Latest news with #matcha
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Business
- 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'.
News24
2 days ago
- Health
- News24
Matcha: The Japanese tea taking over the world
Matcha, the vibrant powdered green tea with deep cultural ties to Japanese tea ceremonies, has become a global sensation. It is heralded for its unique taste, health benefits, and photogenic appeal, rich antioxidant levels and calming properties which have captured the interest of wellness enthusiasts and social media influencers alike. However, as global demand soars beyond Japan's ability to keep pace, matcha remains synonymous with quality craftsmanship and Japanese tradition. Matcha is the new drink of choice at hip cafes worldwide, but Japanese producers are struggling to keep up with soaring demand for the powdered green tea. Here's what you need to know about the drink beloved of weekend treat-seekers and 'wellness' influencers: What is matcha? The word matcha means 'ground tea' in Japanese and comes in the form of a vivid green powder that is whisked with hot water and can be added to milk to make a matcha latte. Green tea was introduced to Japan from China in the early ninth century, and was first used for medicinal purposes. Matcha came much later, in 16th century Kyoto -- part of the tea ceremony tradition developed by tea master Sen no Rikyu. Today, there are different grades of matcha quality, from 'ceremonial' to 'culinary' types used in baking. How is it produced? Matcha is made from leaves called 'tencha', which are grown in the shade in the final weeks before their harvest to concentrate the flavour, colour and nutrients. This 'requires the construction of a complex structure with poles and a roof to filter the light', explained Masahiro Okutomi, a tea producer in Sayama, northwest of Tokyo. Tencha leaves, rich in chlorophyll and L-theanine, a compound known for its relaxing effects, are hand-picked and deveined, then steamed, dried and ground between two stone mills to produce an ultra-fine powder. AFP It can take up to an hour to produce just 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of matcha - making the powder on average twice as expensive to produce as standard green tea leaves. What are its benefits? Many drink matcha for its rich grass-like taste, but others are drawn to the drink's nutritional properties. It is rich in antioxidants, and can aid concentration because of its caffeine content: one cup contains on average 48 milligrams, slightly less than a drip coffee but nearly twice as much as a standardly brewed green tea. 'Matcha is often seen as being good for your health,' said Shigehito Nishikida, manager of Tokyo tea shop Jugetsudo. Why is it so popular? Japan produced 4 176 tonnes of matcha in 2023 - a huge increase from the 1 430 tonnes in 2012. More than half of the powder is exported, according to the agriculture ministry, mostly to the United States, Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Millions of videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube demonstrate how to make photogenic matcha drinks or choose a traditional 'chasen' bamboo whisk. READ | 'I feel like Gen Z really drove this enthusiasm for matcha, and they heavily relied on social media to do so,' Stevie Youssef, a 31-year-old marketing professional, told AFP at a matcha bar in Los Angeles. Matcha can also be used in cooking, extending its appeal to others aside from tea lovers. 'Some customers simply enjoy drinking it, others like preparing it themselves. And of course, many buy it as a gift - Japanese matcha is always appreciated,' said Jugetsudo's Nishikida.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Matcha latte prices set to soar as global craze and record-breaking heatwave fuel supply chain crisis
Record temperatures and an increasing global demand has stretched Japan 's supply of matcha this year, leading prices to rocket. Farmers and industry officials have spoken out as they struggle to meet the ever-increasing demand for the bright green tea drink from Japan, which has peaked in popularity this year. Matcha's popularity has been growing over recent years, with sales soaring by 202 percent in the UK in 2023 alone according to Orion Market Research. The antioxidant rich beverage has reached its apex this year, driven by social media and Japan's post-pandemic tourism boom. The Kyoto region, which accounts for a quarter of Japan's production of tencha - the stemmed leaves dried and ground into matcha - was hit by severe heatwaves last summer during Japan's hottest year on record, which led to weak yields in the recent April-May harvest. US-based tea importer Lauren Purvis told the BBC her customers were seeing what was once a month's supply run out in days: "Some cafes are even asking for a kilo a day. They're desperate to keep up," the Mizuba Tea Co. owner said. Masahiro Yoshida, a sixth-generation farmer, was only able to harvest 1.5 tons of tencha this year, down a quarter from his typical harvest of two tons. 