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Silicon Valley’s matcha obsession is showing no signs of slowing down.
Just this year, two new matcha cafes have debuted – Izumi Matcha in downtown San Mateo and Matcha Town in Cupertino – with three more coming soon. Rikyu is set to open in downtown Palo Alto and 8 Grams Matcha is coming to San Mateo, while Bonbon Matcha is planning to open in Cupertino in early June.
So where is all this matcha madness coming from? Bonbon Matcha owner Emily Niu thinks it’s a combination of taste and health. Niu, a self-proclaimed matcha lover, wasn’t always fond of matcha, she said. Years back, she thought matcha was bitter, grassy and not very tasty. But after a trip to Uji, Japan, her perspective completely changed.
“It’s not bitter at all,” she said. “Good quality matcha has this natural sweetness, has its natural umami, (and it’s) very smooth.”
Not only did she enjoy the flavor, but she also liked its health benefits. Research shows that matcha is high in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which can offer a variety of potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects.
And while there’s a large matcha cafe presence in Silicon Valley, Niu wanted to open a matcha cafe that not only has matcha drinks and ice cream, but also offers other matcha desserts.
“We use ceremonial-grade matcha for drinks and for baking,” she said. “So I think that really differs us from other regular tea spaces.”
At Bonbon Matcha, expect a variety of vibrant green sweets, including a double matcha cake, matcha crepe roll cake, matcha tiramisu, matcha mille crepe cake, matcha rice pudding and a variety of matcha Basque cheesecakes.
Niu developed the dessert recipes with health in mind, replacing some of the traditional ingredients without sacrificing taste, she said. For example, the Basque cheesecake substitutes some of the cream cheese with yogurt, resulting in a dessert with fewer calories, less fat, more protein and a creamier taste.
A variety of matcha lattes are on the menu, including classics such as strawberry and mango, as well as more trendy options like sea salt cheese foam or banana cream. Matcha gelato comes in four flavor intensities, and customers can also order it as a float with a matcha latte topped with matcha gelato.
Bonbon Matcha, located at the Nineteen800 Apartments, is about 1,000 square feet with limited indoor seating and a minimalist, Japanese vibe. Described as clean and calm by Niu, Bonbon Matcha has ample natural lighting, wooden textures and white tones. No outdoor seating is available.
For now, Niu is focused on Bonbon Matcha Cupertino, but she hopes to eventually expand the brand elsewhere in the Bay Area.
Bonbon Matcha, 19900 Vallco Parkway, Suite 170, Cupertino; Instagram: @bonbon_matcha. Beginning early June, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
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