Influencer makes Matcha Fried Rice with a Korean twist; leaves the internet in splits!

Matcha this! Matcha that!

From aesthetic glasses, cups, and mugs, matcha has now made its way to the saucepan – for matcha fried rice!


Yep, even we are in awe!


What happened?

Ever wondered if matcha can be taken too far?

Clearly, you couldn’t have imagined THIS!

Calvin Lee (@foodmakescalhappy), a Singapore-based foodie, a food vlogger, and an influencer, who claims to make yummy food (most of the time), has taken the trend to the extreme and made what was almost unimaginable – matcha fried rice!

Shared by Lee, a recent video captures a man experimenting in the kitchen by tossing matcha powder into a pan of rice. He then adds in some eggs, garlic, soy sauce, wasabi, miso, and spring onions, giving everything a quick stir-fry. After taking a bite of his vibrant green concoction, he gives his honest opinion, and it's not what he hoped for. The matcha didn't blend well with the other flavors, resulting in a bitter aftertaste. His caption reflects his disappointment: "Matcha fried rice, sigh."

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLUQUMGSIsa/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLUQUMGSIsa/

What’s internet’s take

The video has taken off, gathering close to 100K views and over 2K likes.

The surprising combination of fried rice and matcha has sparked quite a stir, leaving viewers both entertained, amused, but mostly baffled.

While one user has declared, "This is illegal," another rightly pointed out, "There was too much green." One netizen was quite worried, saying, "I'll call the police and ambulance," while another said, "Too much matcha.. You need to pair it with something sweet and sour maybe."

Another internet user mentioned it right, "Definitely too much of a good thing, bro. Matcha usually is like 1-2 teaspoons. I can imagine with the right portions, it would be a rendition of Hakka Lei Cha (Thunder Tea Rice). Should be quite good," and someone else wrote, "Not the kind of greens I imagined for rice."

However, some of them were there for it.

One user said, "I think this works," while another commented, "I just turned from half Japanese to full white."

One user even high-fived the food influencer and encouraged him for daring such a brave attempt, saying, "Bro,I have the same matcha and was thinking of cooking matcha fried rice last week."


What is matcha?

Matcha is a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves, traditionally used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It's known for its vibrant green color, distinctive umami flavor, and potential health benefits due to its high concentration of antioxidants and amino acids. Unlike regular green tea, matcha involves consuming the entire tea leaf, not just an infusion.


Matcha can be enjoyed in various ways, from traditional hot tea to lattes, smoothies, and even added to baked goods. The most common method involves whisking matcha powder with hot water, often using a bamboo whisk, to create a frothy beverage. You can also adjust the intensity by varying the amount of matcha and water, or add milk for a creamier latte. Or if you’re in the mood to take it too far, you might even try cooking a pot of matcha biryani!

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