Located on Broad Street in Falls Church, Midori Tea House is a Japanese matcha cafe that offers a variety of top-quality matcha drinks, as well as some delectable desserts and pastries. As we entered the store, the neutral-toned, modern decor presented a calming atmosphere and a cheerful setting for a matcha run with friends. The first thing to catch our attention was the large zen garden that took up the middle of the space. The walls were also decorated with greenery and warm lights, adding to the calm environment. The staff were friendly and efficient, making for a pleasant experience overall.

As we waited for the items, we spotted a barista making matcha using a Japanese chasen and whisk. This was impressive, since it’s uncommon to spot matcha shops in the U.S. making matcha the traditional way.

Ube Matcha: 4/5 stars

Although I was initially hesitant to try ube, a flavor I had never encountered before, the bright purple color of the drink was too unique to resist purchasing. After doing some research and taking a few tentative sips, I learned that ube is a purple yam with a pleasantly surprising flavor: nutty, slightly sweet and earthy—similar to taro. It paired incredibly with the sweetened matcha, making a drink unlike any other I’d had before. One of the standout elements was the freshness of the ingredients. I appreciated watching the entire process unfold in front of me, from the grinding of the matcha to the stirring and final presentation. It gave the drink a handcrafted and high-class feel, adding to its overall appeal. If there had only been a bit more ube to balance out the proportionally generous amount of matcha, this drink would have easily been 5/5 stars.

Toffee Nut Matcha: 3.5/5 stars

This matcha latte looked like a textbook matcha, in a good way. The matcha concentrate was vibrant green, sitting delicately on top of the oat milk. The drink itself tasted nutty and not too bitter. I appreciated that it wasn’t too watered down, meaning that Midori doesn’t skimp on the matcha powder-to-milk ratio. However, I may have made a mistake ordering the drink with oat milk. I wasn’t a huge fan of the oat milk taste; I’m used to having matcha lattes with cow milk.

Red Bean Hojicha: 4.5/5 stars

This hojicha latte pleasantly surprised me. Hojicha is like matcha’s less energetic cousin–it’s essentially roasted green tea with a more roasty and subtle flavor, boasting a lower caffeine content. This latte was just the right amount of sweetness, with the red bean adding a nice additional texture and flavor. The hojicha powder-to-milk ratio was wonderful, evidenced by the deep color. I asked for soy milk, which was the right choice over oat milk. I would order this again.

Ube Tres Leches: 3/5 stars

Perhaps it’s because I have not enjoyed many tres leches cakes in my life, but this Ube Tres Leches was underwhelming. The ube flavor was subtle, but offered a slightly watery and nutty aftertaste that didn’t sit well on my tongue. However, the texture was quite nice–soft and pillowy. I wouldn’t order this item again, but I would give tres leches another try.

Mango Sparkling: 3.5/5 stars

If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to cool down your summer, the Mango Sparkling might be your go-to order. It’s slightly sweet and refreshing, with a light mango taste that compliments the tickle of the sparkling water. Unfortunately, for me, the drink couldn’t live up to its full potential. The ratio of sparkling water and mango was far too large. Despite the mango slices at the bottom of the drink, the mango flavor was almost invisible, and every sip was mostly flavorless water with a slight fizz. It’s safe to say that sparkling water isn’t Midori’s specialty, but it still makes a decent summer drink.

Classic Basque Cheesecake: 4/5 stars

The Basque Cheesecake really lived up to its name. It was “classic” and nothing extraordinary, but the flavor didn’t disappoint. It had the perfect balance of the classic cheesy and vanilla taste. Although the cheesecake came in only one luxurious slice, it was rich in flavor. The creamy texture mixed with the crumbly crust made for a delicious compliment to the matcha drinks.