What is matcha coffee and why did Manner's green drink spark debate?

Manner's Iced Coconut Jasmine Matcha combines coconut water, jasmine tea, and matcha concentrate. After launch, buyers said the actual drink looked far darker than the emerald promotional photos, comparing it to green fish tank water. On taste, early tasters found coconut water and jasmine dominant, with matcha faint and sweetness pronounced, splitting reactions between failed aesthetics and a pleasant surprise.

The drink was announced as a spring-themed release blending jasmine tea, iced coconut water, and mellow matcha concentrate, and it is now sold in all Manner stores. In the official image, matcha poured into clear coconut water created a bright emerald moment, but as the pre-mixed matcha liquid blended with the tea and coconut water, the color turned murky for many buyers.

Manner has once again launched a green-themed new product, "Iced Coconut Jasmine Matcha," combining coconut water, jasmine tea, and matcha concentrate, with a visual concept centered on the vibrant feeling of spring. However, after the new product launched, the actual color differed considerably from the promotional images, sparking complaints from consumers. Some joked that it looked like "green fish tank water," while others even linked it to the stock market plunge that day. In terms of taste, first-wave tasters reported that coconut water and jasmine fragrance dominated, while the matcha presence was relatively weak and the sweetness was pronounced. Is this new product a case of failed aesthetics or a pleasant taste surprise? Let's take a closer look.

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Before the buzz from last year's "Green Tonic" had even faded, Manner yesterday officially announced another green new product, "Iced Coconut Jasmine Matcha." This drink blends jasmine tea with refreshing iced coconut water, then adds fragrant, mellow matcha concentrate, visually presenting a touch of lively natural greenery and emphasizing a "spring in full bloom" atmosphere. It is now available in all stores.

(Image taken from Manner's official tweet)

From the perspective of its formula, Manner's new cup brings together three currently popular elements—coconut water, matcha, and jasmine—each with its own fan base, so the combination naturally builds anticipation. As soon as the news of the new product came out, "matcha brains," "coconut water fanatics," and "floral fragrance lovers" all cheered and could not wait to rush downstairs to buy it.

In the official promotional image, Manner captured the moment the matcha was poured in, with a healing touch of emerald green emerging on the transparent coconut water. Combined with a high-saturation filter, the entire drink looked visually stunning and drew another wave of appearance-focused fans to place orders.

However, as more and more consumers went to stores to pick up their orders, many were shocked when they saw the actual product handed over by the barista—the color visible to the naked eye was far darker than in the promotional image. As the pre-mixed matcha liquid gradually blended with the jasmine tea and coconut water, the original emerald green slowly turned murky, looking like a glass of green fish tank water.

If there were undissolved lumps of tea powder in the pre-mixed matcha liquid, then after the staff poured it in, specks of floating matter could be seen in the transparent liquid, completely lacking the slowly swirling beauty of the promotional image and instead deterring appearance-conscious customers who wanted to take photos.

Interestingly, on the very day Manner's new product hit the shelves, global stock markets suffered a sharp decline, with everything turning green across the board. For stock traders, receiving this bright green drink inevitably led them to associate the green in front of them with the dismal stock market, joking that Manner choosing this day to launch a matcha drink was really not auspicious.

Jokes aside, Manner users care not only about appearance but also about the taste of the new product. According to feedback from the first wave of tasters, although the matcha concentrate had a strong visual presence, what came through first on the palate was the light sweetness of coconut water and the floral aroma of the jasmine tea base. Squeezed by these two, the matcha flavor was masked, with comments like "the matcha taste is extremely diluted" and "the matcha flavor is not very prominent."

Some people said bluntly that although the official description stated this drink had no added syrup, the deepest impression after drinking it was still sweetness, followed by the signature aroma of jasmine, while the matcha concentrate poured in at the end served more to enhance appearance. This left "matcha brains" who prefer a rich tea taste rather disappointed.

Still, "a thousand people have a thousand tastes." Manner's new product may not live up to some fans' expectations, but others have tried it and made it their recent favorite.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

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