Entry #1

Entry #1

Written By Emily Malkan

Photographed by Dominik Kłeczek

Finally leaving Piano Row, I speed walk down Boylston, rushing to make my 2pm in Walker. It’s a sunny Tuesday, meaning everyone is outside, basking in the final drops of sun. I look over to my left and see a cloud of smoke forming on the other side of Boylston. A group of Emerson students, likely VMA men, lean against the graveyard fence to subtly display their thrifted cowboy boots as they argue over whether American Spirits or Marlboro Reds are better. They all pass around one cup of a light green mystery drink, like it’s their first time sharing a joint. It’s clearly from a cafe, hence the to-go cup and colorful straw, but no logo to be found. They methodically stir the cup before sipping and passing it to the next person, as they nod and smile in agreement that this $9 purchase was worth it. 

With half as much caffeine and twice as many health benefits, it is no wonder that matcha is so popular for the generation notorious for their anxiety and non-existent attention span. After our collective addiction to Bang Energy and Celcius, it’s safe to say this is a better alternative. 

Matcha has always been a symbol of status, dating back to the 12th century, where Buddhist monks would sip their hot tea to stay awake for hours of meditation. As soon as Japan got ahold of the tea leaves from China, they developed a spiritual practice that helped reach a higher power of harmony, peace, and respect.

My Japanese grandma, currently living in the suburbs of Tokyo, irks at the idea of adding sugar and milk to this prized possession. If the tea powder is high quality, there should be no need to overcompensate with additives. In her sacred rituals, matcha, and just matcha is the center. The leaves and powder should be treated with care and respect. Every motion from cleaning the bamboo whisk to pouring the liquid in a glass is deliberate. But if there’s one thing about performative men, it’s that all their actions are carefully planned with the hopes to appear as non-chalant and well-versed as possible. 

In a way, this group of strangers have a ritual of their own. They meet at their spot, decompress with the help of cigarettes and matcha, and enjoy each other’s company. 

Now, if you go around drinking matcha, you have a slight status over those with a coffee. In addition to its more appealing pastel green (as opposed to a dark brown or black), its lower caffeine content makes it a drink for the cool, calm, and collective. It means you had the time and tools to hand craft a beverage for yourself…or you had the luxury to wait in that 2 hour Blank Street line. 

And as we all know, time is money (and so it matcha). Ritual and community, however, is priceless. :)