Matcha powder. Pre-whisked matcha. Matcha in a tube. What used to be a simple, calming tea has transformed into a massive cultural phenomenon within the Dallas community.
According to a 2025 Associated Press article, matcha retail sales in the United States increased by 86% from 2022 to 2025, forcing many matcha shops to turn towards artificial methods of matcha preparation to meet public demand.
Screenshot from Yelp’s Hot Matcha Summer page
However, these changes in matcha quality did not go unnoticed. Dallas-based influencer and food critic Keith Lee began a TikTok video series in 2025 called “Where’s The Best Matcha in DFW,” where he taste-tested both the most popular matcha drink and regular matcha from each store he visited. On Day 2 of his series, he found that at many locations, the matcha in each drink was either too sweet, too bitter, too subtle or simply undetectable.
At the end of the video, he awarded $500 to cover matcha-seeking customers at La Casita Coffee, who he believed had the best quality matcha.
According to The Dallas Morning News, the green tea and Tencha leaf shortage began to seriously affect Dallas as time progressed, leaving shops like JuJu’s Coffee matcha-less for several days last August.
Screenshot from Dallas Matcha Club Instagram page
Unfortunately, the matcha crisis in Dallas still remains; however, Yelp DFW has launched the “Hot Matcha Summer” event series to make real matcha more accessible within the Dallas community.
Their first event, “Sip & Hang,” was hosted in conjunction with Dallas Matcha Club at Tre Stelle Coffee on June 11. The hangout had a live DJ, coloring pages, a bracelet making station, tote bags and Yelp merchandise.
Just a day later, Yelp hosted the “Sweat & Sip” event with La Maison Bleue tea and desserts at Recess Fitness Club, led by instructor Stacey Ubaru.
More events for matcha-lovers have taken place since, with more to come throughout the summer, including the June 25 “Plant Swap” at Oasis Plant Shop with catering from Sweet Tooth Society and La Maison Bleue.
Information about future events is available on the Yelp DFW Instagram page, with previews posted as they approach.
