Have you had Chinese style Matcha before?

Matcha Village is the latest Chinese chain to make its way stateside, with its Sawtelle location opening tomorrow. Japanese-style matcha desserts and drinks have been popular in Los Angeles for some time now, and the folks behind Matcha Village want to introduce Chinese-style matcha to the masses.

“When people say matcha, they automatically associate it with Japan. Japan has really put matcha on the map, but matcha dates back to the Tang Dynasty so we really want to bring it back to its roots and showcase what we can do with Chinese matcha. Our matcha is certified organic,” says store manager Lieon Wang. 

Matcha Village, which opened its first outlet in Beijing in 2016, chose Sawtelle as its first U.S. location. It has plans to open 100 stores in the U.S. in the next five years, as well as more locations in China and Dubai.

I interviewed the folks behind Matcha Village and went behind the scenes to taste all the items. Make sure to check out my Eater article to learn more!