What Is Pink Matcha? Ingredients, taste & caffeine
“Pink matcha” can mean two very different things: a caffeine-free dragon fruit powder, or a layered matcha drink with a pink fruit or floral layer. Here is how to tell them apart, what each tastes like, and where to try MRJADE’s Pink Matcha, which Gulf News called the standout of our menu.
What is pink matcha?
Pink matcha is usually one of two things: a bright pink powder made from dried dragon fruit (pitaya), or a layered matcha drink with a pink layer of strawberry, beetroot, rose or another fruit. Dragon fruit “pink matcha” contains no green tea and no caffeine. A layered pink matcha drink does contain real matcha, so it has caffeine.
In cafés, including in Downtown Dubai, “pink matcha” almost always means the layered drink. At MRJADE, the Pink Matcha is a layered, softer and sweeter matcha served with our signature presentation.
| Two meanings | Dragon fruit powder, or a layered matcha drink with a pink layer |
|---|---|
| Contains green tea? | Dragon fruit powder: no. Layered pink matcha drink: yes |
| Caffeine | Dragon fruit powder: none. Layered drink: from the matcha |
| Common pink ingredients | Strawberry, dragon fruit, beetroot, rose petals, sakura (cherry blossom) |
| Taste | Softer and sweeter than plain matcha, often fruity or floral |
| At MRJADE | Pink Matcha and Pink Matcha Cloud, at R01 Burj Crown, Emaar Boulevard |
The main types of pink matcha.
The name is used loosely online, which is why it confuses people. Real matcha is always green: it is shade-grown green tea ground into a fine powder (see what is matcha? and what matcha is made of). The pink always comes from something added, or from a different plant altogether.
| Type | What gives the pink | Real matcha? | Caffeine | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon fruit (pitaya) powder | Dried pink dragon fruit; colour from natural betalains | No | None | Mildly sweet; hints of pear, kiwi and watermelon |
| Strawberry pink matcha | Strawberry purée or strawberry cream layer | Yes | From the matcha | Earthy matcha with sweet strawberry |
| Beetroot pink matcha | Beetroot powder or juice | Yes | From the matcha | Earthy and lightly sweet |
| Rose pink matcha | Rose petals or rose syrup | Yes | From the matcha | Floral and fragrant |
| Sakura pink matcha | Cherry blossom powder or syrup | Yes | From the matcha | Delicate, floral, slightly salty-sweet |
Recipes vary widely between cafés and brands. If you need to know exactly what is in a drink, ask the café.
Pink matcha powder: dragon fruit, not tea.
When you see a bag of bright pink “matcha powder”, it is almost always freeze-dried dragon fruit, also sold as pitaya powder. It is called matcha only because it is a fine, vivid powder you whisk into milk in the same way. It is a great caffeine-free option, but it is not green tea and does not have matcha’s flavour or L-theanine.
Caffeine-free
No tea leaves means no caffeine, which makes it suitable for evenings or anyone avoiding caffeine.
Naturally pink
The colour comes from betalains, the same family of pigments found in beetroot.
Heat-sensitive
Very hot liquid can dull the colour toward peach, so it is usually served iced or warm, not boiling.
Different nutrition
It brings fruit antioxidants and fibre, but not matcha’s catechins such as EGCG.
Layered pink matcha: green tea with a pink twist.
The viral café version is a layered drink: a pink layer, usually strawberry blended with milk or cream, sitting with a layer of whisked green matcha. Stir it and you get a pink-and-green swirl. This is the version most Dubai cafés serve, and it is closer to our strawberry matcha latte than to dragon fruit powder.
The pink layer
Often strawberry with milk or cream, whipped into a soft “cloud”. Some cafés use purée, beetroot, rose or sakura instead.
The green layer
Real matcha, whisked smooth. This is where the flavour depth and the caffeine come from.
The milk
Softens matcha’s bitterness and ties the two layers together.
The look
Pink over green is the point. It is one of the most photographed drinks in Dubai right now.
MRJADE’s Pink Matcha.
Our Pink Matcha is a layered matcha with a softer, sweeter profile than a classic latte, built around MRJADE’s signature presentation. Gulf News called it “the stand out matcha on the menu” and “a layered masterpiece that’s basically Barbie’s dream in a cup”. Like every MRJADE matcha drink, it starts with ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from Japan. Want to know exactly what goes into today’s cup? Just ask the barista.
Pink Matcha
Layered, softer and sweeter, with our signature presentation. The one Gulf News singled out.
Pink Matcha Cloud
Pink tones with a cloud-style finish; one of the most visual drinks we make.
Ceremonial base
Smooth, vivid Japanese matcha, so the green layer tastes as good as it looks.
Made to be shared
Order it at our outdoor tables and take the photo against the Boulevard.
Pink matcha vs our other matchas.
