Welcome to the SGV Iced Matcha Latte series. The San Gabriel Valley (often known as SGV) is iconic for its tea shops. The biggest question is: which ones have the best iced matcha lattes? Everyone needs a good iced matcha fix once in a while. The challenge is finding a shop that offers good-quality matcha, is accessible, and doesn’t break the bank. I got you covered, so you don’t have to go out and experiment yourself.
The Iced Matcha Latte
The SGV iced matcha lattes are simple: matcha, a regular/medium-sized cup, iced, regular/recommended sweetness, and regular/standard milk. Higher-quality matcha has a smoother, more savory taste, while lower-quality matcha tastes bitter and metallic. That’s why some shops would mask it with a TON of sweetness. We’re also going through an era of matcha shortages because it’s a hype.
SGV Iced Matcha Latte Ranking
Here’s a fun table with my ranking of iced matcha lattes based on taste, price, and convenience. The biggest problem is if I have to wait a LONG time and parking is bad, it’s getting knocked down. The order is from my personal favorite at the top to my least favorite at the bottom.
| Price for Standard Size | Online Order Capabilities? | In-Person Long Line? | |
| Cha Redefined | $6.50 | ✔ | ⊘ |
| Molly Tea | $6.99 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mandarin | $6.75 | ⊘ | ✔ |
Cha Redefined
I went to the Cha Redefined in Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia. This is located outside within the promenade (between Daiso and Hai Di Lao). There are multiple options for iced and hot matcha, including iced matcha with matcha cheese foam, and even a blueberry pureed oat milk matcha latte.
There wasn’t a line when I went, which was GREAT. The service was quick, and there is a fun free photo booth that prints your picture on thermal receipt paper while you wait in line (if there is one). Otherwise, you can also order online in advance!
The iced matcha latte I ordered is made with ceremonial-grade (really, just Western marketing terms) matcha and fresh milk. I actually enjoyed this drink, and for the price I paid, this is GREAT.
Molly Tea
Molly Tea is one of the most hyped tea shops that finally made its way to America. Molly Tea is known for its iconic fragrant jasmine tea, social media presence, and promotional free gifts. Their grand opening in Arcadia this past weekend was CRAZY, with the line wrapping around the block before it even opened. This was when I realized they were having raffles for free iPhones and expensive prizes.
The Molly Tea in Arcadia has good parking, while the one in San Gabriel has slightly more challenging parking, as you’ll find yourself parallel parking in the residential area. If you’re going to wait in person, expect 30-60 minutes; I waited for 50 minutes. I didn’t know it was going to be this bad, and could have ordered online instead.
The Iced Premium Jasmine Matcha Milk Tea is one of their most popular drinks. It is essentially matcha with jasmine Zhenwang tea and fresh milk. This drink has a thicker consistency, as the matcha is blended into a foam-like texture. It was good, but not 50-minute-wait good. Maybe it can go up on my list next time when I order online! I think by the time I finally picked up my order, I felt so defeated and didn’t want to do anything else.
I will have to give credit to Molly Tea for having the most aesthetically pleasing packaging, whether it’s just the cup or the promotional freebies. It’s giving the Louis Vuitton monogram star.
Mandarin Coffee Stand
After my initial post about Mandarin Coffee Stand a couple of years ago, this coffee shop has been POPPING. Every weekend, you will always see a line bleeding out of the store. This is a cute little coffee shop in the Burlington Arcade in Pasadena.
I’m a bit disappointed in their iced matcha latte, but I am not surprised because their specialty is coffee: brown sugar latte, Vienna latte, espresso… I think I was also defeated here because they do not have online ordering capabilities, and you’re expected to wait 30+ minutes – even if the line doesn’t seem all that long, they only allow 4 people in the shop at a time. This can also mean no one is ordering while 4 people are still waiting for their drinks. I did like their matcha latte when I had it a couple of years back, not sure what happened last weekend.
