast. We like the sweet creamy taste enhanced with matcha goodness.
The matcha milk jam is apparently really popular in Korea and Japan and OOPS Warehouse owner, Michaela, takes her time making this special jam, as it must be stirred consistently for at least thirty minutes to get that perfect caramel-like texture.
OOPS Warehouse GF, 13–15 Patio de Ho Chin Sin Tong, R. de Pedro Nolasco da Silva, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Macau, +853 6399 6866, www.facebook.com/oopswarehouse
Lady M
Within a year, two Lady M boutiques opened its doors to Macau sweets connoisseurs. Two cafes are located at The Venetian Macao and Sands Cotai Central, both elegant and full of light. Lady M originated in New York and earned a status of one of the finest cake shops in town. This patisserie is not cheap, but their signature mille crêpe cakes are totally worth the price. Among the most remarkable ones is a matcha cake, a myriad of crepes with delicate matcha cream, dusted with matcha. Try it with some of their lattes or teas. And if that’s not too much matcha for you, check out Lady M’s matcha latte. But remember to ask for no sugar unless this is what you want.
Lady M K2, Grand Canal Street, Level 3, Shoppes at Venetian, Taipa, +853 2825 8320, www.ladym.com
Lady M Shop 2203b, Level 2, Shoppes at Cotai Central, Sands Cotai Central, The Cotai Strip, Taipa, Macau
This article was originally written by Bel Faustino in August 2017 and updated by Ksenia in November 2019.
