It was one fine Sunday when I slid my matcha glass over to my friend, and a sip later, she told me, “If that’s how it tastes, I don’t think I want to acquire it anyways.”
Matcha isn’t alien to any of us today. It’s all over your feed, at your Sunday brunch, and if you’ve got a friend like me, you’re likely hearing about it over every chat possible.
The question isn’t whether you like it, the question is: does anyone like it, or was it just a trend? Emphasize on the “was” here, because what started two years ago almost feels like it’s fading now. People are reaching back to coffee, and hence I am wondering, was it just a trend and we pretended to like it to be a part of the cult?
I vividly remember the first time I had matcha. It was a mango matcha, and I had learned over the internet that I needed to order mine with oat milk for it to taste the best. But that’s the thing: it’s like I had consumed so much information about the drink that it somehow made me feel like I was supposed to like it. My first sip was earthy, and then the mango hit. I honestly liked it, or maybe I thought I did. The confusion still lingers, but so does the aftertaste.
I very much do feel like a part of the cult, though. It’s because matcha has become more than a drink now; it’s a part of my identity. It is attached to my social status now. I wanna go out with girls who get matcha and then go to Pilates. Or the kind who walk through the bookstore with a matcha in their hand. I want her to be my best friend. More than a drink, matcha is guaranteeing you a higher place on the status quo.
So while we were all chasing the trend, maybe we were actually chasing a new identity too.
And hence it is called an acquired taste, because no matter what, to be a part of this hierarchical status quo, you’d keep on trying. It’s also funny because each time you take a not-so-pleasing sip of the matcha, you’re provided with an explanation and an alternative. “Try the ceremonial grade next time.” “I swear it tastes better with plant-based milk.” And the classic, “We need to try another place.” The list is never-ending, but so is the search for the perfect sip.
So is matcha really an acquired taste or are we just pretending?