Matcha madness.(goodnews)(Brief Article)

Forget the espresso and Starbucks' chai tea. Thick, light green mustaches are appearing in some parts of the West Coast and the trend seems poised to sweep North America. A very potent green tea called matcha is the cause. It's become all the rage in Vancouver--right in Starbucks' backyard--and interest is ramping up in California. East Coasters still have to sort through the seaweed and sushi rice on the shelves of Asian markets for matcha. But that's about to change. It's expected to begin taking over coffeehouse menus and going mainstream in lattes, smoothies and facials.

Matcha, imported from Japan, is completely different from other teas or coffees. You don't make it by passing hot water through the leaves. The matcha leaves are literally crushed by the server into a concoction to which water is added. In other ...