Tried and tested: Where to get the best matcha lattes in Singapore

Matcha drinks have taken the globe by storm, including in Singapore.

Even amid a global shortage, online tea store Tealife Singapore reported that it saw its sales of matcha double in 2024 as compared with in 2023.

Matcha – Japanese powdered green tea – is traditionally prepared by whisking matcha powder and water together in a bowl using specialised equipment.

Many cafes, like the ones TL;DR visited, serve matcha lattes that add hot or cold milk to the drink. These cafes generally pour whisked matcha and milk into the same glass one at a time, creating two aesthetically pleasing layers that are meant to be stirred together before drinking.

TL;DR checked out whether four popular local spots for matcha lived up to their hype.

Matchaya Takashimaya

Location: 391 Orchard Road, #03-10A, Singapore 238872

Matchaya’s flagship store at Takashimaya blends a traditional Japanese teahouse with a chic, contemporary aesthetic. The shop‘s interior and seating reminded me more of a modern coffee shop, rather than a traditional teahouse one would find in Japan.

I was seated at its signature “progressive tea bar” – a bar counter where customers can observe baristas whisk and prepare their drinks up close.

Matchaya offers a selection of classic drinks such as teas and tea lattes, as well as a variety of unique options such as tea mocktails and fruit matcha drinks. It has three different sugar levels for drinks – normal, reduced and no sugar.

In terms of plant-based options, Matchaya offers oat milk for an additional $1.

Besides drinks, Matchaya also has snacks and all-day brunch and mains such as Japanese sandos, pancakes and pasta.

I went there on a weekday morning when it was relatively empty and my drinks arrived in less than five minutes.

What I had: Cold Matcha Milk with oat milk and reduced sugar ($8) and Matcha Passionfruit Milk ($8)

Total: $19.18 (inclusive of service charge and goods and services tax)

The Cold Matcha Milk had a strong, full-bodied taste. However, it was a little bitter for my taste and I would advise opting for the normal sweetness level.

I was impressed by the Matcha Passionfruit Milk, which had real passionfruit pulp in it. The tangy flavour of the fruit complemented the bitter matcha well.

Matchaya has concept stores in CapitaSpring and Suntec City. It also has a tea bar in Changi Airport Terminal 3.

Hvala Odeon

Location: 333 North Bridge Rd, #01-11 Odeon Towers, Singapore 188721

Hvala – pronounced “fa-lah”, meaning thank you in Croatian – in Odeon Towers is a short five-minute walk from Bugis and City Hall MRT stations.

The cafe has a minimalist aesthetic, and offers Japanese-style low table (horigotatsu) seating.

The cafe’s tea menu focuses on Japanese teas rather than novelty drink options, though it has a fairly large selection of straight teas and tea lattes on its drinks menu.

Those who prefer plant-based options can switch to soya bean milk at no extra charge or have oat milk for an extra $1.

Its sweet and savoury food options include Japanese tea-inspired dishes such as Matcha Kaya Toast ($10.90) and sencha-infused ochazuke (tea poured over cooked rice) with different toppings.

What I had: Ice Blended Matcha with fresh milk ($8.50) and Iced Shiro Matcha Latte with oat milk ($10.50).

Total: $22.78 (inclusive of service charge and GST)

The drinks at Hvala are definitely value for money despite being similar in price to many of its competitors, as the portions are generous and can even be shared by two people.

The Shiro Matcha Latte, which is made of naturally sun-dried white tea leaves instead of steamed green tea leaves, is an acquired taste. While fragrant, the strong floral notes are more reminiscent of Chinese teas rather than other matcha drinks.

The Ice Blended Matcha was rich and creamy, and had a more standard matcha flavour than the Shiro Matcha Latte.

The cafe allows customers to borrow ichi-go ichi-e (‘once-in-a-lifetime’ in Japanese) conversation cards that have topics and questions on them, which patrons can ask fellow patrons in order to spark a conversation.

Apart from this flagship location, Hvala also has outlets in Singapore in 111 Somerset, Raffles Specialist Centre and Takashimaya Shopping Centre.

Tsujiri @ The Central

Location: 6 Eu Tong Sen St, #01-74, Singapore 059817

First established in Kyoto in 1860, internationally famous matcha titan Tsujiri has expanded far beyond Japanese shores with outlets in China, Thailand, the UK and Singapore.

Tsujiri @ The Central is located along the banks of the Singapore River and boasts stunning waterside views, especially at night.

Its menu features a wide variety of drinks, from traditional teas to matcha floats and sparkling matcha drinks. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in desserts like brownies and parfaits.

Patrons can customise their drink exactly how they like it. Beyond changing the sugar level, drink size (two sizes) and type of milk (oat, soya bean and regular), Tsujiri allows patrons to add more than 15 different toppings such as pearls, brownie chips and warabimochi (a traditional Japanese confectionery dipped in soya bean flour).

What I had: Cold Matcha Latte with oat milk ($7.50) and Kinako Kuromitsu Latte ($6.80)

Total: $16.37 (inclusive of service charge and GST)

I feel that Tsujiri’s matcha latte is less rich than some other places. However, it still maintains matcha’s distinctive ‘grassy’ flavour and is perfect for those looking for a lighter taste, or for those who wish to introduce their friends to matcha drinks.

The Kinako Kuromitsu Latte – a matcha latte sweetened with Japanese brown sugar syrup and dusted with kinako soya bean flour – was also light and easy to drink, though I felt that the taste of the kinako soybean flour slightly overpowered the matcha flavour.

Tsujiri has a total of six outlets across Singapore, including branches in Sengkang, Tanjong Pagar and Holland Village.

Kyo Kohee 112 Robinson

Location: 112 Robinson Rd, #01-01, Singapore 068902

Nestled among the office buildings of Robinson Road is Kyo Kohee, which specialises in coffee, Japanese tea and matcha.

Catering mostly to the office-going crowd, Kyo Kohee has less seating than other places, but it does have a dedicated takeaway queue for those in a rush.

Kyo Kohee has a smaller food and drinks menu compared to other cafes I visited. It offers few novelty drink options (outside of coffees, teas and tea lattes), and leans less heavily into its dessert and food options.

The cafe allows customers to switch from regular milk to premium Hokkaido milk or dairy-free alternatives like oat and soya bean milk for an additional $1.

What I had: Iced Ichigo Matcha Latte ($10.90) and Iced Okumidori Matcha Latte with oat milk ($9.90)

Total: $22.88 (inclusive of service charge and GST)

Kyo Kohee’s Okumidori Matcha Latte, which uses the Okumidori variety of matcha powder known for its strong umami flavour, is a personal favourite of mine. It’s smooth, has a well-balanced taste and has none of the powdery texture that often plagues matcha drinks.

The Ichigo Matcha Latte was also fantastic. The sweet flavour of the strawberry extract complemented the earthy matcha taste perfectly without overpowering it.

Kyo Kohee also has one other outlet in Asia Square Tower 1.

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.