Matcha more

Kissa Matcha debuts in Grand Prairie with premium tea and soft serve

Kissa Matcha uses ceremonial-grade green tea sourced from Japan for its soft serve and frozen desserts.

Photo courtesy of Kissa Matcha

A matcha makeover has happened at Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie: Kissa Matcha opened June 1 at 2625 W Pioneer Pkwy. #210, as a refreshed version of the former Meccha Matcha, which had occupied the Grand Prairie space in 2020.

The new dessert shop specializes in unique matcha drinks and soft serve. A release says it is bringing “a more authentic and elevated matcha experience to the area.”

Inspired by Japanese recipes and techniques, and utilizing ceremonial-grade matcha sourced directly from a small farm in Okabe, Japan, the menu is both creative and colorful.

Alongside their signature rich ube soft serve — which features a half-and-half swirl — the menu highlights drinks that aim to be “nostalgic and globally inspired.” These include:

Matcha Biscoff Latte
Matcha Ube Cream Latte
Matcha Strawberry Latte

The café also serves drinks like the Ube Boba Cloud, Matcha Banana Cream Latte, and Dulce Horchata Matcha Latte, offering a playful and modern approach to traditional tea beverages.

Drinks are served in floral cup sleeves inspired by Japanese aesthetics and the meaning behind “Kissa” — a term traditionally associated with Japanese tea cafés centered around connection, conversation, and quality tea experiences.

An assortment of iced matcha specialty drinks from Kissa Matcha, served in custom floral cup sleeves. Photo courtesy of Kissa Matcha.

Kissa Matcha utilizes up to 8 grams of authentic, ceremonial-grade matcha per serving, a significant upgrade from the typical 3 to 5 grams found in standard drinks. The increase delivers a remarkably rich, bold, and velvety flavor profile. Customers can also choose from different grades of matcha powders and flavor intensities based on their personal preferences.

The concept comes from Joseph Be, who has worked in the food and beverage industry since he was a teenager. As a passionate matcha enthusiast, he noticed that while the Dallas-Fort Worth culinary scene was diverse, it lacked a dedicated space showcasing high-quality, authentic matcha. To fill this gap, Be traveled to Japan to study authentic tea culture, sourcing methods, and traditional preparation techniques.

“We have curated a menu that embraces the local palate, introducing innovative, Texas-inspired matcha flavor combinations that keep our offerings contemporary, exciting, and refreshing,” Be says.

He cites the evolution of the DFW matcha scene and a “desire to become more hyper-local, refined, and premium” as the reasons behind the rebrand from Meccha Matcha to Kissa Matcha.

“Our goal is to bring a little bit of Japan to DFW while making matcha approachable and exciting for everyone,” says Be. “We use traditional matcha whisking techniques alongside high-quality, ceremonial-grade ingredients to create drinks and desserts that feel authentic, creative, and memorable.”

Kissa Matcha is open daily from 11 am-9 pm, with extended hours until 9:30 pm from Friday to Sunday.

Grocery news

Sprouts Farmers Market to open new store in Weatherford this summer

Photo courtesy of Sprouts Farmers Market

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Specialty grocery chain Sprouts Farmers Market is opening a new location west of Fort Worth: According to a release, the chain — named Progressive Grocer’s Retailer of the Year — will open a store in Weatherford, at 317 Center Point Rd.

The store will open on July 31.

"Details about the grand opening celebration will be announced closer to the opening date," the company says.

Sprouts is known for its farmers market experience with an open layout featuring fresh produce at the center of the store. Their merchandise leans towards "better-for-you" with lots of organic, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, and more — offering a treasure hunt shopping experience.

Headquartered in Phoenix, they're one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the U.S. with more than 480 stores in 25 states. That includes more than 60 stores in Texas.

Before the Weatherford store opens, it needs employees.

An in-person team member hiring event will take place at the SpringHill Suites Weatherford Willow Park (500 Shops Blvd Willow Park) on Tuesday, June 16, from 8 am-6 pm and Wednesday, June 17, from 8 am-5 pm. Walk-ins will be welcome, and no interviews will be scheduled between 12-1 pm.

The new location will bring 93 full- and part-time career opportunities to Weatherford, they say.

"Sprouts’ healthy approach to grocery shopping means potential team members should share a passion for healthy eating and the fresh, natural and organic products available throughout the store," says the release.

There are some of the positions they'll need to fill:

Deli Clerks, Grocery Clerks, and Meat/Seafood Clerks
Department Managers, Assistant Department Managers and Clerks (Produce, Meat and Seafood, Deli, Grocery, Bakery, Vitamins and Body Care and more)
Cashiers
Courtesy Clerks
Receiver, Administrative Coordinator and Scan Coordinator

Candidates for in-person hiring events may apply online in advance at sprouts.com/careers. Walk-in applicants are also welcome to attend the event as well. Information about date, time, or location changes can be found at www.sprouts.com/careers/hiring-events/.

"Sprouts offers competitive pay, team member discounts, a fun and rewarding culture, and numerous career advancement opportunities," they say.

To learn more about open positions and team member benefits, or to apply, go to sprouts.com/careers.

Headquartered in Phoenix, they're one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the U.S. with more than 440 stores in 24 states nationwide. That includes 58 stores in Texas.

farmers markets grocery openings sprouts weatherford grocery stores