Cold or iced, this Matcha is Insta ready!

SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Matcha has taken off on social media platforms as a new wave of caffeine consumption without the crash, but what is this green drink?

One local matcha shop is bringing the unique, earthy flavor to the Valley and is giving it its own twist. Matcha y Mas, located in San Benito, opened up for business in 2024, driven by its love for the earthy, green drink.

Elyssa Ruvio started her business as a hobby in college before opening her own shop and expanding her products from drinks to pastries.

Matcha y Mas has a wide variety of matcha-infused pastries such as matcha brownies, white chocolate matcha cookies, strawberry matcha cupcakes, and many more.

"I love watching people making matcha, I love drinking it myself and I just appreciate how much it takes to create a quality drink," said Ruvio, the owner of Matcha y Mas.

She added that she loves creating new flavors and new combinations with matcha, from mixing it with lemonade to making pastries. The possibilities are endless.

Many customers complement the color combinations of the drinks from its bright, earthy green, fading into the pink homemade strawberry syrup, making it picture-perfect.

"As someone who takes time and puts a lot into your business, put so much effort into your craft, it feels really good when other people notice the hard work that you are putting in," Ruvio added.

But what is matcha, and what makes this drink different from green tea and coffee?

Matcha is a finely ground powder that is grown and processed from green tea leaves, and it is known for its natural caffeine and antioxidants.

According to health.com, matcha has a higher caffeine content, which can range from 18.9 to 44.4 milligrams per gram, compared to steeped green tea.

The most popular way to consume matcha is to whisk one teaspoon, or two grams, of ceremonial matcha powder into 2.46 fl oz, or 70ml, of hot water in a bowl and whisk with a bamboo whisk until a frothy consistency is achieved.

Pour the frothy mixture over ice, preferred milk, and sweetener, for example, honey or agave syrup and enjoy.