Production of tencha, the raw material used to make matcha, has begun in Yamazoe, Nara Prefecture, a village known for producing Yamato tea, with around 20 tons expected to be manufactured by the end of July.
With matcha facing shortages amid a global boom, attention is now turning to another traditional Japanese ingredient: yomogi.
Japanese donuts shop Misdo released limited time donuts 'UJI Matcha Donut Series'. (japanesestuffchannel)
The Imperial Hotel Kyoto is set to open on March 5th in the heart of Gion, one of Kyoto’s most renowned districts, with the interior unveiled to the media on March 2nd ahead of its debut.
The global matcha boom is driving up costs in Japan’s historic tea capital, with Uji City in Kyoto Prefecture set to raise usage fees at its municipal tea rooms by roughly 50% as soaring demand pushes up the price of tencha, the raw material used to produce matcha.
A large discount retailer Don Quijote has opened its first inbound-focused specialty store in the Kansai region in Kyoto City, aiming to better serve the growing number of overseas visitors.
A sweets event celebrating anko, or sweet red bean paste, is drawing large crowds in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district, reflecting a growing perception that traditional Japanese confections offer a more “guilt-free” indulgence than chocolate as visitors line up to enjoy an array of bean-based desserts.
The global matcha boom is showing no signs of slowing, with producers saying demand has surged to unprecedented levels and prices have jumped sharply, raising concerns that the trend is shifting from a boom into a bubble.
Hotels in major tourist destinations are beginning to change as China’s call for restraint on travel to Japan reduces the number of group tours, with some Kyoto properties now offering rooms for as little as 3,000 yen per night, a level that would have been unthinkable during the recent inbound tourism boom.
As Matcha’s popularity continues to climb, with overseas shipments expanding sharply and exports increasing more than tenfold over the past 15 years as global demand strengthens. Japan is encouraging tea growers to shift production to tencha, the raw material used to make matcha. While it may seem logical that farmers should simply increase production if matcha is selling so well, growers say the reality is far more complex.
Two tea buyers from London arrived in Fukuoka on October 28th to explore the unique appeal of Yame tea, one of Japan’s most celebrated green teas. The visit, organized by Fukuoka Prefecture as part of efforts to expand agricultural exports, aimed to introduce the rich aroma and depth of Yame tea to the United Kingdom, a nation long associated with black tea culture.
Japan byFood and Shizuka are on a quest to try out the best bakeries in Tokyo, proving how the town won the Pastry World Cup in Lyon earlier this year. It’s not a secret how Japan is at the top tier of the food game, but to secure the gold medal for the second time in a row?
News no longer ends at the headline. It begins there. A story in Tokyo might start in a newspaper, but before the day is over, it is being reshared on Instagram, dissected in comments and reimagined in memes.
Japan’s tea culture has long been woven into everyday life, but an unprecedented global boom in matcha is forcing a shift that is putting sencha, the familiar green tea, under pressure.
A worldwide boom in matcha has fueled what some are calling a “matcha bubble,” sending the price of tea leaves sharply higher.
Foreign demand for Japan’s matcha has surged to unprecedented levels, pushing prices sharply higher and prompting talk of a ‘bubble’. Producers are reaping gains, but some in the industry warn that sustained price increases could accelerate a drift away from tea among Japanese consumers.
Hyogo Prefectural Police School is often called Japan’s toughest. The academy imposes grueling, highly regimented training designed to test aptitude—what the school calls the “kyojo,” a crucible that weeds out those who are not suited to police work.
An increasing number of South Korean men are traveling to Japan to find Japanese wives, with some making repeated trips each year until they meet a potential partner. Behind this trend lies a mix of cultural expectations and economic pressures.
Matcha, once a traditional Japanese favorite, has now become a global sensation—but the surge in demand is causing a severe shortage. Leading tea company Ito En has announced that it will raise prices by up to twofold to cope with the growing supply-demand imbalance.
Shizuka’s quest to try the most viral food continues! Join us as we step into Asakusa, the home to the infamous shrine packed with street food alleys. This time Shizuka is trying SEVEN viral street foods… Are they worth the hype? (Japan by Food)
In Kobe, a company that has been processing and selling kelp for over 60 years has begun exporting its products overseas as domestic consumption declines. The company turned to a service called ZenPlus, a platform that sells overlooked Japanese products to global customers. ZenPlus offers over 9 million items across 175 countries, charging a 10% commission only when a sale is made.
Kyoto’s famed tea industry is facing a dramatic shift, as a surge in demand for matcha among foreign tourists is reshaping tea fields and driving up prices. What was once a tranquil green landscape has increasingly been replaced with black sheets used to produce tencha, the base ingredient of matcha.
In Paris, a new Japanese twist on a French classic is attracting widespread attention. A dessert combining matcha, crème brûlée, and crepes has become a viral hit, largely fueled by social media buzz.
A new matcha product priced at 4,320 yen for just 30 grams is drawing attention amid a global boom in Japanese green tea, as surging demand has made matcha increasingly difficult to procure even within Japan.
A traditional tea maker in Kyoto is raising concerns over Chinese-made products being sold under the name "Uji matcha," a term long associated with premium green tea grown and produced in parts of Kyoto Prefecture.