NYC's Hidden Matcha Gems in Queens

Manhattan gets all the matcha love, but Queens has been quietly developing one of NYC's most interesting matcha scenes. We spent a week exploring Flushing, Astoria, and Jackson Heights to find the borough's best-kept secrets.

Why Queens?

Queens is home to the largest Asian American population in NYC, with established Korean, Chinese, and Japanese communities. This means:

• Access to authentic ingredients
• Traditional preparation methods
• Competitive pricing (Manhattan rent isn't inflating costs)
• Less Instagram hype, more substance

Let's explore the gems you're missing by staying in Manhattan.

Flushing

Ten Ren Tea - The Traditional Experience

Address: 135-18 Roosevelt Avenue What to order: Traditional whisked matcha ($5) Vibe: No-frills tea shop, all about quality

Ten Ren has been serving tea in Flushing for 30+ years. Their matcha program is traditional and uncompromising - you won't find strawberry matcha lattes here, and that's the point.

The space is simple: wooden tables, Chinese tea ceremony sets on display, and serious tea drinkers. Order the traditional matcha and watch as they properly whisk it at your table. At $5, it's less than half what you'd pay in SoHo for lower quality.

Pro tip: Go during off-hours and chat with the staff. They're encyclopedic about tea and happy to educate curious customers.

Kujaku Ramen - The Unexpected Find

Address: 40-52 Main Street What to order: Matcha affogato ($6) Vibe: Modern ramen shop with creative desserts

Wait, a ramen shop on a matcha list? Worth the visit. Kujaku makes their matcha ice cream in-house using ceremonial-grade matcha from Uji. The matcha affogato - ice cream topped with fresh espresso - is the perfect ending to their tonkotsu.

The chef, trained in Kyoto, treats matcha with the same respect as his ramen broth. No shortcuts, no compromises.

Astoria

Kyclades Cafe - The Greek-Japanese Fusion

Address: 33-07 Ditmars Boulevard What to order: Matcha freddo ($5.50) Vibe: Greek cafe meets Japanese tea culture

Astoria's large Greek community doesn't seem like an obvious place for matcha, but Kyclades Cafe (run by a Greek-Japanese couple) makes it work beautifully. Their matcha freddo applies Greek coffee techniques to matcha: vigorous shaking creates thick foam, served over ice.

It's unusual but delicious - smooth, creamy, perfectly balanced. The couple sources matcha directly from the wife's family farm in Kagoshima.

Rose & Joe's Coffee - The Neighborhood Favorite

Address: 29-16 23rd Avenue What to order: Iced matcha latte ($5) Vibe: Classic NYC corner cafe

Nothing fancy here, but everything is good. Rose & Joe's uses Kettl matcha (excellent choice) and makes consistently solid matcha lattes. The baristas actually know proper whisking technique - rare outside Manhattan specialty shops.

This is your everyday spot. No lines, no pretension, just good matcha made by people who care.

Jackson Heights

Aji Ichiban - The Variety Stop

Address: 76-08 Roosevelt Avenue What to try: Packaged matcha selection ($15-40) Vibe: Asian snack shop with tea section

While not a cafe, Aji Ichiban deserves mention for their matcha retail selection. They carry 10+ brands across all price points, many imported directly from Japan and rarely found in US stores.

The staff can guide you through options based on your intended use. I walked out with ceremonial-grade matcha that would cost double in Manhattan.

Bonus: Try their matcha kit-kats while you're there.

Café Delight - The Underdog

Address: 72-31 37th Avenue What to order: Matcha bubble tea ($6) Vibe: Taiwanese cafe, bubble tea specialists

Café Delight does bubble tea right: real tea, fresh ingredients, proper technique. Their matcha version uses actual matcha (not powder mix like many bubble tea shops) combined with jasmine tea.

The pearls are perfectly chewy, the sweetness level is customizable, and at $6 it's a steal for the quality.

Queens vs. Manhattan: The Real Comparison

Price: Queens averages $2-3 less per drink Quality: Often better - less markup, better sourcing Authenticity: Much higher in Queens Experience: Less "Instagrammable," more substantial Lines: Minimal - walk right in Staff knowledge: Generally higher

How to Explore

Subway: 7 train hits all three neighborhoods Time needed: Full day to hit all spots Best day: Weekend for full menus Bring: Cash - many shops are cash-only or cash-preferred

Suggested Route:

1. Start in Flushing (morning) - Ten Ren tea ceremony
2. Lunch at Kujaku Ramen - end with matcha affogato
3. Move to Astoria (afternoon) - Kyclades freddo
4. End in Jackson Heights (evening) - Café Delight bubble tea

Supporting Local

These shops don't have the marketing budgets or Instagram presence of Manhattan spots, but they're preserving authentic tea culture in NYC. Your patronage matters:

• Helps family-owned businesses survive
• Maintains cultural diversity
• Supports traditional preparation methods
• Keeps prices reasonable

The Hidden Gem Philosophy

Why do these Queens spots stay under the radar? Several reasons:

1. They don't seek hype - Quality speaks for itself
2. Serving their community first - Not targeting Manhattan transplants
3. No social media presence - Word of mouth only
4. Traditional focus - Not chasing trends

This makes them gems worth seeking out.

Beyond Matcha

While you're in Queens, explore:

• Flushing: New World Mall food court, night market (weekends)
• Astoria: Greek bakeries, Bohemian Hall beer garden
• Jackson Heights: Jackson Diner (Indian food), Patel Brothers (groceries)

Final Thoughts

Manhattan has excellent matcha shops - we're not saying otherwise. But Queens offers something different: authenticity without pretension, quality without markup, tradition without trendiness.

Next time you want matcha, take the 7 train to Queens. You'll save money, avoid lines, and discover shops that have been perfecting their craft while Manhattan was still figuring out how to spell "matcha."

The best matcha in NYC isn't always in the most obvious place. Sometimes it's in a basement shop in Flushing, run by a family that's been serving tea since before matcha was cool.

Have you discovered a matcha gem in Queens? Let us know at hello@matchamaps.com!