There must be someone around you who has a mysterious obsession with matcha. That maybe yourself, your mate, family, colleagues, friends—-uh, no? Then … at least me who is talking to you now lol! As a heavy matcha addictive, whenever I see matcha food (like cakes, chocolates, ice cream, noodles, etc.), I just can’t resist it.
But my love for matcha was only limited to food and drinks, I didn’t know much about its background nor story. Until recently, I started drinking pure matcha—yes, the one that’s SUPERRR bitter, thus experiencing a certain “effect” of matcha in person (described later), which aroused my curiosity about matcha itself. So, in this article, besides recommending 10 matcha sweets in Taipei (including Cafe, patisseries), let’s talk about the story of matcha!
🍵 Matcha＝Japanese Green Tea？
Matcha and Green Tea are actually homologous. They are from the same type of tea tree, but they are planted and consumed differently. Therefore, they have different ingredients, including tea polyphenols, caffeine, dietary fiber, etc.
Green tea, alike Taiwanese tea, uses hot water to soak tea leaves; while matcha composed of the powder that ground directly from tea leaves, and thus possessing twice the amount of tea polyphenol than Green tea, and almost same with red wine. (1)
🍵 Not Only Tasty, But Also Conducive
- Improve Gastrointestinal System
This is the effect I mentioned earlier! The caffeine and dietary fiber in matcha give it the effect of helping digestion, especially the significant effect on helping defecation really amazed me! In addition, some studies show that matcha can even improve enteric microflora. While people with poor digestion system or sleep problems should pay attention to the consumption. (2)
- Anti-oxidation
There’s been saying drinking tea benefits our body. One of the reasons is the natural antioxidant–tea polyphenols inside. Many diseases involve oxidation and aging of cells, and antioxidants slow the process, thus it is said that drinking tea can reduce cardiovascular disease, cancer incidence, etc. (3)
- Anti-stress
Although I don’t know if this suits everyone, it’s interesting that matcha seems able to relieve psychological stress. According to Japan’s research, compared to green tea and coffee, matcha can best reduce stress when the amount of theanine and caffeine reaches a certain balance. (2)
- Hydrating and Improve Blood Circulation (2)
🍵 10 Mathca Sweets in Taipei!
1.Flugel Studio
This store is a total hidden gem, but it is one of the most popular patisserie in Taipei. Hidden in the alley, you can hardly tell it’s a store from outside, while you’ll find it so crowded inside.
They offer several kinds of cakes every day, the flavors are announced on its official Facebook/ IG page, and cakes are often sold out by evening. Not only during holidays, it is often fully occupied on weekdays.
Its matcha cheesecake really captures my heart, probably my favorite one in Taipei. Not too sweet, very cream cheesey, and a rich taste of matcha.
Flugel Studio
- Add：No. 3, Lane 34, Section 1, Xinhai Road, Daan District, Taipei
- Tel：+886-965-856-588
- Hours：Mon~Fri 14:00–19:00; Sat & Sun 13:00–19:00
2. Overeasy Coffee
Another coffee shop I found by accident. It was a heavy rainy day, and I rushed into the shop in wet shoes. The space is not spacious, quite small, actually. It is on the 1st floor in an office building. The owner appeared to be ABC, who was pretty kind.
I was attracted by the dark green & black tart in their fridge. Called “Kyoto Raw Matcha Buckwheat Tart“, oh, buckwheat, wow! I just get attracted to these special and strange things. The taste is as rich and heavy as its dark green. Filled with buckwheat cake in the middle, its grainy texture contrasts with the smoothy castar above. Three levels of “smooth, solid, crispy” stand out distinctly from the top to bottom. Enjoy it with a glass of hand-brewed Yirgacheffe, lighting up the wet afternoon instantly.
More To Eat：Songjian-Nangjing St.|Barista Champion——Fika Fika Cafe
Overeasy Coffee
- Add：No. 51, Lane 59, Sec 2, Zhongshan North Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei
- Tel：(+886)-937-404-594
- Hours：08:00 – 21:00; Sat & Sun 08:00-18:00
3. Guoguo Cafe
I’ve heard of Guoguo for a long time, also walked pass through it many times, but never knew they are actually the same. It wasn’t until one day I suddenly realized: “What! That’s Guoguo Cafe!” The store is smaller than I had expected.
They offer several different kinds of cakes every day, and I definitely come for its matcha cake. But it’s tragic that their only matcha cake that day was mille crepe, which I don’t like a lot. But not mentioning personal preference, their mille crepe was pretty nice, soft and creamy, and the taste of matcha was rich. No wonder will be so popular for their desserts. Even though it still got cloy after few bites, other cakes are worth trying.
More Awesome Food：｜An amazing bistro in Taipei——Waiting Bistro
Guoguo Cafe
- Add：No. 202, Ruian Street, Daan District, Taipei City
- Tel：(0903) 356- 605
- Hours：13:00–20:00; Closed on Mon
4. Ciao Ciao Scone (Hangzhou Shop)
Ask a scone lovers from Taipei, they must have heard of this store. Long time ago (it wasn’t famous yet), I was so disappointed by their scone when first time eating. Now, after so many years as it became so popular, I tried again and was totally amazed by it. I think their scones are the best, if not in Taiwan, in Taipei.
There will be many different flavors each month, including matcha. Another feature of them is that, either you choose to eat-in or take-out, they will heat and spread cream on it for you, which makes it even better. There was this “Big Matcha Scone“, a limit flavor in Hangzhou branch, which is stuffed with matcha custard and whipped cream. The matcha scone is hot and crispy.
