Matcha, matcha, matcha! We imagine that coffee is starting to feel a little like Jan Brady did in that memorable and often-parodied scene from The Brady Bunch with the current buzz surrounding the latest caffeine kick. Matcha tea promises not only to up energy levels, but also boost metabolism and help detox the body. Gwyneth Paltrow is on board—Instagramming a new kind of green drink from Chalait, a café in the West Village known for its matcha with modern twist. Hot shots were whisked up by Panatea and served to models backstage before the Marc by Marc Jacobs and Adaem Fall ’15 shows. Juice Press is launching not just one, but two matcha products in the coming weeks, while MatchaBar’s menu pays homage to the beverage in Brooklyn. Infused with antioxidants, amino acids, and chlorophyll, the benefits of the powdered tea—originally discovered, according to The Cut, by Chinese monks in early 2500 B.C.E—are attracting an entirely new fan base.
It appears that the beauty industry is beginning to understand matcha’s subtle, olfactory nuances as well. The latest addition to Maison Martin Margiela’s lineup of eccentric Replica fragrances—Tea Escape—takes inspiration from a traditional Japanese tea service, an event centered around the time-honored drink. Notes of bergamot essence and mint comprise the top; powdery matcha green tea makes up the heart; and a base of mate absolute (a spicy tea) and milk accord round out the new eau. And after a recent trip to Ippodo Tea, a 300-year-old tea salon off the busy Harumi Dori boulevard in Tokyo, I can honestly say that a spritz or two evokes the same feeling of calm as sipping a cup of matcha in the midst of a buzzing metropolis. In other words, this scent is the perfect pick-me-up for summer days you can’t escape the city…or your desk to make a matcha run.
Maison Margiela Replica Tea Escape, US $125; AED/SAR 460, Buy it now
—Karina Hoshikawa, Style.com
