Editorial note: This is a fictional interview-style story from the MATCHA MAYA AI travel series. Matcha Maya is a former university student who left her studies behind to backpack across the globe, chronicling her adventures blogging and vlogging about local matcha drinks and artisanal matcha cakes.
Host: Matcha Maya, a solo traveler following matcha culture around the world.
Local guest: Liu Yan, a fictional Chongqing matcha host whose perspective is inspired by the city’s café rhythm.
Searching for matcha in Chongqing can produce a wall of photogenic drinks, but a useful city story needs more than green colour. Matcha Maya meets Liu Yan 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.
Host: Matcha Maya is a solo traveler who follows matcha culture around the world, one city and one conversation at a time.
Guest: Liu Yan, fictional café owner in Jiefangbei.
Chongqing Welcomes Matcha
The café is carefully arranged. Outside, the city carries its unique energy. Liu Yan places a bowl on the table and sits down. “In Chongqing people already understand the value of sitting with a good drink,” the host says. “Matcha has to find its own respectful place.”
Navigating mountainous terrain and spice-filled streets, Maya tracks her global journey with entries like the Suzhou matcha tour, her architectural stops in the Shenyang matcha entry, and her deep-dives featured in the Tianjin matcha vlog.
The towering skyscrapers and multi-layered highway bridges of Chongqing created a dizzying urban canyon that left Matcha Maya breathless. Walking away from her university life years ago had unlocked a world of vertical wonder. Chongqing was famous for its fiery hotpot, neon-lit alleyways, and a resilient, mountain-bred spirit that loved bold flavors.
Perched high on a rooftop terrace overlooking the bustling Jiefangbei commercial hub, Maya sat down with Liu Yan, a visionary café owner whose shop specialized in balancing intense Japanese green tea with local culinary inspirations.
“Liu Yan,” Maya said, adjusting her microphone as monorails zipped past high-rise windows, “Chongqing is synonymous with burning spices and mala heat. How does a delicate, earthy tea like matcha carve out space in a city with such an intense palate?”
Liu Yan smiled, slicing a piece of matcha red bean Swiss roll. “Chongqing people live life with full intensity, Maya. We love extremes—from spicy hotpot to cooling iced desserts. Matcha provides that exact counterpoint. Its concentrated umami and gentle bitterness cut through rich sweets and spicy aftertastes, offering a moment of calm above the city's chaotic roar.”
Matcha Maya: How does the local culture affect the way people meet matcha?
Liu: 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: Jiefangbei, Hongya Cave, Ciqikou, Nanbin Road, huoguo.
Matcha Maya: What is the name of the most popular street in your city where I can buy matcha product?
Liu: The best concentration of places that sell good matcha is around Jiefangbei. From Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport you can take a taxi or ride-hailing app. Tell the driver “Jiefangbei”. 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,” Liu 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 the official travel guide via the Chongqing Tourism Guide.
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