Matcha has been used in Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries, and its incorporation into Western-style cakes began in the 20th century as a fusion trend. Today, matcha cake represents a blend of Japanese tradition and modern dessert culture, celebrating the earthy flavor of powdered green tea.

In Japan, matcha cake can appear as a light sponge (matcha roll), a dense butter cake, or as part of wagashi (traditional sweets) like matcha daifuku. Some regions add red bean paste or chestnut puree for local flavor twists.

While not a classic Japanese celebration cake, modern Japanese bakeries often serve strawberry‑matcha cakes at birthdays and seasonal festivals, garnished with fresh berries and edible flowers to highlight the spring aesthetic.

Strawberry matcha cake is popular for birthdays, graduations, and spring‑time events such as cherry‑blossom festivals, where the green‑and‑red color scheme symbolizes renewal and joy.

The combination of earthy matcha with sweet strawberry creates a balanced contrast that highlights both flavors. The bright green sponge paired with a strawberry‑infused French buttercream offers a luxurious texture not found in traditional Japanese sweets.

Common errors include overmixing the batter, which makes the cake dense, and using too much liquid strawberry puree, which can cause the buttercream to become runny. Also, failing to let the cake layers fully cool before frosting leads to a melted finish.

French buttercream provides a stable, buttery texture that holds up to the moisture from the strawberry compote and the coolness of the matcha sponge, whereas whipped cream may weep and lose shape over time.

Yes. Bake and cool the layers up to two days in advance, store them wrapped in plastic. Keep the strawberry compote and buttercream refrigerated, then assemble the cake the day you plan to serve. Refrigerate the finished cake and bring to room temperature before slicing.

The YouTube channel Cakes by Jena specializes in creative, visually striking cake designs, often featuring bold flavor combinations like matcha and fruit, and provides step‑by‑step tutorials for home bakers.

Cakes by Jena blends traditional Japanese ingredients such as matcha with classic Western cake techniques, focusing on vibrant color palettes and detailed decorative elements like edible flowers, which sets the channel apart from purely Western or purely Japanese baking channels.