Berliner Boersenzeitung - Matcha: the Japanese tea taking over the world

EUR -
AED 4.32593
AFN 82.295267
ALL 97.926267
AMD 452.928986
ANG 2.108042
AOA 1080.158129
ARS 1450.538131
AUD 1.798909
AWG 2.123211
AZN 1.97697
BAM 1.955925
BBD 2.378252
BDT 144.489247
BGN 1.956569
BHD 0.443228
BIF 3509.024569
BMD 1.177925
BND 1.500096
BOB 8.139521
BRL 6.382709
BSD 1.177875
BTN 100.523433
BWP 15.600998
BYN 3.854647
BYR 23087.337533
BZD 2.365951
CAD 1.60298
CDF 3398.314928
CHF 0.935405
CLF 0.028538
CLP 1095.130086
CNY 8.440309
CNH 8.439248
COP 4689.40011
CRC 594.838068
CUC 1.177925
CUP 31.215023
CVE 110.272057
CZK 24.646319
DJF 209.743423
DKK 7.461447
DOP 70.494511
DZD 152.109735
EGP 58.022713
ERN 17.668881
ETB 163.469162
FJD 2.637608
FKP 0.862849
GBP 0.862601
GEL 3.203818
GGP 0.862849
GHS 12.19078
GIP 0.862849
GMD 84.211304
GNF 10215.653777
GTQ 9.05658
GYD 246.425771
HKD 9.246005
HNL 30.773969
HRK 7.536423
HTG 154.649897
HUF 399.191421
IDR 19062.013117
ILS 3.944854
IMP 0.862849
INR 101.068059
IQD 1542.998748
IRR 49620.106802
ISK 142.446945
JEP 0.862849
JMD 188.002032
JOD 0.835193
JPY 170.169006
KES 152.179739
KGS 103.009937
KHR 4732.302856
KMF 492.373362
KPW 1060.132846
KRW 1605.924511
KWD 0.359609
KYD 0.981663
KZT 611.719149
LAK 25381.624361
LBP 105536.55408
LKR 353.392616
LRD 236.165114
LSL 20.719226
LTL 3.478107
LVL 0.712515
LYD 6.344406
MAD 10.572177
MDL 19.84127
MGA 5300.339209
MKD 61.533938
MMK 2473.327643
MNT 4221.28704
MOP 9.523609
MRU 46.748992
MUR 52.94746
MVR 18.142013
MWK 2042.530717
MXN 21.945869
MYR 4.972025
MZN 75.339722
NAD 20.719226
NGN 1802.155048
NIO 43.342774
NOK 11.881143
NPR 160.837293
NZD 1.94009
OMR 0.452069
PAB 1.177875
PEN 4.176667
PGK 4.865311
PHP 66.570507
PKR 334.365799
PLN 4.24495
PYG 9386.600719
QAR 4.304976
RON 5.059074
RSD 117.1875
RUB 92.855943
RWF 1693.208361
SAR 4.415728
SBD 9.820275
SCR 16.592062
SDG 707.341474
SEK 11.264385
SGD 1.500088
SHP 0.925664
SLE 26.444823
SLL 24700.510663
SOS 673.143079
SRD 44.036776
STD 24380.677234
SVC 10.30666
SYP 15315.299293
SZL 20.703325
THB 38.117794
TJS 11.454733
TMT 4.134518
TND 3.43182
TOP 2.758819
TRY 46.916791
TTD 7.988511
TWD 34.086798
TZS 3109.799019
UAH 49.123144
UGX 4225.270407
USD 1.177925
UYU 47.273025
UZS 14790.946584
VES 128.95161
VND 30838.086562
VUV 139.49984
WST 3.053192
XAF 655.998982
XAG 0.031783
XAU 0.000353
XCD 3.183402
XDR 0.815852
XOF 655.998982
XPF 119.331742
YER 285.234647
ZAR 20.734148
ZMK 10602.732671
ZMW 28.533826
ZWL 379.291493
  • CMSC

    0.0900

    22.314

    +0.4%

  • CMSD

    0.0250

    22.285

    +0.11%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    69.04

    0%

  • SCS

    0.0400

    10.74

    +0.37%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    53

    +0.06%

  • RIO

    -0.1400

    59.33

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.1300

    41.45

    +0.31%

  • NGG

    0.2700

    71.48

    +0.38%

  • BP

    0.1750

    30.4

    +0.58%

  • BTI

    0.7150

    48.215

    +1.48%

  • BCC

    0.7900

    91.02

    +0.87%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    9.85

    +0.1%

  • BCE

    -0.0600

    22.445

    -0.27%

  • RYCEF

    0.1000

    12

    +0.83%

  • AZN

    -0.1200

    73.71

    -0.16%

Matcha: the Japanese tea taking over the world
Matcha: the Japanese tea taking over the world / Photo: Philip FONG - AFP

Matcha: the Japanese tea taking over the world

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.

Text size:

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.

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.

"But people are also attracted to the Japanese culture around tea: the ritual, the time taken, the aesthetics," he said.

- 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.

"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.

(L.Kaufmann--BBZ)