A Christmas shopping suggestion from a not-so-matcha man

The Internet is awash in perfect Christmas presents this year, but none may be more versatile than matcha. You can drink it, chew it, curl your hair with it or rub it on your face. It’s also alleged to be good for losing weight, fighting cancer and making your brain work better.

“It’s the perfect gift for family, friends and loved ones,” according to one site. “Show them how matcha you love them with these 11 gifts for people who love matcha,” another urges.

I don’t think I know anyone who loves matcha. Most of my family, friends and loved ones might not even know what it is. In fact, I had to go to Wikipedia to find out about it; apparently it’s a powdered form of green tea that has been around since 618 AD and more recently was a favorite of 12th century Buddhists and 13th century samurai warriors.

Not many of those folks are still around, but now matcha (rhymes with “gotcha”) has become popular amongst the kind of trend-followers who also are into edamame, umami, kale and all forms of pumpkin spice. None of which appeals to me, especially kale, which is the preferred food for nine out of 10 goats.

But, as NBC reported recently, “Though its origins trace back over thousands of years in Japan, the café menu item of this very moment is matcha. Matcha-infused innovations such as matcha muffins, matcha pancakes and matcha drinks are sweeping the nation … it seems like everywhere you go it’s matcha.

“It’s become such a fashionable beverage that, last summer, the New York Post ran a story about how Victoria’s Secret models were flocking to Cha Cha Matcha, a hipster spot fluent in the preparation of various matcha-based miracle potions. Even mass market coffee purveyors like Starbucks have made matcha their mantra, with a vast range of offerings to cash in on the craze.”

While I certainly could be talked into in going to any place where Victoria’s Secret models flock, I don’t know of any in Dayton. I guess I could try my nearest Starbucks, but I’m reluctant to do that because I’m not big fan of coffee that tastes as if it had been boiled for six or seven hours and then left on the burner for a few more days. Whenever Starbucks is my only coffee option I order something called a “tall blonde.” But I’m uncomfortable doing that because, at my age, saying to a barista, “I want a tall blonde” sounds sort of creepy.

Still, if you’re a guy, you might think about taking home a Starbucks matcha green tea latte for your wife. According to another source, it helps increase a woman’s libido.