Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What *is* Matcha and why is it so popular? And other trends you just don't get?

145 replies

SeptemberOctober25 · 04/10/2025 19:48

The only one I've ever had honestly tasted like a odd mix of grass and soya sauce. I'll admit I've only tried it once and it was from a free pret promotion in Leeds but it was absolutely foul and thrown away after a couple of sips. Maybe basing my opinion on this is wrong but I just can't get myself to try it again.
Matcha seems everywhere at the moment and my teenage nieces love it.
I know each to their own and everybody has different tastes but I'd be interested to know why it's so popular?
I follow a dance YouTuber who seems to have about four a day and includes matcha powder in everything.
What other 'trends' confuses people?

OP posts:
XelaM · 04/10/2025 19:50

It's utterly vile (and I have even been on a matcha course in Tokyo 🍵 it still tasted awful).

For the life of me, I cannot understand why it's so popular.

CrustyBread1977 · 04/10/2025 19:52

It’s dirt and grated grass. Fantastic colour; tastes like shit.

User987439 · 04/10/2025 19:56

I think it's totally tasteless. Most places dilute it so much you just get a faint grassy undertone and an overpowering taste of plain milk or oat mllk.

It's the cop-out drink for younger people who can't handle or appreciate coffee. Basically a glorified Babyccino.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
SleepingisanArt · 04/10/2025 20:00

It's big in Japan (not surprising as theyve been drinkingit since the 16th century) and fits their taste profile perfectly as they lean towards savoury/ sour whereas we lean towards sweet. Matcha is too bitter for our taste profile and is overused by chains and chefs who are 'trendy' and don't understand that a little goes a very long way! Not a fan and I've had 'ceremonial grade' too....

User5306921 · 04/10/2025 20:05

I don't see the appeal at all. I'm presuming its a TikTok influencer led thing here.

A few years ago, my kids wanted to try bubble tea. We bought three large cups of different flavoured tea somewhere near Shoreditch and they cost nearly 30 quid. We thought they were awful. Two were discarded within ten minutes and one DC carried it around for half an hour before binning it. Another fad.

TakeMe2Insanity · 04/10/2025 20:08

Finally I have found my people! I keep trying it at intervals and I keep coming back to in my mind it tastes like pond weed regardless of what is added! Not for me.

thegirlwithapearl · 04/10/2025 20:09

Seems like the new salted caramel, which I also don't like

MyElatedUmberFinch · 04/10/2025 20:11

Warm honey 🍯 isn’t for me.

TheExcitersblowingupmymind · 04/10/2025 20:13

CrustyBread1977 · 04/10/2025 19:52

It’s dirt and grated grass. Fantastic colour; tastes like shit.

I've never tasted it and you're really selling it to me🤣🤣🤣
The colour alone would put me off.

MyElatedUmberFinch · 04/10/2025 20:14

TheExcitersblowingupmymind · 04/10/2025 20:13

I've never tasted it and you're really selling it to me🤣🤣🤣
The colour alone would put me off.

Show quote history

The colour is the best thing about it.

batt3nb3rg · 04/10/2025 20:16

User987439 · 04/10/2025 19:56

I think it's totally tasteless. Most places dilute it so much you just get a faint grassy undertone and an overpowering taste of plain milk or oat mllk.

It's the cop-out drink for younger people who can't handle or appreciate coffee. Basically a glorified Babyccino.

I’ve never had matcha in my life, but not “handling or appreciating” coffee isn’t some moral failing. People are allowed to think things taste like crap. If I was going to respond to you with the same energy as you had, I’d say I some people can’t handle or appreciate having a drink that they’re not addicted to and isn’t giving them a high.

NightSweatsNinja · 04/10/2025 20:18

Emperor's new clothes.

CuriousKangaroo · 04/10/2025 20:20

Matcha is horrid. I also don’t understand why bubble tea is popular; tapioca is grim. I think labubus are really ugly. I think maybe I’m just old!

Toddlerteaplease · 04/10/2025 20:21

I got a free sample as well. It’s very weird. I agree it tastes like grass. Not that I eat grass!

TakeMe2Insanity · 04/10/2025 20:34

MyElatedUmberFinch · 04/10/2025 20:14

The colour is the best thing about it.

Show quote history

Yes!!

User987439 · 04/10/2025 20:41

batt3nb3rg · 04/10/2025 20:16

I’ve never had matcha in my life, but not “handling or appreciating” coffee isn’t some moral failing. People are allowed to think things taste like crap. If I was going to respond to you with the same energy as you had, I’d say I some people can’t handle or appreciate having a drink that they’re not addicted to and isn’t giving them a high.

Show quote history

There are many foods & drinks that are objectively deemed to suit "adult" palates and require more effort or sophistication to appreciate. Matcha is a lazy drink because it doesn't require much effort to "like" and for people who performatively follow trends without having to go out of their comfort zone.

Alcohol is another obvious one. I'm personally not a wine drinker at all and dislike the taste of it, but going by your attitude, I can scoff at anyone who claims they like wine by telling them they're simply an alcoholic?

HollyGolightly4 · 04/10/2025 20:43

User987439 · 04/10/2025 19:56

I think it's totally tasteless. Most places dilute it so much you just get a faint grassy undertone and an overpowering taste of plain milk or oat mllk.

It's the cop-out drink for younger people who can't handle or appreciate coffee. Basically a glorified Babyccino.

Bring back the laughing reaction!

Spot on.

PractisingMyTelekenipsis · 04/10/2025 20:47

Matcha is grim. Weird, greasy grassy stuff.

Electrolytes. Why is everyone on SM obsessed with drinking electrolytes. The vast majority of people do not need to.

Mercurial123 · 04/10/2025 20:47

I love matcha have been drinking it for years before it became fashionable. I still prefer sencha as my favourite green tea.

I hate everything about coffee especially the smell and of course the taste.

Pebbles16 · 04/10/2025 20:48

Proper matcha is glorious (I have a preference for savoury).
Any type of matcha with any type of milk is an abomination to hundreds of years of Japanese history and a gazillion taste buds.
But just don't get me started on the pointlessness of chamomile tea, I might as well lick a lawn.

CatamaranViper · 04/10/2025 20:48

I've never had it.
I want to try it but I don't want to pay for it

petitpasta · 04/10/2025 20:53

I'd add avocado to the list of trends I don't get. It's tasteless green slime.

Also barrel leg jeans. Why is looking like you have rickets trendy?

Salted caramel is vile as well.

Northquit · 04/10/2025 20:54

I had some today. It was an innocent drink with fruit juices. Interesting.

There might be some in the kitchen as my son buys all sorts of odd things.

GellerYeller · 04/10/2025 20:56

The fascination with Dubai chocolate or pistachio cream I love pistachios but the chocolate I tried was pricy and turned out to be sickly. I can’t understand why people are so obsessed with it.
I think I’m the only person who doesn’t like pumpkin spiced or cinnamon chai anything from coffee shops too.

Crikeyalmighty · 04/10/2025 21:03

Mind you I love green tea and my H thinks it’s revolting

Swipe left for the next trending thread