Global matcha tea shortage driving up prices in B.C. [Video]

As global demand for the popular matcha tea beverage grows, producers in Japan have been unable to keep up, leading to a worldwide shortage and price increases, which are being felt by B.C. cafés and importers.

Matcha tea refers to a particular kind of green tea, originally from Japan, that is shade-grown, which makes it vibrantly green. Once the young leaves are picked, they’re de-stemmed and de-veined, then dried and ground to a very fine powder.

The drink and its distinctive green hue have been a trendy choice on social media, where hundreds of thousands of people have watched matcha preparation videos. The green tea is now a regular fixture on café menus.

But as popularity for matcha tea has boomed, experts say production capacity in Japan hasn’t kept up, leading to a shortage that has been driving up prices since last year.

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