Walking into a crowded café, another long session of schoolwork and studying is about to begin. As the barista calls out their orders, the notable green drink sits atop the counter. Matcha, originating from shade-grown tea plants in both China and Japan, is a powder used for tea and sold all over the world.

Matcha has been our favorite drink for several years now. It has accompanied us as we worked through several articles, school assignments, and conversations with our friends.

All within three miles of our school, choosing the basic/recommended milk suggestions and regular/recommended sweetness, and regular sizes, we have ranked our favorite matcha sold in neighboring cafés. 

7 Leaves Cafe ($5.25)

7795 S Rainbow Blvd Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yaritzza’s ranking: 4.5/5

The Japanese Matcha Soy was the perfect blend of sweetness and earthy taste. Maybe it was the fact that the drink comes with soy milk, but everything in this drink seems to balance each other out. This is a sweet drink that manages to pull off the earthy flavor just as well, almost as if I was drinking two separate drinks at once. 

Jianna’s ranking: 2/5

I don’t know why, but the few times I have been to 7 Leaves, it has been somewhat underwhelming. I feel a little left behind when it comes to the café because it is so well loved and known by everyone. Whenever someone says, “Hey! We should go to 7 Leaves!” I give them an apologetic look and say, “Sorry, I don’t like their drinks!” I know that I am dodging a bullet because of their matcha alone. Maybe I just got a bad batch of their matcha or they forgot one of the ingredients in my drink, but I do not enjoy it. I love the earthy taste of this matcha, but my drink tasted a little too bitter for enjoyment.

Brew Tea Bar ($5.95)

7380 S Rainbow Blvd #101, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yaritzza’s ranking: 5/5

Honestly, the first time I drank this drink a few months ago, I was displeased. Upon reevaluation, however, I found this drink to be very refreshing. It had a concentrated matcha flavor, a trait I feel several other shops lacked. The powdery taste was prominent and the milk was not overpowering. Overall, it tasted exactly how matcha should taste; it was precisely perfect.

Jianna’s ranking: 5/5

While I wouldn’t really consider Brew Tear Bar a café with the best matcha in the world, this is still the place that I would recommend the most to anyone who asked me. Since the opening of their Rainbow location in 2015, it has consistently been my top matcha place! I love this drink with or without boba or different flavoring, due to its perfect sweetness. Although it might be a lot for some people, 100% sweetness is the best way to enjoy this drink. Brew has perfected their matcha milk tea and I drink it up everytime.

O Tea Bar ($6.95)

7208 S Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Yaritzza’s ranking: 3.5/5

Boba seems to carry the flavor of this drink. The first time I tried O Tea Bar’s matcha, it had matcha boba in it, which made the whole drink taste smooth and satisfying. However, once again, the milk flavor seemed to dominate over the earthy flavor I have been looking for. This drink did offer that thick consistency I liked, however. This small drink shop seemingly tucked away in a corner offered the basic matcha anyone would look for.

Jianna’s ranking: 3/5

Similarly to Yaritzza, my first sip of this drink was more milk than matcha. I was excited to try their matcha because I had never been to this café before and I was hoping to find another holy grail matcha spot. Although I would never go out of my way to pick up a matcha from here, I still think it satisfied my cravings which I was pleased with.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ($5.35)

6115 S Rainbow Blvd #101, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Yaritzza’s ranking: 3/5

I used to say that this was my favorite matcha. However, after taste-testing it again, I needed clarification. One sip after the other, I spiraled deeper into the identity crisis that is this drink. There was no distinguishable matcha flavor. It was sweet and did have a pleasurable flavor, however, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the taste reminded me of. Compared to other matchas I have tried, it definitely has a unique flavor that doesn’t taste too bad, however, it still does not taste like how matcha usually does. There was no powdery consistency and it tasted salty. The drink itself is not bad; it feels smooth and although there is a strong milk flavor, it isn’t unbearable. I would order and recommend this drink, however, not for someone who wants to experience the real matcha flavor. 

Jianna’s ranking: 2/5

My honest rating for this drink on its own is over three stars. I enjoy the smooth taste of the drink and it has the kind of sweetness that I like along with the crushed ice that Coffee Bean uses in all their drinks. When I have free time I gravitate towards this drink; however, I give this drink lower than three because I cannot get behind the fact that this drink is NOT a flavorful matcha. The drink’s strong sage green color is a misleading indicator of what should be an earthy and deep taste. While I do love this drink, comparing it to the other amazing matcha flavors on this list is unfair as it tastes more like the type of milk you prefer.

Bad Owl Coffee Roasters ($6.00)

8035 S Rainbow Blvd #100, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yaritzza’s ranking: 5/5

Everything that one would expect matcha to be is in this drink. It tastes exactly how matcha should taste. There was a pleasant powdery taste and although it made my throat feel a little dry, the flavor was amazing. The milky flavor is not prominent, which I like. What I like most about this drink is that it’s not super sweet; rather it’s a little bitter and a good amount of bitterness. It’s not overwhelming, it’s just right. 

Jianna’s ranking: 4/5

Initially going into this review, I was unsure of what to expect. Not many of my peers visit Bad Owl so I had no opinion on their matcha. With a bit of spontaneity on my side and the exhaustion of pulling all-nighters, I felt instantly awake with my first sip. I enjoyed the ratio between their matcha and the milk, which created an almost perfect harmony. The grainy feeling was not too obnoxious which I appreciate as well.

