By Myia Hamed
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH— Students at the American University of Sharjah say they are developing a love for matcha, a powdered version of green tea which can be served hot or iced.
Tala Zoubi, a junior in the Department of Media Communication, said she drinks “at least one matcha daily.”
“It’s becoming a replacement for coffee,” she said.
Other students may have the same idea.
Jaicen Regal, a cashier at Backyard in the Engineering Science Building, said the “Matcha Cloud” – featuring a vanilla foam on top – is the most popular item.
“I make 40 of them every day,” he added. Regal said that while matcha drinks aren’t cheap – some places on campus charge AED 25-30 range, not counting for alternative milks – “it’s worth the price for the experience.”
Some campus cafes offer unsweetened matcha drinks and lattes. At Racks Boardgame Cafe, located in the library, cashier Justine Kabrio said most customers “like it prepared sweet.”
“Matcha culture has risen in the UAE and has infiltrated AUS,” Kabrio added. “Almost all cafes sell the drink on campus.”
