HEALTH + WELLNESS
March of the Matcha cont...
WHERE TO DRINK MATCHA:
Kent’ s most interesting spots
● KITCH, Canterbury Kitch’ s pale wood, trailing greenery and soft, natural light feels purpose-built for matcha, where you’ ll find it in a‘ super latte’ combined with turmeric and cacao, which positions it firmly as a wellness drink and a functional daily choice rather than an occasional coffee alternative.
● CHIYA, Canterbury CHIYA’ s contemporary approach includes a menu that extends beyond classic matcha into flavoured variations such as strawberry alongside a broader Asian-inspired take with drinks like black sesame lattes signalling a shift away from Western coffee norms and into a more globally influenced cafe culture.
● MOWCHI, Canterbury Built around premium matcha, bubble tea and Asian fusion, Mowchi is one of the clearest examples of a matcha-first concept in Kent, with the drink positioned as a core product rather than a menu extra, marking it out as part of a newer wave of cafés putting matcha front and centre.
● GARAGE COFFEE, Margate Garage Coffee reflects how matcha has been absorbed into modern café culture; their own social content regularly features iced matcha as part of a more chilled lifestyle-led‘ slow Sundays’ movement in opposition to quick caffeine fixes, integrating matcha as an everyday staple.
● CAFÉ LOUNGE, Rochester & Meopham Placing matcha within a high-energy brunch setting, where drinks are designed to sit alongside larger plates and social dining, iced matcha lattes appear as part of a broad, accessible menu at Café Lounge, reflecting how the drink has moved beyond niche cafés
● FINE GRIND, Tunbridge Wells Fine Grind sits within Tunbridge Wells’ established café scene and is widely recognised for premium coffee and a steady customer base. Here, matcha is considered an additional, well-made option rather than a focal point, in a nod to how well the drink now sits alongside specialty coffee in more traditional cafés.
● TINY BREW, Blackheath Tiny Brew’ s reputation rests on its focus on quality and precision, applying specialty coffee standards to alternative drinks, ao the matcha here is prepared without default sweetening or flavouring, allowing the natural profile of the tea to come through more clearly.
● HOPE & LANE, Deal Offered alongside chai, turmeric and herbal teas, Hope & Lane positions matcha within a wider non-coffee drinks selection, signalling a deliberate move towards caffeine alternatives and plant-based options, with multiple milk choices available.
© Jason Leung
© Phoebe Lynch
“ Matcha uses whole, shade-grown tea leaves ground into powder, delivering a more concentrated source of antioxidants than standard green tea infusions, particularly catechins such as EGCG.”
● MIDDLE STREET COFFEE, Deal Middle Street Coffee is known for its stripped-back, quality-driven approach, where drinks are kept relatively simple but very well executed. Matcha appears as part of that same philosophy here, prepared without excessive variation in a way that prioritises flavour over visual styling.
● AERO COFFEE, Gravesend Aero Coffee brings a fresh sense of momentum to Gravesend, taking over a long-vacant site and turning it into a bright, contemporary space with clean lines and a steady stream of regulars. Matcha is given room to play here, with a classic iced latte sitting alongside seasonal specials such as a blueberry cheesecake iced matcha and a raspberry ripple variation, both leaning into dessert-led flavours without losing the core profile of the tea.
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