Victoria cafes serving the perfect matcha latte

Bright green with an earthy flavour, for those new to matcha the drink can appear slightly daunting. First appearing in China during the Tang dynasty, the finely ground tea made its way to Japan during the 12th century, where it was popularized and became a fixture of Japanese tea ceremonies. 

Full-bodied in flavour, matcha is a hearty and delicious tea whose popularity worldwide has been steadily increasing. Matcha lattes are an accessible introduction to the tea, and Victoria is home to several cafes that have been perfecting the drink.  

Here are some of our favourite matcha lattes that are being made across the city.

Union Pacific Coffee Co. 

Union Pacific Coffee Co.’s matcha latte is the perfect rich green colour that tells you it will have just the right amount of earthiness. This matcha latte is comforting to the soul, with a creaminess that is sure to warm you up as the weather remains cool. It is beautiful too. Union Pacific Coffee Co.’s baristas have their latte art game perfected. Enjoy your matcha latte with a baked good or sandwich on the cafe’s covered back patio, a cozy and lush spot where your dog can hang out as well. 

Address: 537 Herald St., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8am-3pm

The Hot and Cold Cafe

The Hot and Cold Cafe in Cook Street Village is a snug coffee shop whose delicious aroma from its freshly made comfort food makes it irresistible to walk by without wanting to pop in. The cafe’s matcha latte is just as enticing as its comforting atmosphere. The hot drink has a heartiness made possible by its perfect balance of creaminess and earthiness. It has the right amount of flavour where it can stand alone without any sweetener. It is best enjoyed alongside one of the cafe’s baked brie sandwiches.  

Address: 313 Cook St., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10am-5:30pm; Friday-Sunday, 9am-6pm

Milano Coffee

Just up from the Inner Harbour, Milano Coffee makes up a matcha latte that has depth in its flavour and texture. The hot drink has a rich earthiness that is complemented by the perfect amount of bitterness. It has a smooth texture with just the right amount of foam, making it the ideal drink to enjoy sitting by the cafe’s large window on a sunny day. To make the experience extra special, pair your matcha latte with a slice of the cafe’s carrot cake. 

Address: 817 Government St., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5pm; Saturday, 9am-6pm; Sunday, 9am-5pm

Moka House

Moka House is a place for community gathering, and there is no better way to enjoy good conversation on its patios than with one of the cafe’s matcha lattes. Creamy and comforting is the best way to describe this matcha latte, which has a gorgeous spring green colour. The cafe also makes a delicious iced matcha latte that, when served in your favourite to-go mug, is the perfect companion to the short walk down to either Dallas Road or Cadboro-Gyro Park. 

Address: 345 Cook St., Victoria; 3849b Cadboro Bay Rd., Victoria 
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 7am-8pm; Monday-Sunday, 7am-6pm

Just Matcha Tea Shop 

Right next door to Fan Tan Alley, Just Matcha Tea Shop specializes in all things matcha. The tea shop uses high quality, bright green matcha sourced from Uji, Japan in its matcha lattes, creating a product that is flavourful and satisfying. The tea shop also has a wide selection of matcha for sale as well as mouth-watering vegan matcha soft serve ice cream.   

Address: 544 Pandora Ave., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11am-5pm; Sunday, noon-5pm