Matcha is no longer a speciality drink in India. Google Search data shows interest in this Japanese green tea is increasing and moving into home kitchens, wellness, and even fashion. According to Google Trends, searches for “how to make matcha” have risen by 1,300% in India over the past year. Searches for “matcha whisk” and “matcha bowl” also became breakout queries in August 2026, as more people are trying to get matcha kits to make the drinks at home.
Plenty of experimentation is also happening around the basic matcha latte. “Mango matcha” searches rose 200% during the summer, while “strawberry matcha” was up 400%. Other combinations such as coconut matcha and dirty matcha have also started showing up as breakout searches.
Consumers are also curious about matcha’s health benefits. Searches for “matcha health” increased 1,000%, while “matcha protein” increased 2,500%. Searches for “does matcha have caffeine” rose 70%, and “matcha vs coffee” became a breakout search.
Matcha isn’t just appearing in the beverage category. Google searches for terms such as “matcha shoes” and “matcha enzyme scrub” have emerged as breakout queries. In August, searches for “matcha candle”, “matcha face wash”, and “matcha perfume” also rose.
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Two other unique flavours have gained the attention of Indian consumers. Ube, a purple yam popular in Filipino cuisine, reached an all-time high in Indian Google searches in August 2026. People are experimenting with these drinks, with searches for “ube matcha” and “ube coconut” becoming breakout combinations. Searches for “ube latte” and “ube cafe” have also grown.
Meanwhile, Hōjicha, a roasted Japanese green tea, reached its highest search interest in India in March 2026. Searches for “hojicha vs matcha” became a breakout query. Interest picked up again in August, with “what is hojicha” and “hojicha latte” among the breakout searches.
Hyderabad leads the interest in Ube searches. While Delhi leads searches for Hōjicha in India.
What makes these trends interesting is that they have moved beyond social media. Searches for “matcha near me” are particularly high in Delhi, Goa, and Chandigarh. People are actively looking for places to try these drinks. For now, matcha is still the most trending. But growing interest in Ube and Hōjicha suggests Indian consumers are more willing to experiment with flavours that were once rarely talked about.
Exploring new flavours with Google’s AI tools
For people who want to try these drinks but don’t know where to start, Google’s AI tools can help.
AI Mode in Google Search lets you ask questions about drinks, compare flavours, and find recipes. If you are trying something like Hōjicha or Ube for the first time and want to understand what it tastes like or how it is usually prepared, this can help.
Google Maps can find cafés that serve these drinks. Users can search for nearby places and look through menus, reviews, and photos before deciding where to try them.
Gemini Live can also help through conversation. For example, someone could ask for a recipe, discuss different flavour combinations or get suggestions based on what ingredients they already have at home.