Matcha Interest Is Rising Across India
Matcha is moving beyond its image as an Instagram-friendly green drink and becoming a growing part of India’s café and home-beverage culture.
Google Trends data through the end of August 2026 shows a sharp rise in Indian searches related to matcha, including questions about how to prepare it, its health properties and how it compares with coffee.
Searches for Matcha Preparation Surge
The biggest increase has come from people wanting to make matcha themselves. Searches for “how to make matcha” jumped 1,300% over the past year.
Searches for “matcha” and “what is matcha” also rose 50%, while “what does matcha taste like” recorded breakout interest in August.
The trend is also creating demand for the tools used in traditional preparation. Searches for “matcha kit” doubledwhile “matcha whisk” and “matcha bowl” became breakout searches during August.
Health Is Driving Curiosity
Indians are also searching for information about matcha’s potential health and nutritional properties.
Searches for “matcha health” increased 1,000%while “matcha protein” jumped a remarkable 2,500% over the past year.
At the same time, consumers appear interested in understanding how matcha compares with more familiar caffeinated drinks. Searches for “does matcha have caffeine” rose 70%while “matcha vs coffee” recorded breakout interest.
This suggests that curiosity is moving beyond appearance and social-media trends towards questions about preparation, caffeine and everyday consumption.
Mango and Strawberry Matcha Take Off
Matcha is also being adapted to Indian tastes and seasonal preferences.
Searches for “mango matcha” rose 200%while “strawberry matcha” increased 400% over the past year.
During the monsoon, combinations such as dirty matcha and coconut matcha also generated breakout interest.
The result is a beverage category that is increasingly being customised rather than consumed only in its traditional form.
The 800-Year-Old Drink Gets a Modern Makeover
Matcha has roots in Japanese tea culture dating back around 800 years. Traditionally made by grinding specially cultivated green tea leaves into a fine powder, it became closely associated with Japanese tea ceremonies.
Today, however, matcha is appearing in lattes, smoothies, desserts and fruit-based drinks, making the centuries-old beverage more accessible to younger consumers and café audiences.
Ube and Hōjicha Join the Trend
Matcha isn’t the only unfamiliar flavour attracting Indian consumers.
Searches for Ubea sweet purple yam from the Philippines, reached an all-time high in August, while “ube matcha” recorded breakout interest.
Japanese Hōjichaa roasted green tea with a smoky flavour and generally lower caffeine content than matcha, is also gaining attention. Searches reached an all-time high in March 2026 and saw another breakout surge in August.
From Café Trend to Home Ritual
The growing searches for preparation methods and specialised utensils suggest that matcha’s popularity may be developing beyond cafés.
Consumers are not merely searching where to buy it; they are increasingly asking how to prepare it themselves and how it compares with coffee.
That could turn matcha from a niche premium beverage into a more established part of India’s evolving café and wellness culture.
Summary: Matcha is rapidly gaining attention in India, with Google searches for “how to make matcha” rising 1,300% and “matcha protein” jumping 2,500% over the past year. Searches for matcha versus coffee are also surging, while mango, strawberry, ube and Hōjicha variations are expanding the trend beyond the traditional Japanese drink.
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