“When it’s green, it’s clean” or so they say. Sometimes though, the green ones don’t taste as good as they look. Consider, for instance, matcha — a flavor that’s quite divisive to the point people define it as an “acquired taste.” One will likely not love it the first time they try it. But really how does one make a delightful flavor out of the finely powdered actual leaves?
For Yzabella Beatriz Durano, the creator behind the TikTok sensation Strange Matcha, she firmly believes that her “passion and obsession” are the essential ingredients that have elevated their shop’s matcha offerings to an extraordinary level. This dedication has garnered attention even from Japanese residents in Cebu who admired Durano’s exceptional preparation of the green tea-based beverage.
Strange Matcha effortlessly makes matcha an easy favorite for health conscious consumers and first-timers alike, all while respecting the art of Japanese matcha. In fact, Strange Matcha could be a gateway to introduce the joy of matcha to those who haven’t tried or disliked it before.
When dreams come true
From Ikebana to martial arts, calligraphy to tea, Yzabella and her family took the opportunity to explore the country’s green tea industry.
“I took inspiration through my travels to Japan since my family and I are fans of Japanese culture. Every time I travel to Japan I make sure to stop by some interesting cafes where I stumbled upon my love for matcha. In Osaka, I fell in love with Matcha since it is the town known for its rich matcha. There I discovered a few matcha exclusive cafes that dedicated their passion for the art of making Matcha,” said Yzabella.
A dreamer like Yzabella did not come back to the Philippines empty-handed. On March 12, 2022, she started with only P5,000 for the ingredients, 100 cups and five flavors.
With friends who believed in her, Yzabella was joined by Kate Marie Butaya, Kyle Marie Butaya and Robert Joni Laurente to establish Strange Matcha into what it is today.
“The name Strange Matcha basically means a unique or unusual approach to creating Authentic Japanese Ceremonial Matcha with different flavors and styles of preparing them, hence ‘Strange,’” said Yzabella.
Ceremonial Matcha
Strange Matcha allows customers to engage and experience how the drink is made in front of them. First, Yzabella pulls out the shop’s crown jewel: Japanese Ceremonial Matcha — considered to have the highest-quality tea grade. Second, following Japanese traditions, the tools are meticulously prepared, including the revered bamboo whisk known as “chasen” and the matcha bowl. Finally, they unveil their homemade vanilla syrups and creams, adding a personalized touch to the matcha experience.
“Strange Matcha’s charm or unique appeal to the market would be the range of our flavors , from our most basic drink down to the most ‘Strange’ drinks that still uphold the taste factor. As small business owners and the first to create an all matcha exclusive pop-up cafe in the city, we love to charm our customers through knowledge and experience,” said Yzabella.
Flavors of Strange Matcha
Currently, Strange Matcha offers a delightful selection of iced-based beverages, all prepared in a traditional way. Each drink is served in a refreshing 16 oz size.
One of its popular choices is the Basic Matcha Latte. This delectable beverage combines the smoothness of milk with the distinctive flavor of Japanese Ceremonial Matcha, making it a beloved option for matcha enthusiasts.
For those with a sweet tooth, the Matcha Sweet Cream is a top contender. This irresistible concoction features milk, Japanese Ceremonial Matcha and a generous topping of its homemade sweet cream. It’s no wonder that this delightful blend has become one of its best sellers.
Another tempting option is the Strawberry Cream. Combining the freshness of real strawberries found in its homemade cream with the richness of milk and Japanese Ceremonial Matcha.
The Purple Matcha, a defining characteristic of Strange Matcha, showcases its homemade Ube milk combined with the Japanese Ceremonial Matcha. This intriguing blend not only captivates matcha lovers but also introduces a touch of “strangeness” that sets them apart in the city.
Continuing the streak of innovation and “strangeness,” the Earth Matcha features its homemade butterfly pea tea milk, expertly blended with the Japanese Ceremonial Matcha.
For those craving a touch of warmth and spice, the Cinnamon Mallow Matcha is a perfect choice. The Japanese Ceremonial Matcha is infused with cinnamon, topped with homemade sweet cream and a delightful torched marshmallow.
Coffee enthusiasts are not left behind with the Dalgona Matcha. This enticing creation features milk, Japanese Ceremonial Matcha and a topping of whipped coffee. This brings out the perfect balance of matcha and coffee flavors.
Last but not least, the Espresso Fusion combines the creamy milk, Japanese Ceremonial Matcha and a shot of espresso. This unique fusion of flavors caters to the preferences of coffee lovers.
Alongside its handcrafted beverages, Strange Matcha offers bottled options like the Basic Matcha Latte and Bottled Matcha Soy Latte (dairy-free option). It also features delectable treats from The Skinny Baker, including matcha and chocolate chip cookies.
This showcase of variety is what sets Strange Matcha apart from its competitors.
Matcha Community
At Strange Matcha, ensuring freshness is paramount. All the ingredients for the pop-ups are meticulously prepared on the day itself. When it comes to the matcha powder, the team maintains strict standards by partnering with a reliable supplier who consistently delivers high-quality matcha within the specified deadlines.
To guarantee the exceptional taste and quality of each matcha drink, they rely on food-grade weighing scales. This crucial step ensures precise measurements, allowing them to achieve consistent and delightful flavors with every serving.
“We also would like to take our time with each drink we prepare by whisking properly and preparing each flavor with quality rather than quantity,” said Yzabella.
Matcha enthusiasts from Lapu-Lapu, Consolacion and even Manila are willing to go the extra mile to procure matcha delights from Strange Matcha. For the team, some of the most memorable experiences occur when Strange Matcha collaborates with other cafes in Cebu. These partnerships not only foster growth for small businesses but also attract a broader customer base through the exchange and utilization of each other’s products.
“Every time we hear our loyal customers verbally say that we made their day makes us very accomplished. Some of our customers could not handle strong caffeine such as coffee and are happy that finally there’s a quality matcha in the city. And lastly, we do have some loyal Japanese customers saying we hit close to home which makes us very emotional,” said Yzabella.
Cebu’s pioneering all-matcha exclusive pop-up cafe has managed to live up to the hype, proving that there is indeed a love at first sip in matcha. It doesn’t have to be an acquired taste as Yzabella and her business partners curate comfort flavors that match the goodness of matcha. Their unmatched dedication to the art will expand as Strange Matcha is set to establish a permanent presence in the city with a brick-and-mortar location this year.
Follow Strange Matcha on its social media page for pop-up schedule announcements and stay tuned as it shares more details on its future shop: @strange.matcha on Instagram, Strange Matcha Cebu on Facebook and @strange.matcha on TikTok.