Review: Matcha Masterclass at Tiny teahouse

Tiny Tea House sits quietly on Magdalen Road, tucked next to the yoga studio, but step inside and it feels like entering a little pocket of calm – warm, welcoming, and full of that lovely East Oxford community spirit.

I’ve only ever had matcha once before, and honestly? It tasted like grassy milk to me. So I was really intrigued to go back to the roots of how matcha is actually meant to be prepared, especially with so many places hopping on the trend without doing it the traditional way. Trying it properly here was a completely different experience. It can still have that earthy note, but it’s way less potent, and when it’s whisked correctly it tasted much more like a gentle green tea to me, which I actually really liked.

So in James’ Matcha Masterclass (£55), we learnt all about matcha, the proper way to make it, and how the whole process becomes a moment of mindfulness rather than just another caffeine hit. Matcha gives a slower, softer release of energy too, so no jitters or sudden crash, just a calm, steady lift.

We tried three drinks throughout the session:

• Classic matcha – rich, clean, beautifully whisked.

• Matcha oat milk vanilla latte – creamy and cosy.

• Matcha yuzu tonic cocktail – bright, zingy, buzzy, and my absolute favourite. So much fun.

James paired each drink with small bites: mochi, a chocolate energy ball, and a Japanese cracker.

The snacks change seasonally because James loves experimenting. Friends often bring snacks back from Japan, and he’ll work those into sessions too. It gives the whole place this evolving, collaborative feel that’s really charming.

We drank everything from gorgeous handmade matcha bowls crafted by local ceramicists like Bethan Axford, Symy Ong and Harriet Coleridge (Ewelme Pottery).

James is even looking into running a ceramic matcha bowl workshop, which I can easily see being a hit.

The community feel at Tiny Tea House goes well beyond the masterclass.

There’s a small gallery showcasing local makers, ceramics, artwork, and more, and you can pop in for free on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to look around while sipping complimentary tea. People even bring their own teas from home or travels to try and chat with James. A university student from China recently came in feeling homesick and wanted to connect via tea, so she made some tea with James, and she still pops in regularly now. That’s the kind of place this is.

James is constantly dreaming up new collaboration ideas too – from gyoza tastings and pairings, to Christmas dinner gyoza and fun partnerships with other East Oxford independents, watch this space.

A gorgeous little haven on Magdalen Road, full of creativity, kindness, and genuinely good tea.

Whether you book the masterclass, a tea flight session, or just want a quiet moment with tea in hand, Tiny Tea House is absolutely worth a visit. Vouchers are also available – the perfect gift for the tea lover in your life!