DHAKA — A wave of matcha-flavoured products has swept through Dhaka's cafés and bakeries, with menus increasingly dominated by the green tea powder. From matcha lattes and strawberry matcha to matcha cold foam atop iced coffee, the ingredient has become ubiquitous, often at prices between Tk 400 and Tk 650.
The trend extends beyond drinks into desserts: matcha tiramisu, matcha cheesecake, matcha cinnamon rolls, and even matcha brownies have become common. One café board reportedly listed 11 green items, reflecting the extent of the phenomenon.
Critics argue that the flavour, often described as tasting like paan or grass, does not justify the high cost. A matcha latte can cost as much as a paan, a roadside cha, two singaras, and a rickshaw ride home combined.
Proponents claim matcha offers calm energy without coffee jitters, but sceptics point to the role of social media in driving the trend. The visual appeal of a pale green layer over white milk, often photographed for Instagram, has made it a staple of Dhaka's café culture.
Whether matcha will follow the path of Dalgona coffee and bubble tea into niche status or become a permanent fixture remains to be seen. For now, it continues to dominate café menus across the city.
