Matcha vs coffee: India grows more curious about 800-year-old Japanese drink; Google searches surge up to 2,500%

India's interest in the Japanese drink matcha is growing, according to Google Trends data. Searches for related terms like purple yam ube and roasted green tea hojicha show people's desire to try new flavors and learn about preparation methods. Matcha's history dates back to 12th century Japanese Zen Buddhist tea ceremonies and has been culturally significant for eight centuries in Japan.

Searches for "how to make matcha" surged 1,300% over the past year, indicating curiosity about home preparation. Other searches, such as "ube matcha," "ube latte" and "ube cookie," reveal interest in blending matcha with familiar flavors like ube. Hojicha, a roasted Japanese green tea, also gained attention with searches peaking in March 2026.

"Hojicha vs matcha" became a breakout search, showing comparisons between the two beverages. Seasonal combinations such as "mango matcha" and "strawberry matcha" saw significant interest, while searches for "matcha health" rose 1,000% and "matcha protein" increased 2,500%. Questions about caffeine content in matcha grew by 70%. Beyond tea preparation, searches for "matcha candles," "matcha enzyme scrub" and "matcha shoes" suggest matcha is becoming a lifestyle trend.

Telangana led searches for ube, and hojicha showed peak interest in Delhi. Overall, these trends indicate that Indians are exploring unfamiliar drinks through both cafes and home kitchens, but it remains to be seen if this curiosity turns into a lasting habit.