The Matcha craze is currently wild! It is believed to have been used in China back in the 8th Century as a beverage during elaborate rituals. It was then then enjoyed by Japanese Buddhist Monks in the 12th Century, where they added it to tea to help with it meditation practices.
Matcha didn’t arrive in the UK until the early 2010s. Much like in China and Japan it was added to tea, namely green tea. Then celebrities got wind of it being a healthy superfood and it was included in various smoothies and juices.
Matcha at Black Sheep Coffee
Fast forward to today and Gen Z favourite Matcha is added to coffee, tea, juice, protein drinks, shakes, and much more. However, this is the first time we’ve seen it added to Lemonade! And, where better to sample it than at Black Sheep Coffee.
Our writer, Rachel McAlley went to the York Ousegate Black Sheep Coffee to try out the new Matcha range with a side of Norwegian Matcha Waffle.
Firstly, I must note that I went to Black Sheep Coffee on a Monday, which is also known as Matcha Monday for students. Meaning that all students can enjoy any Matcha drink for just £2 – which is an absolute bargain. Needless to say, the York Black Sheep Coffee was busy with Gen Z students milling about on their laptops and tablets, whilst wearing headphones or earbuds with a Matcha in hand!
As my 13-year-old said to me whilst in situ, it was “such a vibe!” at Black Sheep Coffee. I assumed that was a good thing, so I felt pretty on trend when ordering Match Lemonades and Matcha Waffles.
The Lemonades
She wasn’t wrong, it was such a vibe at Black Sheep Coffee. The staff were eager to help answer my questions about the different Matcha Lemonades. We opted for Lychee Matcha Lemonade, Peach Lemonade, and Passionfruit Lemonade. Furthermore, we ordered a Norwegian Matcha Waffle with Strawberries, Nutella and cream, plus a standard Norwegian Waffle with Banana, Strawberries, Nutella and Cream.
We managed to get a table and take some great pics of our Matcha Lemonade and the other fruity lemonades. It was a great place to watch the world go by and enjoy people watching. We both had a definite favourite, my daughter’s was the Lychee Matcha Lemonade, mine the Passionfruit Lemonade. Matcha obviously has a distinct flavour, and a distinct colour, it was fresh and earthy, exactly as it should be. It is packed with antioxidants, and can potentially boost brain function (perfect for students).
The Norwegian Waffles
The Norwegian Matcha Waffles were thoroughly enjoyed by both of us. It’s not an understatement to say that we wolfed them down within minutes! The Matcha Waffle was my personal favourite. The flavour of the Matcha was very subtle, which meant the freshness of the strawberries came through perfectly. My daughter preferred the standard Norwegian Waffle, but I think it was mainly because she added both strawberries and banana, all the Nutella chocolate imaginable and lots of cream – it was full to bursting!
Lemonades, including Matcha are priced from £3.19 – £3.99, and Norwegian Waffles are priced from £5.39 – £6.69. Additional charges are incurred for extra fruit or cream. Visit Black Sheep Coffee to look at the menu, pre-order online, or buy merchandise.
Gen Z Favourite Matcha Lemonade Now At Black Sheep Coffee – Words by Rachel McAlley @LadyRach
