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lifestyle · 2 outlets · 2 linked reports

The Great Matcha Shortage of 2026 Sends Prices Soaring

2026-07-07

AI-assisted: summaries and questions may be incomplete or incorrect. Verify important details with the linked original reporting.

Summary

A global shortage of tencha — the shade-grown leaf used for ceremonial matcha — has persisted since late 2024, described as the first matcha shortage in history.
Demand has jumped roughly eightfold in five years on social-media and wellness trends, while a tea bush takes about five years to mature and Japan lost 53,000 tea farmers from 2000-2020.
Tencha auction prices roughly doubled to about ¥10,843 (~$72) a kilo in 2026, and Tokyo shops imposed one-tin-per-customer limits.

The question

The matcha craze has outrun Japan's ability to supply it.

Original reporting

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