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Matcha is no longer just the bright-green drink on café menus. More Indians are now searching for how to prepare it at home. According to Google Trends data released by Google India in late August 2026, searches for “how to make matcha” rose 1,300% over the past year. Searches for “matcha whisk” and “matcha bowl” became breakout queries in August 2026.
That does not mean Indians are drinking 1,300% more matcha. The figure measures growth in a Google search query, not consumption. Still, it shows that curiosity has moved beyond ordering matcha at a café.
So what exactly is matcha, what does it taste like, and can you make a good cup at home without an expensive setup?
Why Is Matcha Suddenly So Popular in India?
Search interest in matcha itself peaked in mid-2025, but curiosity has continued. In 2026, searches increasingly focused on preparing the drink, buying the tools to make it, and understanding its taste and caffeine content.
Google also reported rising interest in flavour combinations. Searches for “mango matcha” rose 200% and “strawberry matcha” 400% over the summer. “Dirty matcha” and “coconut matcha” became breakout searches during the monsoon.
“Breakout” is Google Trends’ term for a search that has grown so fast that the increase can’t be expressed as a normal percentage.
In other words, people are no longer just searching for matcha. They are experimenting with it.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a powdered Japanese green tea made from specially processed leaves known as tencha.
According to the Japan Matcha Association, the fresh leaves are steamed, dried without the usual rolling process and then ground into a fine powder. The tea plants are shaded from sunlight for a period before harvest.
That makes matcha different from ordinary green tea. With brewed green tea, you steep the leaves and remove them. With matcha, the powdered leaf is mixed into water and consumed whole.
What Does Matcha Taste Like?
Matcha doesn’t taste exactly like regular green tea. Its flavour is green, vegetal and savoury, with an umami character. Depending on the tea and how it’s prepared, it can also be sweet, bitter or astringent.
For a first-time drinker, the bitterness can be a surprise. Too much powder, low-quality matcha or very hot water can all make the drink unpleasant.
How to Make Matcha at Home
You don’t need a full Japanese tea-ceremony setup. These are general guidelines, and the exact quantities can be adjusted to the product you buy and how strong you like it.
What you need
- Matcha powder
- Hot, not boiling, water
- A small bowl or wide cup
- A fine sieve, if you have one
- A bamboo matcha whisk, or a handheld frother
Step 1: Sift the matcha
Sift about 1–2 grams (roughly ½ to 1 teaspoon) of matcha into your bowl. This breaks up clumps and makes whisking easier.
Step 2: Add warm water
Pour in about 60–70 ml of water at roughly 70–80°C. Let freshly boiled water cool for a couple of minutes first. Water that is too hot can make the flavour harsher.
Step 3: Whisk
Whisk briskly in a zigzag motion (not circles) until the powder is fully dispersed and a light foam forms on top.
Step 4: Drink it, or make a latte
You can drink it as is, or top it up with warm milk for a matcha latte. For an iced version, pour the whisked matcha over ice and cold milk or water.
Do You Really Need a Matcha Whisk?
Not necessarily. The rise in searches for whisks and bowls shows that people are becoming interested in traditional tools, but beginners don’t need to buy an elaborate set before trying matcha. A bamboo whisk gives a smoother, frothier cup, while a handheld frother works well for an occasional latte. If matcha becomes a regular habit, a proper whisk is a worthwhile upgrade.
Why Does Matcha Sometimes Taste Bitter?
- Too much powder: Using more than you need makes the cup intense and bitter.
- Water that’s too hot: Very hot water makes the taste harsher.
- Quality: Products sold as matcha vary widely. The Japan Matcha Association notes that there is no single international definition covering everything sold under the name.
- Poor storage: Matcha is sensitive to air, light and moisture. Keep it tightly sealed and store it as the manufacturer advises.
Does Matcha Have Caffeine?
Yes. Matcha naturally contains caffeine, along with compounds such as catechins and L-theanine. The exact amount depends on the product, the quantity used and how it’s prepared. Google also noted that searches for “does matcha have caffeine” rose 70% over the past year. Anyone sensitive to caffeine, or who is pregnant, should check their intake with a doctor.
Matcha vs Coffee: Which Is Better?
There’s no universal winner. “Matcha vs coffee” became a breakout search, but the two are very different drinks in flavour, preparation and how they feel to drink.
Research has looked at matcha’s possible effects on cognition and stress, but the evidence doesn’t justify calling it a miracle health drink. Scientific reviews describe the human evidence for several proposed benefits as limited or mixed. Taste, caffeine tolerance and personal preference matter more than declaring one “healthier.”
Is Matcha Just a Passing Trend?
The café aesthetic may be trend-driven, but the search behaviour suggests something more lasting. People have moved from “What is this green drink?” to “How do I make it?”, and then to “What equipment do I need?”, “Does it have caffeine?” and “How does it compare with coffee?”
These are practical questions, and they can keep generating searches even after the social-media hype fades.
The Bottom Line
Matcha may have started as a fashionable café drink for many Indians, but Google Trends data now points to a clear shift toward home preparation. The 1,300% rise in searches for “how to make matcha” is a search-interest statistic, not a measure of consumption. Combined with breakout searches for whisks and bowls and growing questions about caffeine, taste and variations, it suggests matcha has grown from a novelty into a genuinely useful topic for Indian readers.
If you’re curious, keep it simple: start with a small amount of powder, use warm rather than boiling water, whisk well and adjust the strength to your taste.
Sources: Google India, “Search to Sip” Google Trends report (August–September 2026); Japan Matcha Association; published scientific reviews on matcha’s composition and health effects.