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News.com.au
29-07-2025
- News.com.au
Popular drink craze causing global shortage
While Australia has built a reputation for quality coffee, another drink has been quietly growing in popularity down under. Matcha, a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves, has become a viral sensation, thanks to its taste, health benefits, and steadier caffeine boost. However, this worldwide 'matcha mania' has caused a global supply chain issue, with The Japan Times reporting that there may be a matcha shortage this year. Matcha production nearly tripled from 2010 to 2023, Japan's agricultural ministry reports. It also says that green tea exports, including matcha, increased by 25 per cent last year. Experts say that one of the main reasons for the potential shortage is that consumers are now seeking premium matcha. This sort of matcha is traditionally reserved for tea ceremonies, rather than the more affordable, culinary-grade matcha, and people are now using it for 'everyday' use. These higher-grade matchas requires extensive time and effort, which can lead to limited production. Farmers hand pick the tea leaves, dry them, and grind them in specialised stone mills that process less than 60 grams of leaves per hour. Behind the craze Christelle Young, Managing Director of T2, told that although the company has been selling matcha for over 20 years, recent years have seen a noticeable spike. The growing popularity comes down to a few main reasons. 'Matcha fits perfectly with Australia's increasing focus on health, wellness, and mindfulness,' Ms Young said. 'It's rich in antioxidants, L-theanine (which promotes calm and focus), and has less caffeine than coffee, making it an attractive alternative for health-conscious Aussies seeking a balanced energy boost'. She also pointed out that the increased post-pandemic tourism to Japan plays a role, with nearly one million Aussies visiting the country last year. 'As more Australians immerse themselves in Japanese culture, interest in products like matcha continues to grow at home,' she said. Many Aussies are also trying to cut back on coffee, for health or lifestyle reasons. 'Matcha provides a gentle, sustained energy release without the jitters or crash that often comes with coffee,' Ms Young explained. And of course, social media has also fuelled the craze, with thousands of videos showcasing the vibrant, green drink. Influencers and wellness bloggers regularly feature matcha recipes, lattes, and even desserts, inspiring many to try a drink they might not have otherwise known about. In response, T2 has launched trend-driven products like Strawberry Matcha and White Chocolate Matcha, while staying true to its ethos of selling ceremonial-grade, high-quality matcha and supporting growers. 'By working directly with these tea gardens, we've been able to prioritise allocation even in tight supply conditions,' Ms Young explained. Stock levels are closely monitored, and a 'tiered distribution system' ensures flagship stores and online outlets get priority on bestsellers. 'Where necessary, batch allocations help ensure every store can maintain core matcha products, even if some flavoured variants are temporarily out of stock,' she added. The issue has been brewing The first signs of demand stretching Japan's matcha industry emerged late last year when some brands began to limit purchases, raise prices, and temporarily suspend sales. In November, Sydney's Simply Native announced customers could buy only 'one item per brand per person'. Ippodo Tea, which has sold matcha for 300 years, also halted sales of some items, citing the 'recent surge in demand'. However, Anna Poain, director of the Global Japanese Tea Association, said this only caused 'panic buying'. She told The New York Times that demand has soared even higher since last year as buyers try to stockpile, making it increasingly difficult to source in Japan. The industry is ill-prepared for this sudden surge, she claimed, with many Japanese tea farms being small, family-run operations. The government has encouraged tea farmers to shift to growing matcha, but many are hesitant, unsure how long the craze will last. 'Many people say it's here to stay, but who knows,' Ms Poain said. 'Building factories, and other infrastructure, is risky. It's not that easy to do'.
Herald Sun
17-07-2025
- Herald Sun
Melbourne house built around tank seeks $3m sale
A house in Melbourne's northeast featuring a sunken lounge built around a 72,700-litre water tank is ready to make a splash with a $2.75m-$3m sale. The 6.88ha property at 255 Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Rd, Kangaroo Ground, is owned by former T2 Tea director Derek Muirhead and wife Lisa. The couple's five-bedroom abode was originally designed by the late acclaimed architect John Baird of Cuthbert and Partners. RELATED: Saving an iconic Toorak home designed by Arts Centre architect Eltham: Former Australian cricket player Adam Dale and wife Nickie farewell family home Wonga Park house featuring infinity pool, outdoor pizza oven, mountain views up for sale According to the architectural firm Built Heritage Pty Ltd's online Dictionary of Unsung Architects, Mr Baird's projects included several residences across Victoria, an arts and crafts centre at the Beaumaris North State School, a Beaumaris teahouse and the information centre at Newhaven, Phillip Island. Mr Baird established his own housing company, Fairweather Housing, specialising in energy- and cost-efficient kit homes that won industry acclaim including an Australian Design Award and National Energy Award during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1984, he published a book titled By Design: Changing Australian Houses. Barry Plant Eltham's Kathy Purcell said that the Kangaroo Ground house's sunken lounge, wrapped in stacked stone, features a curved wall that backs onto the water tank. The renovated abode also has raked cedar-lined ceilings, large windows, and polished concrete floors throughout the open-plan living and dining spaces. Stone finishes and black-coloured cabinetry are showcased in the kitchen. A wine cellar, gym, decks, an open pergola and a tennis court surrounded by landscaped gardens and bushland are among the other highlights. 'The views are spectacular especially the sunset vistas and Melbourne CBD views,' Ms Purcell said. 'One of my favourite features is the entrance to the home, you walk in to see a beautiful calming designer space and look down the hallway to see a glass-roofed area like an atrium with plants growing inside.' Visitors can access the home via automatic gates and a long driveway. Elsewhere, the outdoor area boasts a dam-fed irrigation system, chicken coop, four-vehicle carport, single garage and barn. Ms Purcell said the house would suit families wanting a retreat-like lifestyle, downsizers and buyers seeking a treechange. 'Kangaroo Ground is still an undiscovered area for Victoria, and is only 45 minutes from the CBD,' she added. The home is close to the Yarra River, park lands, wineries, shops, schools and restaurants. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: $3.75m Eaglemont auction shocks buyers Melbourne houses tipped to hit new high by Christmas Inside Royal family's most scandalous vacation spots
AU Financial Review
10-06-2025
- AU Financial Review
How a passion for tech led Angela Gadaev to the far side of the world
WiseTech's Angela Gadaev, winner of the Financial Review Women in Leadership Award's Tech and telco category, arrived from Belarus with hardly any English but is now in charge of 14 teams in 13 countries.
