I’d been wanting to try the ‘Special Swirl’ soft serve at Cha Cha Matcha for a while, so I finally made it a point to visit one weekend. Every month they introduce a special flavor that is swirled with their matcha soft serve. This month’s flavor is vegan Tangerine Dream.
Cha Cha Matcha was founded by recent New York University graduates Matthew Morton and Conrad Sandelman. The two met while studying business management and hospitality and both had a fondness for matcha. Morton is the son of Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton. They wanted to see if a matcha bar would be viable in New York so they traveled to Japan to visit small, independent tea farms and decided to partner with one in Uji, outside Kyoto. The goal was to create a matcha blend that was smooth, with more caffeine (to appeal to New Yorkers) and less bitterness. Since opening in April 2016, Cha Cha Matcha has enjoyed great success, with long lines extending out the door every weekend.
I visited on two occasions: the first was a sunny Sunday when I was craving something cool & sweet, so I got the soft serve. The second time was an early morning before work, when I picked up their signature iced matcha. The soft serve was so beautifully smooth, with a vegan ‘tangerine dream’ flavor mixed with the matcha soft serve. Fruity, tangy and not too sweet, it was a really light, refreshing treat. The iced matcha tea was just what I needed on a sunny morning when I was feeling a little sluggish. The bold matcha flavor tasted great, without being bitter. I really enjoyed the decor, with it’s tropical theme and a grass wall perfect for instagram-worthy shots. There’s also a small selection of matcha-infused baked goods, fresh from ChickaLicious in the East Village. The Matcha Dossant, a cross between a doughnut and a croissant, will be making its way onto my plate very soon!
Cha Cha Matcha: 373 Broome St. New York, NY
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