7 Local Matcha Brands To Check Out At Their Next Pop-Up

It's been a great year for matcha girls. Not only have we seen more and more matcha cafes opening in and around Metro Manila, but matcha festivals and pop-up markets have become our chance to discover underrated faves that we would't have found otherwise. Girls' girls don’t gatekeep, so here's a list of matcha bars that we always look forward to at pop-ups.

Pop-up regulars Currently Whisking have become a quick crowd-favorite with their eye-catching matcha and hojicha creations. After all, who can resist a Whipped Vanilla Bean Maple Matcha with a generous dollop of whipped vanilla bean maple cream on top?

And while it technically isn't matcha, the matcha girlies also couldn't get enough of the Salted Choco Bao-jicha, so much so that many just had to order extra skewers of chocolate-filled xiao long bao that came with creamy, nutty hojicha. If you can't wait until the next pop-up, Mandaluyong-based Currently Whisking also accepts online orders through their Instagram. You can book them for your next event, too!

Aside from selling their own matcha tins at Japanmatcha.ph, Sari Matcha Bar also regularly whisks at pop-ups. Aside from their Premium Matcha Latte, which you can opt to have with Yame or Okumidori Matcha, Sari also offers a variety of fun drinks that can also double as sweet treats. You can choose from Matcha Float with two heaping scoops of matcha ice cream on top, the Mango Coconut Matcha with latik and fresh mangoes, Pistachio Cloud Tiramisu which has both pistachio cream and chopped pistachios, and more. 

Though based in Lipa, Batangas, Matcha House Lipa are regulars in pop-ups all over Metro Manila. Lucky for us, bevause we get to treat ourselves to their Mangonana Pudding Matcha with a homemade mango-banana pudding that uses Davao mangoes and local bananas. Most recently, they launched a Puto Bumbong Matcha as a pop-up exclusively available at the Batangas Matcha Fest earlier in October. Our Christmas wish this year is for the drink to come back in another pop-up!

From hand-drawn logos and a stamping station to a star board where you can stick a star sticker after you get your drink, a visit to Jamie's Matcha pop-up is a whole made-for-the-girls experience. Aside from their classic Matcha Latte and Hojicha Latte, and their best-selling Strawberry Matcha Latte, Jamie's Matcha also regularly has pop-up exclusives like the Turon Matcha Affogato made with Kwento Ice Cream's (another pop-up favorite!) Turon Langka Ice Cream and creamy matcha. It's one more reason we're seated for their next pop-up. 

Once a home-based slow matcha bar, Cali Matcha Club is now a regular at art markets, matcha fests, and fan gatherings for the K-pop group Seventeen (a bonus for Carats who are also matcha girlies). While you can't go wrong with classics like the Matcha Oat Latte or Cold-Whisked Matcha, why not treat yourself to Kinako Danggo Matcha Latte or Banana Pudding Matcha Latte? You can get them in Hojicha, too!

You might already know pop-up regular Gaby Brews for their coffee, but did you know they also have a matcha bar? If you love creative matcha concoctions, Betcha! is a must-try. Some of their previous pop-up offerings include the Honey Buzz Matcha Latte with a delicate layer of cream on top, and the Banana Cu(e)tie Matcha which takes inspiration from banana-cue with a house-made banana-cue sauce and caramelized saba on top. 

The next time The Matcha Co. has a pop-up near you, make sure to bring your empty matcha tin, 'coz this matcha bar also offers matcha powder refills—priced per gram with no minimum required. But if you're just here for the drinks, you won't be disappointed. Aside from their signature Matcha Latte—which you can also get Extra Rich with 6-grams of matcha in your drink—they also create fun and unique pop-up exclusive drinks. Some of their latest exclusives include a Seasalt Cookie Matcha which came with a cookie by Twenty Four Bakeshop, and an Ube Halaya Matcha, a matcha latte topped with scoops of homemade ube halaya whipped cream.