Manar Elbaz

DUBAI: Renowned Japanese organic matcha brand THE MATCHA TOKYO has welcomed its first GCC branch with a small cafe in Dubai by the beach, giving customers a taste of Japanese culture while enjoying the majestic atmosphere.  

Co-founded by Maki Sotokawa in 2018, the brand focuses on promoting the benefits of matcha by providing 100% organic products as well as a matcha-curated menu. The Dubai cafe, located at Jumeirah Beach Residence, offers a variety of matcha desserts and beverages. 

“For me, matcha felt like something out of the ordinary,” Sotokawa told Arab News Japan. “Matcha gives you a sense of the depth of Japanese culture, and when you’re in front of it, you can calm down and switch up your mood.”

The co-founder fell in love with matcha after experiencing a tea ceremony when she was younger, which led her to explore the various tastes of matcha. “When I can make something well, it becomes many times more enjoyable. I enjoy making matcha a more familiar and everyday product,” she shared.

THE MATCHA TOKYO picked Dubai as their first GCC destination due to the large number of Emirati customers at their branches in Tokyo, according to Sotokawa. The brand has expanded to other parts of Asia, such as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Bangkok, and Shanghai.

The cafe promises an authentic matcha experience that cannot be found in other places in Dubai. “We pay special attention to the taste,” Sotokawa told Arab News Japan.

“A good matcha has no bitterness and is full of umami. Our matcha is 100% organic matcha and is extremely rare and valuable. (Each drink is) carefully made with a tea ceremony performance,” she added. 

The brand’s current matcha powder can be purchased from the Dubai location. Additionally, the co-founder shared that they are planning to increase the number of matcha products that guests can buy.

“I hope that (customers) will incorporate matcha, which is full of beauty, health, and mindfulness, into their daily routine,” she said.

THE MATCHA TOKYO is open in Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m on weekdays. In Japan, it can be found in Omotesandō, Miyashita Park, NEWoMan Shinjuku, and Fukuoka Airport.