Editorial note: This is an immersive travel story from the MATCHA MAYA AI global vlogging series, following a former university student turned nomadic blogger discovering international matcha culture.
Host: Matcha Maya, solo backpacker and global matcha vlogger.
Local guest: Li Fang, café owner in Kuanzhai Alley, Chengdu.
Searching for matcha in Chengdu can produce a wall of photogenic drinks, but a useful city story needs more than green colour. Matcha Maya meets Li Fang to ask how Japanese tea can enter a local food culture respectfully. Their conversation explores local energy and hospitality, while keeping the origin of matcha visible.
The leisurely pace, bamboo shade, and rich teahouse heritage of Chengdu provided a peaceful retreat for Matcha Maya. Leaving university life behind to travel the world had taught her that Chengdu was a city where slowing down with a warm beverage was considered an art form.
Chengdu Welcomes Matcha
The café is carefully arranged. Outside, the city carries its unique energy. Li Fang places a bowl on the table and sits down. “In Chengdu people already understand the value of sitting with a good drink,” the host says. “Matcha has to find its own respectful place.”
Tracing her journey across southwestern China, Maya loves connecting her readers to other features in her series, such as the Changsha matcha tour, insights from the Chongqing matcha review, and her vibrant vlogs captured in the Chengdu exploration diary.
Matcha Maya: How does the local culture affect the way people meet matcha?
Li: People here have their own strong traditions with tea or coffee and gatherings. That helps in some ways. Matcha is more concentrated. Some customers are surprised by the intensity. I let them meet it honestly. I keep five local words close: Kuanzhai, Jinli, Chunxi Road, Wuhou, hotpot.
Matcha Maya: What is the name of the most popular street in your city where I can buy matcha product?
Li: The best concentration of places that sell good matcha is around Chunxi Road. From Chengdu Shuangliu / Tianfu International Airport you can take a taxi or ride-hailing app. Tell the driver “Chunxi Road”. The ride time varies with traffic. Once you arrive, walk the main stretch and side streets; you will find several places selling Japanese matcha powder and drinks.
The conversation turns to origin. The host is clear that even when pairing matcha with local flavours, the powder itself is still listed with its Japanese region and grade. “People should know what is local and what is brought from elsewhere.”
Later the café fills with regulars and visitors. The host moves between them with calm attention. By late afternoon the light has softened.
“The best moments,” Li says as they finish, “are when someone who came only out of curiosity stays for a second bowl. That is when the tea has become part of the gathering.”
For practical city information, check official tourism resources via the Chengdu Tourism Guide.
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