At 12, peak matcha has arrived, with a line down the block - Review - New York - The Infatuation

"12 Matcha smells like a new car and looks like somewhere you’d take a $200 sound bath. The Noho cafe is state of the art, offering ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a family that’s been in the business for nearly two centuries. Each drink receives roughly six grams, dissolved into a ladle of rebalanced filtered water. Should you have a spare 30 minutes to stand in line as if you’re at the Stüssy store, the end product is worth it—softly bitter, with lingering tannins and a nutty finish. photo credit: Michael Carbone photo credit: Bryan Kim photo credit: Michael Carbone Pause Unmute Once you place your order, watch the process unfold: First, some gentle dabbing with a whisk. Next, hypnotic twirling, followed by vigorous flicking that results in a frothy, paint-like consistency. If you want to taste every note, get an americano. For a milder beverage, try a latte. The matcha basque cheesecake is a nice add-on for something sweet and fudgy, and you can eat it on a Klein blue chair beside a tall mid-century lamp. There’s another room downstairs that’s just as serene, with a few low tables and a view of the crowd lined up on the sidewalk." - Bryan Kim