For several years now, the green Japanese tea powder – matcha – has been a steady presence on the menus of Brașov’s cafés. Once a niche choice favored mainly by tea enthusiasts, it has now become a full-blown phenomenon, especially among young people.
In fact, the rise of matcha in Romania can be attributed, at least broadly speaking, to the influence of social media. One of the people who significantly contributed to its popularity is influencer Andrea Suciu, who transformed a simple green latte into a symbol of a “clean,” balanced, and aesthetically pleasing lifestyle. From there, a small craze began: videos, photos, recipes, and tutorials.
Over the last two years, matcha has made the leap from a digital trend to a real-world staple, earning its spot on the menus of nearly every café in Brașov and beyond.
At Shakespeare Coffee & Poetry, the drink has joined the ranks of the “poetic classics.” Here, a 250 ml Matcha Latte costs 21 lei.
Meron, the café known for its specialty coffee, offers several variations:
Matcha Latte – 29 lei (200 ml)
Iced Organic Matcha Latte – 29 lei (280 ml)
Iced Matcha Latte – 29 lei (280 ml)
Iced Matcha Tonic – 30 lei (280 ml)
Matcha Latte – 12 lei
Vegan Vanilla Matcha Latte (iced/cold) – 12 lei
Those at GOAT. by Daniel Cafeluța stay true to pure Japanese simplicity, offering a Matcha Latte for 16 lei, while Freya and Friends get creative with options like:
Matcha Latte – 25 lei (280 ml)
Iced Matcha Latte – 25 lei (300 ml)
Raspberry Matcha Latte – 30 lei (220 ml)
For those who prefer more discreet spots, Kaffeine Coffee & Tea serves a Matcha Latte for just 13 lei, and 5 to go (Piața Sfatului) sells a 260 ml Matcha Latte for 13 lei and a Vegan Vanilla Matcha Latte (ice/cold) for 12 lei.
At Astrology Coffee, the star drink is the Vanilla Matcha Latte, priced at 22 lei.
Of course, these aren’t the only places in Brașov where you can enjoy matcha, the list continues with many other cafés that now include the green drink among their usual offerings.
Beyond the trend and vibrant green color, matcha is a story about balance: it contains caffeine but doesn’t cause jitters, and offers steady energy and a calm state of mind thanks to L-theanine, the amino acid found in green tea leaves. The secret? You just have to like the taste!
