Okay, so let’s talk about matcha.

It’s that soft green drink that somehow ended up in every influencer’s morning routine — from TikTok girlies to gym bros to the matcha moms with the Stanley cups. But here’s the thing… matcha wasn’t always this trendy, creamy, oat milk masterpiece we sip on between Pilates and errands.

Historically, matcha comes from Japan — and it’s not supposed to be sweet. At all. In traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, matcha was meant to be bitter, earthy, and grounding. Think: mindful sipping, not sugary sipping. It’s made by grinding specially grown green tea leaves into a fine powder, whisked with hot water to create something that’s equal parts ritual and reflection.

Somewhere along the way, we added vanilla syrup, frothed milk, and a TikTok filter — and now it’s basically dessert in a cup.

I’ll be honest, my fiancé Jevon loves matcha. He swears by it. But me? I think it tastes like liquid tree bark — and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. 😂 Still, I get it. It’s an aesthetic, and there’s something cute about sipping something that feels calm and clean, even if it was originally meant to be bitter enough to wake your ancestors.

So next time you order your matcha latte, just remember — you’re drinking history. (And a little bit of tree bark.)