The Current State of Matcha
Matcha’s popularity has steadily grown over the years, but in recent months, demand has surged beyond all expectations. As a result, many matcha suppliers are currently limited and sell out quickly after restocking. Two key factors limit supply: Matcha is typically harvested only once a year. For example, the teas used in Ippodo’s blends are picked in late spring, and farmers cannot harvest more on demand as the annual supply is determined well in advance. Additionally, quality matcha production is a slow, precise process. Traditional stone mills grind only about 40g of matcha per hour, and specialized matcha-processing machines are limited in number. Increasing production speed would compromise quality. Given these circumstances, we urge members to be conscious about their matcha consumption. For matcha lattes, the highest quality powder is not needed, and excessive amounts of powder is not needed to make a great matcha latte.