Matcha, Ube & Hōjicha: Why These Drinks Are Suddenly Trending in India

India has always had a strong tea and coffee culture, but Google searches show that Indian consumers are becoming increasingly curious about global and unusual drinks..Matcha, Ube and Hōjicha are among the flavours attracting major attention in 2026. Google India says searches for “how to make matcha” increased by 1,300% in the past year, showing that matcha is moving beyond cafés and into Indian homes...

Matcha Is No Longer Just a Café Trend

Matcha is a finely ground Japanese green tea that has become popular in lattes, iced drinks and desserts..What is interesting is that people are not simply searching for matcha cafés anymore. They are learning how to prepare it at home. Searches for “matcha whisk” and “matcha bowl” also became breakout searches in August 2026..People are experimenting with different versions too. Searches for mango matcha rose 200% during summer, while strawberry matcha rose 400%. Other combinations such as coconut matcha and dirty matcha have also attracted attention..

What Is Ube?

The next name gaining attention is Ube, a naturally purple-coloured yam popular in Filipino cuisine.Its bright colour has made it particularly attractive for modern cafés, desserts and social-media-friendly drinks.Google search data shows that Ube reached an all-time high in India in August 2026. Searches around “ube latte”, “ube cafe”, “ube matcha” and “ube coconut” have also gained momentum.Interestingly, Telangana recorded the highest search interest for Ube in India.

Hōjicha Is Emerging as a Matcha Alternative

Hōjicha is another Japanese tea, but its taste is quite different from matcha.

It is made from roasted green tea, giving it a deeper, nuttier flavour and a less grassy taste.

Search interest for Hōjicha reached an all-time high in March 2026, followed by another breakout in August. Searches such as “what is Hōjicha”, “Hōjicha latte” and “Hōjicha vs matcha” are also gaining attention..Delhi is currently one of the strongest Indian markets for Hōjicha searches, while Delhi, Goa and Chandigarh are among the leading locations searching for “matcha near me.”

Why Are These Drinks Becoming Popular?

The trend is not only about taste..Younger consumers are increasingly discovering international flavours through cafés, Instagram, food creators and online searches. The visual appeal of drinks such as bright green matcha and purple Ube also makes them popular for social media content.

At the same time, people are becoming more curious about preparing these drinks themselves rather than simply ordering them..That is why searches around recipes, ingredients, preparation tools and comparisons are growing alongside searches for cafés.

Matcha vs Ube vs Hōjicha

If you prefer a green tea-style flavour, matcha is the obvious choice.If you want something sweeter and visually striking, Ube is the more unusual option.If you prefer a roasted, nutty and less grassy taste, Hōjicha may be worth trying.India's beverage culture is still dominated by chai and coffee, but search behaviour suggests that consumers are becoming much more experimental.From matcha-making kits to Ube lattes and Hōjicha cafés, these once-unfamiliar flavours are becoming part of India's growing global food culture.