The most common reason was the gap between the "matcha flavor" in sweets and other products and the "real matcha tea" taste. Some said it was too bitter or too sweet compared to their imagination.

"I've had matcha-flavored chocolate before, so I thought the real matcha tea would taste similar, but I was surprised to find it was much more bitter than I expected!" (Czech / 20s / Female)

"When I joined a tea ceremony in Kyoto, I was surprised at the bitterness of the matcha and ended up swallowing it quickly. The matcha I drank in the U.S. was pretty weak in comparison." (American / 40s / Male)

"Daifuku is a type of green tea cake that often has cream in it. When I tried it, all I tasted was the cream, and I was shocked that it wasn't healthy (laughs)." (British / 40s / Female)

"I personally don't like matcha-flavored sweets. My family liked it, so I tried it and was surprised because it had a unique sweet taste and I had never had it in Chile before." (Chilean / 30s / Male)

While some said they could not get used to the astringent taste of matcha, others were surprised by the sweetness of matcha-flavored sweets. The original taste of matcha has been improved to make it more palatable and spread around the world, but for those who have had real matcha, it seems to be somewhat of a shock.

Many respondents said they love "matcha lattes," which are often found in cafes.

"When I had a Starbucks Matcha Crème Frappuccino, I was impressed by the fact that such a delicious drink exists in Japan." (Spain / 20s / Female)

"I was surprised that matcha and milk go so well together. I was so addicted to the taste that I made my own latte at home with milk and matcha powder I picked up during my trip." (USA / 30s / Female)

"It's easy to drink with just the right amount of sweetness! I often buy matcha latte sticks at Asian supermarkets because I want to drink it in Mexico too." (Mexico / 20s / Male)

As the American woman says, the combination of matcha and milk softens the bitterness and makes it easier to drink. Many people may not have known that matcha lattes have gained citizenship around the world. It seems likely that more and more countries will make it a staple of their café menus in the future, just as it has in Japan!

Just as we see matcha-flavored lattes and sweets in Japan, there is talk of matcha flavors becoming more common overseas as well.

"In the U.S., matcha-flavored dishes are on the rise as people become more health-conscious. I was surprised to see that Dunkin' Donuts has also started selling matcha lattes!" (American / 30s / Female)

"There is a Japanese chain shop called 'Beard Papa' in Indonesia, and their trademark cream puffs are very popular. I really like the green tea-flavored cream puffs! My sister, who has never been to Japan, was surprised at how delicious the matcha cream puffs were." (Indonesian / 20s / Female)

"Matcha lattes are so popular in Thailand and you can often find them in stores. Thailand has a lot of sweet drinks and sweet tea is common. I will never forget the bitter shock when I first drank matcha, but when made into a latte, it is easy to drink and I love it too." (Thai / 40s / Female)

I can't believe that a well-known foreign chain store in Japan sells matcha-flavored tea! It seems that matcha flavor is accepted even by those who have never been to Japan. It seems that matcha is one of the "tastes of Japan" in addition to sushi and ramen.

Matcha, a type of green tea, has antibacterial properties and is said to build a healthy body. Matcha is also popular among vegetarians because it contains no animal-derived ingredients.

"My partner and I are both vegetarians, and matcha is very useful for us because it is easy to incorporate into our cooking." (Dutch / 30s / Female)

"Vegan-friendly! The natural bitterness of matcha is also a blessing of nature." (Israeli / 20s / Female)

The catechins in matcha are expected to help with weight loss and cold prevention, and theanine has a relaxing effect!　If you eat sweets that contain matcha, you may feel less guilty about eating them.

In this issue, we have introduced "What Surprised Foreigners about Matcha." While many were surprised by the bitterness of matcha, it turns out that matcha lattes and matcha sweets are loved around the world. We are also interested in matcha sweets sold locally in the United States and Southeast Asia.

After the travel ban is lifted, I have a feeling that Japanese matcha will become even more widespread with more surprises!