Chicago Matcha Tours
Guided matcha & Japanese tea tastings across Chicago — built around what you love and planned down to the last sip. You just show up and enjoy. Led by the matcha obsessives behind NeedMatcha.
Chicago’s best matcha isn’t in one place. It’s tucked into a Mexican grocery, served as ice cream, whisked into ceremonial tea, and delivered as the cream-top latte you’ve probably seen on your feed. We’ve spent years tracking it down, getting to know the owners, and learning what makes each spot special.
We’ll take you straight to the good stuff — no planning, no guesswork, no wrong turns.
How It Works
Most food tours work because everything sits on one walkable block. Chicago doesn’t always cooperate — but that’s part of the fun. We design each tour around a tight, walkable cluster of spots, with a short L or bus ride only when the next great stop is worth it. Think of it less like a checklist and more like a tasting menu: a handful of thoughtfully chosen stops, paced so you actually savor each one — and pick up a little matcha knowledge along the way.
There are two ways to taste your way through the city:
- Pick a Signature Tour — a route we’ve already perfected.
- Build Your Own — tell us what you’re into, and we map a tour just for you.
Signature Tours
West Town Matcha Walk
Our flagship — and the easiest to fall in love with. Four-plus stops, all on foot, all within a few blocks of each other.
- Kick off with a viral cream-top matcha latte (coffee drinkers in the group? We’ll include top-notch coffee spots so everyone’s happy).
- Walk over for matcha ice cream and bon bons — treats to enjoy here or take home.
- Stop at a beloved Mexican taqueria-grocery for an unexpectedly great coconut-water matcha (and tacos, if you’re hungry).
- Wind down at a relaxed final stop — a sunny café patio, a park in summer, or a private rooftop when the weather cooperates — with a final tasting and the goodies we gathered along the way.
~4 hours · ~1.5 miles walking (optional short rides) · perfect for first-timers and latte lovers. Get started here to book >
North Side Tea Trail
For the tea purist. Head up north to Chicago’s quietest, most serious tea rooms for hand-whisked usucha and koicha, single-origin Japanese greens, and the kind of slow, ceremonial pours that turn matcha into a ritual. A rotating lineup of north-side tea houses and specialty shops.
~3–4 hours · light walking + a short ride · perfect for tea lovers and the matcha-curious who want depth
Matcha in the Loop
In town for work or downtown for the day? A compact, walkable loop through the city center’s best matcha and Japanese-style sweets — easy to slot into a lunch break or a free afternoon, and easy to pair with a nearby museum.
~2–3 hours · easy walking · perfect for weekday visitors and downtown workers
ALL the Lattes
Okay maybe not ALLLLL the lattes, but all of the best ones. If you’re here for the sweet liquid green, this is how you do it. We’ll zip around to the best spots across the city so you can get exactly the snaps your followers need. We can adjust to use your car, our car, or lyft/uber.
~2–4 hours · minimal walking + longer car routes · for those who need their fix and the pics to prove it
Pair It With Something You Love
Matcha’s even better with a sidekick. Tell us what you’re into and we’ll weave it in:
- Great coffee — not everyone in the group is a matcha convert (yet). We’ll fold in standout local roasters so the coffee people are just as thrilled.
- Ceramics & teaware — include artists’ studio stops and top spots for beautiful local or authentic imported teaware
- Art & galleries — duck into West Town’s gallery scene, or build a tour around the Art Institute or the Museum of Contemporary Art.
- Vegan Chicago — we know the city’s plant-based scene cold, from hole-in-the-wall to cult favorite.
- Tacos & street food — because matcha and a great taco are a criminally underrated pair.
- Boba & specialty drinks — for the tea-and-toppings crowd.
- Improv & comedy — cap your tasting with a show at one of Chicago’s legendary comedy theaters.
Got something else in mind? Just ask.
Build Your Own Custom Tour
The best tours start with a conversation. Before we map anything, we’ll find out what you’re after — ceremonial-grade tea or viral lattes, quality or novelty, hole-in-the-wall or picture-perfect, sweets, coffee, vegan eats, art, or a little of everything. Then we build a route just for you and your group.
Great for birthdays, date days, visiting friends, team outings — or treating yourself.
Why Tour With NeedMatcha?
- You learn as you sip. Ceremonial vs. culinary, how to taste it, why the good stuff tastes the way it does — you’ll leave knowing matcha, not just having drunk it.
- We’re matcha people first. NeedMatcha is built on a genuine obsession with the leaf — and that’s still what drives us.
- We actually live here. These are the spots we visit on our own time, and we know the people behind the counter.
- You don’t plan a thing. No routes to map, no hours to check, no parking to figure out. Just show up and enjoy.
- Beginners welcome. Never whisked a bowl in your life? Perfect. That’s half the fun.
Pricing
Tours start at $130 per person (2-guest minimum) and include all your tastings along the route. Longer routes, larger groups, and special pairings are quoted when we plan your tour.
Could you track these spots yourself? Absolutely. What you’re really booking is the freedom to just show up and enjoy — a day with a local insider who knows the tea, the owners and where to find it all… and you don’t have to plan a thing!
Good to Know
How long are the tours?
Most run 2–4 hours depending on the route and how many stops we include.
What’s included in the price?
All your tastings along the route, expert guidance and planning, and a treat to take home. Optional add-ons like a full taco lunch or extra take-home matcha can be arranged.
How much walking is involved?
Each tour is designed to be walkable, with the occasional short L or bus ride when the next great spot is worth the trip. Let us know if you’d prefer to keep it all on foot or travel by bike or car.
Can you accommodate dietary needs?
Absolutely. Vegan, dairy-free, and other preferences are easy to plan around — it’s one of our specialties.
Do I need to know anything about matcha?
Not a thing. We tailor every tour to your level, whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned tea drinker.
How big are the groups?
We keep groups small and personal, and every tour is private to your party.
Reserve Your Spot
Email us with a little about what you’re after — the neighborhood, the style, the group size, and a few dates that work — and we’ll get back to you to plan your tour. Rather chat? Send a DM: Instagram • Telegram