If you like the idea of a softer, prettier matcha, here is how Pink Matcha compares with the rest of the range.
| Drink | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Matcha | Layered, softer, sweeter | A beautiful, gentle first matcha |
| Pink Matcha Cloud | Pink with a cloud-style finish | The most photogenic cup |
| Strawberry Matcha Latte | Fruity, creamy, layered | Fruit lovers |
| Passionfruit Matcha | Zingy, tart, tropical | Something sharper |
| Cloud Matcha | Coconut water, light, refreshing | A lighter drink with no milk in the base |
| Iced Matcha Latte | Clean, creamy, matcha-forward | Matcha purists |
Does pink matcha have caffeine?
It depends which pink matcha you mean. Dragon fruit powder is caffeine-free. A layered pink matcha drink contains real matcha, so it has caffeine, typically a little less than a double-shot coffee. For numbers, see does matcha have caffeine? and our coffee caffeine chart.
Matcha brings
Catechins such as EGCG and L-theanine, linked with calm focus. Read matcha tea benefits.
The pink layer brings
Fruit or floral flavour and, depending on the ingredient, vitamin C or plant pigments.
The trade-off
Sweet layers and milk add sugar and calories. It is a treat drink first. See is matcha healthy?
Avoiding caffeine?
Choose a dragon fruit drink instead of a matcha-based one, or ask the café what is in their pink layer.
How to make a layered pink matcha.
This is the popular strawberry version. Use good matcha (you can take MRJADE matcha powder home in 30 g, 50 g or 100 g tins) and see how to make a matcha latte for whisking technique.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Pink cream | Blend a handful of strawberries with a splash of milk or cream (and a little sweetener if you like) until pink and fluffy. |
| 2. Matcha | Whisk 1–2 teaspoons of matcha with 50–60 ml of water at about 75–80°C until smooth. |
| 3. Build | Fill a glass with ice and cold milk, then pour in the matcha slowly. |
| 4. Top | Spoon the strawberry cream on top to form the pink layer. |
| 5. Swap it | For a caffeine-free version, replace the matcha with dragon fruit powder whisked into milk. |
Pink matcha near Downtown’s landmarks.
MRJADE Coffee is at R01, Burj Crown, Emaar Boulevard. Grab it as takeaway or order delivery.
| Near Dubai Mall | Before or after shopping, from 7 AM |
|---|---|
| Near Burj Khalifa | A few minutes along Emaar Boulevard |
| Near Dubai Fountain | A pink drink before the evening shows |
| Near Burj Park | Perfect for photos outdoors |
Prefer Arabic? Read أفضل ماتشا في وسط مدينة دبي.
Key takeaways
- “Pink matcha” means either dragon fruit powder or a layered matcha drink with a pink layer.
- Dragon fruit powder has no green tea and no caffeine; layered pink matcha drinks do.
- The pink usually comes from strawberry, dragon fruit, beetroot, rose or sakura.
- MRJADE’s Pink Matcha is layered, softer and sweeter, made with ceremonial matcha; Gulf News called it the standout on our menu.
- Try it at MRJADE Coffee, R01 Burj Crown, Emaar Boulevard, from 7 AM daily.
Pink matcha: your questions
Short answers before you order.
What is pink matcha made of?
Either dried dragon fruit (pitaya) powder, or real green matcha layered with a pink ingredient such as strawberry, beetroot, rose or sakura.
Is pink matcha real matcha?
Dragon fruit “pink matcha” is not; it contains no tea. Layered pink matcha drinks are, because they include real green matcha.
Does pink matcha have caffeine?
Dragon fruit powder is caffeine-free. A layered pink matcha drink contains caffeine from its matcha.
What does pink matcha taste like?
Softer and sweeter than plain matcha. Strawberry versions are fruity and creamy; dragon fruit is mildly sweet; rose and sakura are floral.
What makes pink matcha pink?
An added ingredient: strawberry, beetroot, rose or sakura, or dragon fruit, whose colour comes from natural pigments called betalains.
Is pink matcha healthy?
It can bring antioxidants from matcha and fruit, but café versions often include milk and sweet layers. Treat it as an occasional treat.
Is pink matcha the same as strawberry matcha?
Often, but not always. Many cafés make their pink layer with strawberry, but others use beetroot, rose, sakura or dragon fruit. Strawberry matcha is one type of pink matcha.
Is pink matcha served hot or iced?
Usually iced, because cold keeps the pink and green layers separate and the colour bright. Dragon fruit powder can also fade if the liquid is very hot.
What is in MRJADE’s Pink Matcha?
It is a layered matcha made with organic Japanese matcha from Kyoto, with a softer, sweeter profile. Ask the barista for the full ingredients of today’s cup.
Where can I get pink matcha in Downtown Dubai?
MRJADE Coffee at R01, Burj Crown, Emaar Boulevard serves Pink Matcha and Pink Matcha Cloud, a short walk from Dubai Mall, from 7 AM daily.
See the pink on the Boulevard.
MRJADE Coffee, R01, Burj Crown, Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, UAE.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 7 AM–11 PM · Friday–Saturday 7 AM–12 AM