More Nice Cafe in Taipei：The vegan Cafe at the corner——OOH CHA CHA Cafe
Ciao Ciao Scone
- Add：No. 4, Lane 11, Section 1, Hangzhou South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
- Tel：02-23415218
- Hours：Tue～Fri 8:30-19:00; Sat & Sun 10:00-17:30; Closed on Mon
5. Miss V Bakery
Its white and elegant western-style stood out in a row of old apartments. Miss V Bakery is always full during the holidays. Its desserts are mostly classic American style, and there will also be new products sometimes.
I gave a full score to its matcha tart’s dark, dark green color. The pastry was perfectly crispy. But the tart was over-sweetened, fortunately, the taste of matcha was strong and rich enough that it will not be covered by sweetness.
Miss V Bakery
- Add：1F, No. 22, Lane 49, Chifeng Street, Datong District, Taipei
- Tell：+(886)2- 2559-7391
- Hours：Mon～Fri 11:30-21:00; Weekend 10:30-20:00
6. Machikaka
Machikaka is a special store in Taipei. It has been around for a very long time. For the time when I first found it, there were few such restaurants–warm and authentic Japanese-style–especially one that served matcha desserts. At that time, I had never heard of Flugel Cafe. When I ate Machikaka’s matcha cheesecake, I was amazed by its rich taste and flavor.
Later, they launched 200% super-rich matcha cheesecake, match mille-feuille, and other Japanese patisseries. Their Japanese meal (Teishoku) were good as well.
Machikaka
- Add：No. 4, Lane 216, Section 3, Nanjing East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei
- Tel：(02)2777-2777
- Hours： 11:30 – 21:30; Closed on Mon
7. Kyushu Pancake Cafe
Although I’m absolutely not a pancake lover, Kyushu Cafe’s pancake did amaze me. Its pancake is very soft and moisturized, won’t make you feel greasy or bloating.
The upper layer of pancake was the refreshing mascarpone, sprinkled with matcha powder, like a matcha tiramisu. The slightly salty taste of the pancake mitigated its sweetness, and its hot taste just went perfect with ice cream. what could be better was the taste of matcha wasn’t strong enough.
Kyushu Pancake Cafe
- Add：No. 413 Fujin Street, Songshan District, Taipei
- Tel：+886(2)2375-1905
- Hours：Mon～Fri 11:00-21:00； Weekend & Holiday 09:30-21:00
8. Jin Jing Ding Cafe
What’s special about this castella being its surface is covered with a layer of “gold“, no kidding! Zero water is added in the ingredient, neither are there oil and other chemical additives added, only egg, honey, and flour. But it still tasted very moist and firm, with a slight scent of honey, but not cloying. There were sugar granules at the bottom of the cake, adding moisture and crunchy texture to it.
The location of Jin-jing-ding Cafe is close to three MRT stations. This area was quiet and peaceful, no noisy crowds or shops, only a few old wooden houses, built in the times of Japanese rule, stood quietly along the side. One of them was like a treasure unveiled from dust, changing into a fascinating cafe.
You can choose to take-out or stay-in. Get yourself a cup of matcha latte, served with the golden matcha castella, a wonderful combo for matcha maniac. There are also several kinds of exclusive patisseries, worth a try!
Jin Jing Ding Cafe
- Add：No. 84, 86 Jinhua Street, Daan District, Taipei
- Tel：+886(2)-2396-1528
- Hours：11:00–21:00
9. Xiao-Hei-Guo Castella
This is a Japanese-style small shop standing quietly at the corner of an alley. The classic and only menu of it is Castella as well. Using simple ingredients and traditional techniques to present the classic Nagasaki cake (castella). Its castella seems to be thin and small, but you can clearly feel the solid and firm when holding it in your hand. At the first moment unboxing it, the sweet and wonderful smell flows into your nostrils. Although being solid, you can feel its softness and elasticity by gently pressing it. There are also sugar granules at the bottom of cakes to give it that special texture.
Their matcha castella is a must-try. Many matcha castella I’ve tried either being insipid or being too sweet that overshadow the taste of matcha. However, here its Uji Matcha Castella, though being sweet, was filled with the lovely scent of matcha!!! Because no dairy ingredients are added, the unique bitter aroma of matcha was perfectly strengthened. You can feel its existence from the first to the last bite.
Xiao Hei Guo
- Add：No. 1, Lane 5, Jingmei Street, Wenshan District, Taipei
- Tel：+886(2)-2930-9599
- Hours：11:00–17:30; Closed on Sun & Mon
10. JAPAN RAIL CAFE
Originally from Japan, this cafe is famous for its No.1~7 Matcha icecream. During the time of its brand new opening, all its ice cream was sold out right away on its opening hour. I didn’t come to visit until it was no longer crowded.
I was here for the legendary No.7: Super Rich matcha ice cream. However, maybe both the price and my expectations for it were too high, anyway, although matcha’s taste was really rich, nothing impressed me overall. I wouldn’t have come if I had a second chance.
Read More Food：Move your office into a cafe——Out Of Office Cafe
JAPAN RAIL CAFE
- Add：No. 17 Songzhi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei (Breeze Nanshan Atre 4F)
- Tel：+886(2)2720-8362
- Hours：Sun～Wed 11:00–21:30；Thur～Sat 11:00–20:00