Phin Smith ($5.25)

7208 S Jones Blvd #101, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Yaritzza’s ranking: 4/5 

The café, seemingly tucked away in a small shopping center next to two gas stations, delivered the perfect matcha taste. It checked off all the requirements: powdery, thick, foam, and delicate sweetness. The earthy taste was prominent, just as it should be. This drink, alongside the hospitality and comforting aesthetics of the café, made the experience just right.

Jianna’s ranking: 4/5

Being one of my favorite places to pick up a quick sweet treat between studying, Phin Smith matcha offers a flavorful drink for matcha lovers. In my matcha lattes, I prefer getting no foam, but with Phin Smith, I make an exception because of how much it adds to the drink. Between the perfect amount of grain to your sip and a sweetness that is not extremely overpowering, matcha from this café makes it into my top three.

Tours Le Jours ($6.50)

8140 S Rainbow Blvd unit E, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yaritzza’s ranking: 1/5

Perhaps it was my mistake for not mixing the matcha, but Tous Les Jours really disappointed me. The first sip was the worst. So much of the milk flavor combined with an intense powdery taste shocked me. The back of my throat felt dry. As I lifted the cup to examine the sides, I saw so many particles of matcha—which usually isn’t a problem, but when the whole thing tastes like I’m drinking water after pouring the powder down my throat, I think there’s a flaw with the matcha. I started to lose contact with the flavor after my first few sips. Truthfully, I tried to like the drink. Using a toothpick to stir and stir the drink in the cup, I did what I could to save it as it was. If I were to buy this again, which is not likely, I would grab a straw to mix it up before every sip and opt for oat milk. This café has several delectable desserts for sale, however matcha is not one on the list.

Jianna’s ranking: 2/5

Tours Les Jours is not often a place I frequent to get matcha. Thankfully their delicious selection of foods and pastries make up for the lack in making a good cup of matcha. Similarly to O Tea Bar, the matcha was milky and lacked my preferred matcha flavoring. I still tasted hints of the earthy taste but it was completely overpowered by the milk which made it extremely enjoyable and hard for me to actually finish.

Aware Coffee ($5.25)

9475 S Rainbow Blvd #140, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yaritzza’s ranking: 3.5/5

Aware’s matcha tastes exactly what matcha should taste like. There was no overbearing milk flavor (recommended whole milk) and the powdery or earthy taste was prominent. Honestly, upon the first sip, I wasn’t as impressed as I was when I tried Phin Smith, but I appreciate that Aware focused on delivering the drink without distracting flavors that feel like a slap to the face. The flavor wasn’t lasting and neither was it super earthy, but it was still pleasant.

Jianna’s ranking: 1/5 

Unfortunately, I have to give Aware a one. I was initially excited to try this matcha because of how viral it was on social media, but when I took my first sip, I was expecting the perfect blend of matcha and milk, but I was met with a grainy and bitter concoction. I barely touched my drink after that first sip but I drank as much as I could since I did pay close to $7 for it. Let’s just say that my study session did not go too well without my matcha pick-me-up.

La Luna ($4.50)

7960 S Rainbow Blvd suite 8000f, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yaritzza’s ranking: 3/5

It tasted very regular. This drink does not stand out from the crowd of matchas we have tasted. As with most La Luna drinks, there was a particular taste that is unique to the café. There was not a strong powder taste, nonetheless, it was still tangible.

Jianna’s ranking: 4/5 

After long school days, I vividly remember walking to La Luna for a pick-me-up as an underclassman. I remember ordering their matcha and really enjoying it. Now, I haven’t been there since I started driving because I knew there were other, better places and after this experiment, I think that this statement still applies. I do rank this drink higher than others on this list because of the distinct “La Luna” taste it has. I can describe it to taste more like brown sugar, which is a flavor I enjoy especially in my matcha. 

Sunright ($5.95)

7615 S Rainbow Blvd UNIT 101, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yaritzza’s ranking: 3.5/5

The recommended sweetness level was 100 percent and the milk suggestion was regular. As an avid, 50 percent, soy milk user, I was taken aback by such unprecedented drink settings. The drink itself was not bad, only it seemed to lack that powdery taste I usually look for. It was smooth, creamy, and had no overwhelming flavors. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.

Jianna’s ranking: 4/5

I actually frequent Sunright quite often and while their regular matcha milk tea is not my go to, I still enjoy it for what it is. Replace regular milk with oat milk and it makes the texture so much more enjoyable to sip on and the matcha flavoring becomes more apparent. Unlike other places I have tried, the milk-to-match ratio is actually not too bad, making it worth the money. While I still prefer my matcha oat milk brulee with honey boba or strawberry matcha from Sunright more, I still will happily sip on their regular matcha milk tea.

After $100 worth of matcha tasting, we have concluded that the best matchas belong to Brew Tea Bar and Phin Smith. Yaritzza recommends opting for soy milk and 50 percent sweetness for that earthy, bitter taste. Jianna recommends using oat milk and 75-100 percent sweetness for that smooth, sweet taste. These conclusions, however, are completely dependent on the palette of the person. Whether that’s bitter or sweet, we believe that everyone is entitled to their own matcha choices.