Short answer
Matcha is finely ground green tea powder whisked into water or milk. WOOSS Desserts and Cafe lists matcha in its Instagram bio, but no matcha menu or prices were found, so this guide explains what to look for and what is confirmed.
Matcha in Melbourne is easy to find, from specialist tea rooms to dessert cafes that whisk it with milk. WOOSS Desserts and Cafe, at Shop G1, 230 La Trobe Street, mentions matcha in its Instagram bio, though no drink list or prices were found, so this guide covers how matcha works and what is confirmed.
What is matcha?
Matcha is a powder made by grinding whole shade-grown green tea leaves, which are whisked into water or milk and drunk entire. It originated in Japan and is tied to the Japanese tea ceremony.
Before harvest, the tea plants (Camellia sinensis) are shaded for a few weeks, which keeps the leaves deep green and sweet. The leaves are steamed, dried, de-veined and stone-ground into a fine powder called matcha. Because the whole leaf is consumed, the drink is cloudy, thick and strongly green.
How is matcha different from ordinary green tea?
Matcha differs from ordinary green tea because the powder is drunk whole, while regular green tea leaves are steeped in hot water and removed. The shading and grinding also change the colour and taste.
| Feature | Matcha | Steeped green tea |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Fine powder | Whole or rolled leaves |
| How it is made | Whisked into liquid | Steeped, then leaves removed |
| Appearance | Opaque, bright green | Clear, pale green to gold |
| Taste | Grassy, savoury, slightly sweet | Lighter, more astringent |
| Leaf growing method | Shaded before harvest | Often grown in full sun |
What are the grades of matcha?
Matcha is often sold as ceremonial grade or culinary grade, but these terms are marketing labels and are not regulated in Australia, so quality varies between brands. Ceremonial is meant for drinking with water, and culinary for lattes and baking.
In practice, colour is a useful clue. A vivid, even green suggests fresher, better-shaded leaf, while a dull yellow-brown powder is usually older or lower quality. Cafes often use a culinary or mid-range powder for lattes because milk and sugar soften the flavour. WOOSS has not said which powder it uses.
What makes a good cafe matcha latte?
A good matcha latte has a smooth, even green colour, no clumps, a balanced grassy flavour and milk that is not scalded. Whisking the powder with a little water first prevents lumps.
The standard method is simple:
- Sift about 2 grams of matcha (one teaspoon) into a bowl.
- Add 30 to 60 millilitres of water at about 70 to 80 degrees Celsius.
- Whisk in a zigzag until no clumps remain and a light foam forms.
- Pour the matcha over hot or iced milk.
- Sweeten to taste with sugar or syrup, if wanted.
Boiling water scorches the powder and makes it bitter. Oat, soy and cow’s milk are all common choices, and each tastes different, so a cafe that offers several is giving a real choice.
What is hojicha, and how does it compare with matcha?
Hojicha is Japanese green tea that has been roasted, giving a brown colour and a toasty, nutty flavour. It is lower in bitterness than matcha and is sometimes sold as a powder for lattes.
People often confuse the two because both appear as powdered latte options. Matcha is shaded, unroasted and bright green. Hojicha is roasted and tan to brown. WOOSS’s Instagram bio lists matcha, and no hojicha is recorded for the cafe.
What is known about matcha at WOOSS?
The only confirmed fact is that the Instagram bio for @wooss.au lists matcha alongside coffee, waffles and bingsu. No matcha menu, drink sizes or prices were found, and the EatClub list of ten items records no drinks.
This guide therefore makes no claim about which matcha drinks the cafe makes, how they are served or what they cost. The recorded dessert items include a mango yuzu ice cream scoop in the Sunrise Passion at $24.90 and Kaya Bliss at $22.90, both on EatClub, read 14 November 2026. See the menu page for the full recorded list.
How do you make a matcha latte at home?
Make a matcha latte at home by whisking a teaspoon of sifted matcha with a little warm water, then adding steamed or cold milk. A small bamboo whisk or a handheld frother does the mixing.
- Hot: whisk the paste, add about 200 millilitres of steamed milk and sweeten lightly.
- Iced: whisk the paste, pour over ice, then add cold milk and stir.
- Water only: use about 70 millilitres of warm water for a thin, tea-like cup.
Store the tin of matcha in the fridge after opening, tightly closed, since light, heat and air dull the colour and flavour. Use it within a few weeks to a couple of months for the best taste. A pinch of sugar or a splash of syrup rounds off any grassy edge.
What do the words on a cafe drink list mean?
Cafe lists often use terms such as latte, iced and oat that are worth decoding. A latte is a drink of tea or coffee with a large share of milk, and iced means it is served over ice.
- Latte: matcha or coffee with plenty of milk.
- Ceremonial or premium: a marketing term for drinking-quality powder, not a regulated grade.
- Sweetened: the powder or syrup already contains sugar.
- Dirty or affogato style: an espresso poured over ice cream, a different drink from matcha.
Ask the barista if any wording is unclear, since terms vary between cafes.
Is WOOSS a good place to sit and study with a drink?
Visitor comments on Google Maps and EatClub mention a quiet spot where people study and chat. These are visitor remarks, not promises from the cafe.
The cafe is at Shop G1, 230 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, behind Melbourne Central. Instagram and EatClub show opening from 10 AM, closing at 10 PM Sunday to Thursday and 11 PM Friday and Saturday. Google Maps shows 10:30 PM and 11:30 PM. Check the hours and location page and, for a late visit, ask the cafe, since the two sources differ by half an hour.
How do you choose a matcha drink at any cafe?
Choose a matcha drink by checking the colour, asking how sweet it is and deciding between milk and water. A bright green colour and a short ingredient list are good signs.
- Ask whether the drink is pre-sweetened, since some cafes mix sugar into the powder.
- Choose iced if you want the grassy flavour to stay clear, or hot for a creamier cup.
- Start with a latte if straight matcha tastes too intense.
- Ask about milk options before ordering.
Does matcha pair with desserts?
Matcha pairs well with sweet desserts because its grassy bitterness balances sugar. Cafes often serve matcha beside waffles, ice cream and shaved ice for this reason.
WOOSS lists both waffles and bingsu, so a matcha drink with a dessert is a plausible pairing, but the cafe has not published a combination menu. This guide is independent, is not the official WOOSS website, and takes no orders. It does not rank other cafes. For current drinks, ask in the cafe or via Instagram.
Common questions
Is matcha the same as green tea?
Matcha comes from the same plant as other green tea, Camellia sinensis, but the leaves are shaded, ground whole into powder and whisked into the drink. Regular green tea is steeped and the leaves are discarded.
Does matcha contain caffeine?
Yes. Matcha is made from tea leaves and contains caffeine, though the amount depends on how much powder goes into the cup. Ask at the cafe if you are choosing a drink for a particular reason.
What is the difference between matcha and hojicha?
Matcha is shade-grown green tea powder with a bright green colour and grassy taste. Hojicha is roasted tea, usually brown, with a toasty, nutty flavour, and it is not a green powder like matcha.
Why is some matcha bitter?
Bitterness usually comes from low quality powder, water that is too hot, too much powder or poor mixing. Water around 70 to 80 degrees Celsius and a good whisk give a smoother cup.
Can you order matcha at WOOSS online?
This guide takes no orders. The cafe’s Instagram bio mentions matcha, but no drink menu or prices were found, so ask at the cafe or through Instagram at @wooss.au.
This page is part of the independent guide to WOOSS Au Desserts and Cafe, which has the address, hours and menu.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from WOOSS Au Desserts and Cafe itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.