New Delhi, July 5 -- A new shade of green is sweeping through cafes and culinary hotspots in India. Once considered an esoteric health trend, matcha has brewed its way from niche wellness circles into the culinary scene. The emerald green tea powder, traditionally frothed with hot water, is the current favourite ingredient for chefs and bar professionals.

While there's no universal grading system for matcha, shops in Japan generally categorise their powders into three main types: ceremonial grade matcha with almost no bitterness, culinary grade matcha, which has a slight bitter taste and is best suited for desserts, and premium grade matcha for daily use.

We pick some truly offbeat, trend-setting matcha dishes and drinks from across the...