Getcha matcha: MatchaBar opens in Williamsburg

MatchaBar, which opened in autumn 2014, is a café dedicated to matcha, a traditional Japanese fine powder made by grinding high-quality green tea leaves. In our 2013 Food & Drink Futures report, LS:N Global named it as one of our Top 10 ingredients to watch because of its health benefits. Matcha is known to have calming effects and antioxidant properties, but also contains a small amount of caffeine for that added pick-me-up.

Founded by brothers Max and Graham Fortgang, MatchaBar serves hot and iced teas, matcha lattes, matchaccinos and other creative matcha drinks, as well as desserts and a food menu by Brooklyn eatery Watty & Meg. All the matcha is sourced directly from an independent family farm in Nishio, Japan. 

The native New Yorkers, who discovered matcha by chance at a Lower East Side tea retailer, have since developed their own brews and offer two grades: MatchaBar Classic and MatchaBar Premium, both derived from ceremonial grade matcha, the latter only using the youngest leaves from the tip of the plant.

For more on how consumers are looking to add wellness into their everyday habits, read our Body Temples macrotrend.