'Last year's summer was so hot that it damaged the bushes, so we couldn't pluck as many tea leaves,' he told Reuters from his storefront in Uji, south of Kyoto. Traditionally, the tencha leaves are kept under shade for weeks while growing in order to develop the tea's 'umami' taste. The leaves are then harvested, dried and ground into powder using stone mills. Tealife founder Yuki Ishii told Reuters that it saw a ten-fold increase in demand for matcha from customers, despite the amount available from Japan declining. 'I'm basically always out of stock," he said. Japan produced 5,336 tons of tencha in 2024, nearly three times more than a decade before as more farmer's switch to the crop, according the Japanese Tea production Association. Despite this, the association expects lower matcha output this year. As well as surging demand and lesser tea crops this year, US tariffs on Japan have pushed up matcha prices. On Tuesday, Washington and Tokyo announced a trade deal which means there will be a 15 per cent import tax on Japanese products going into the US. The move has led matcha distributors to brace for the impact, with Ms Purvis saying orders surged by more than 70 per cent in early July ahead of a deadline for the two countries to reach a trade agreement. 'As Japanese tea is not grown in the US, there is no American industry under threat that tariffs need to protect,' she told the BBC. 'We hope there will be a realisation that specialty tea should be exempt.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Matcha craze sparks global supply chain issues amid huge demand and record-breaking heatwave
Record temperatures and an increasing global demand has stretched Japan 's supply of matcha this year, leading prices to rocket. Farmers and industry officials have spoken out as they struggle to meet the ever-increasing demand for the bright green tea drink from Japan, which has peaked in popularity this year. Matcha's popularity has been growing over recent years, with sales soaring by 202 percent in the UK in 2023 alone according to Orion Market Research. The antioxidant rich beverage has reached its apex this year, driven by social media and Japan's post-pandemic tourism boom. The Kyoto region, which accounts for a quarter of Japan's production of tencha - the stemmed leaves dried and ground into matcha - was hit by severe heatwaves last summer during Japan's hottest year on record, which led to weak yields in the recent April-May harvest. US-based tea importer Lauren Purvis told the BBC her customers were seeing what was once a month's supply run out in days: "Some cafes are even asking for a kilo a day. They're desperate to keep up," the Mizuba Tea Co. owner said. Masahiro Yoshida, a sixth-generation farmer, was only able to harvest 1.5 tons of tencha this year, down a quarter from his typical harvest of two tons. 'Last year's summer was so hot that it damaged the bushes, so we couldn't pluck as many tea leaves,' he told Reuters from his storefront in Uji, south of Kyoto. Traditionally, the tencha leaves are kept under shade for weeks while growing in order to develop the tea's 'umami' taste. The leaves are then harvested, dried and ground into powder using stone mills. Tealife founder Yuki Ishii told Reuters that it saw a ten-fold increase in demand for matcha from customers, despite the amount available from Japan declining. 'I'm basically always out of stock," he said. Japan produced 5,336 tons of tencha in 2024, nearly three times more than a decade before as more farmer's switch to the crop, according the Japanese Tea production Association. Despite this, the association expects lower matcha output this year. As well as surging demand and lesser tea crops this year, US tariffs on Japan have pushed up matcha prices. On Tuesday, Washington and Tokyo announced a trade deal which means there will be a 15 per cent import tax on Japanese products going into the US. The move has led matcha distributors to brace for the impact, with Ms Purvis saying orders surged by more than 70 per cent in early July ahead of a deadline for the two countries to reach a trade agreement. 'As Japanese tea is not grown in the US, there is no American industry under threat that tariffs need to protect,' she told the BBC. 'We hope there will be a realisation that specialty tea should be exempt.'
ABC News
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- ABC News
Will you have to pay more for your matcha soon?
Influencers tout matcha as a cleaner, calmer caffeine hit that comes with a dose of antioxidants, but the social craze has pushed supply chains to the brink, and the lovers of this trendy drink could soon be paying more.
