These Kansas City spots make great matcha lattes. Where do you get your favorite?

KC Best Bets is a series where Star staffers and readers come together to share some of their favorite places, activities and secrets in the Kansas City area. Go to the comments at the bottom of this article to share your go-tos and suggest topics we should tackle next, or email us at kcq@kcstar.com.

From the Japanese Garden in Loose Park to the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival , Japanese cultural influences are ubiquitous in Kansas City. But one of my favorite Japanese imports is a delicious drink that’s had a meteoric rise in the metro: the matcha latte.

Once an obscure ingredient in the U.S, matcha has become a coffee shop staple in recent years. The bright green powder, made from finely ground green tea leaves, has a slightly bitter flavor on its own. But when paired with a milk and sweetener of your choice, it creates a delicious drink with just enough caffeine to get you moving.

You can find matcha lattes on the menu in almost every coffee shop in Kansas City — and we want to know where you get your favorite one. Let us know which spots to check out in the comments below.

Here are just a few I’ve enjoyed around the city:

Seven Swans Creperie

Served in a glass jar with plenty of ice, this matcha latte fits in perfectly with the beautiful surroundings and delicious crepes at Seven Swans on the West Side. The honey lavender syrup adds some floral sweetness, but you can also try the drink with another of the creperie’s homemade syrups.

Billie’s Grocery

This gluten-free brunch spot and bakery offers a glorious selection of pastries and desserts to enjoy alongside with your matcha latte. This matcha latte, served with pebble ice in a curve-lipped glass, isn’t very sweet — giving you the perfect excuse to grab a treat to go with the drink.

Dairy lovers, be warned: Billie’s defaults to almond milk in this drink, so be sure to specify whole milk when you order.

The Roasterie — Brookside

This is the first place in Kansas City where I had a matcha sweetened with vanilla syrup — a recommendation from one of the cafe’s friendly baristas. Creamy and flavorful, this matcha hits the spot on a hot summer day.

Messenger Coffee Co.

Part of the fun of getting a matcha latte at the three-story Messenger location on Grand Boulevard is watching the baristas at work.

Matcha lovers will recognize the small bamboo whisk, called a chasen, that’s used to break up tiny clumps of the fine powder and dissolve it evenly into water. This solution is then combined with milk, syrup and ice to make a matcha latte.

While this traditional whisking technique is used in most high-quality establishments to prepare matcha, Messenger’s open barista station gives customers a glimpse of the process.

PH Coffee

I got a lavender matcha here a few months ago while out on assignment, and I was impressed by how both flavors shone through without being overpowering. The barista was kind enough to add the toppings from another seasonal specialty drink: their light purple homemade lavender whipped cream with golden sugar sprinkles.

Anchor Island Coffee

Hear me out: a matcha latte sweetened with caramel syrup. I was skeptical too, but this barista recommendation at Anchor Island didn’t disappoint. While you’re there, you can also grab some food from the cafe’s extensive menu — the choripapa burrito is a fan favorite.

Which spots did we miss? Let us know where you find great matcha lattes in the metro by commenting below or sending an email to kcq@kcstar.com .

This list is based on the author’s personal recommendations. None of the small businesses mentioned above paid, applied or offered free products to be mentioned in this article.