Carnival Matcha: Our Glow-Up Green Story

We’ve been obsessed with matcha for years — lattes, croissants, donuts, cheesecakes… if you’ve been around our cafe Dose Diner (started in 2013), and our latest bakery Blue Moon Bakehouse in Christchurch, you’ve probably seen us sneak matcha into almost everything. Everyone was asking what is matcha, and now it's FINALLY getting popular so that we can experiment all we like :) But here’s the truth: for the longest time, we were working with the wrong stuff. Bitter, yellowish, flat. Not the matcha of our dreams.

That all changed when we went to Japan for the 5th time, June 2025.

In Kyoto, Uji, and Osaka, we met tea farmers who’ve been growing and stone-grinding matcha for generations. We visited tea farms during harvest season, walked through factories, and tasted matcha in all its forms — thick koicha, thin usucha, creamy lattes, and even wagashi sweets. Suddenly, we realised how wide the spectrum really is. Some blends were smooth and umami-rich, some bold and bitter, others bright and floral. Every matcha had its own personality.

So we came home asking ourselves: why don’t we have this variety in New Zealand? Why should matcha only mean one bitter latte at a café?

That’s how Carnival Matcha was born. 🎪

We curated four blends to start with, to be released 1st September 2025, and more matcha blends becoming available as we keep sourcing them from different farmers in Japan — each with their own vibe, their own way to shine:

✨ Ceremonial blends for slowing down and sipping.

✨ Everyday latte blends with just the right kick of bitterness.

✨ Baking blends that stay bold and green in cookies, cakes, and ice cream.

✨ Hōjicha for those nutty, roasted, low-caffeine cozy vibes.

This isn’t just about health benefits (though yes, antioxidants + gentle caffeine = glow✨). It’s about building a lifestyle and a community that feels fun, stylish, and you. A cup to after your morning run, a latte to share with friends party, a dessert that makes your weekend sweeter; and we'll show you how we make them so that you can feel the same excitement!

Carnival Matcha is for every mood, every moment, every lifestyle. ✨ Straight from Japan.