TOKYO/NIIGATA, Japan -- Japanese food manufacturers are exploring U.S. production to mitigate pricing and supply chain risks ...

Japan's government is encouraging tea producers to farm on a larger scale to reduce costs. But that risks sacrificing quality, and "in small rural areas, it's almost impossible," grower Okutomi said.

Japan's green tea exports, including matcha, rose 25% by value to 36.4 billion yen ($252 million) in 2024, driven largely by ...

Japan's government is encouraging tea producers to farm on a larger scale to reduce costs. But that risks sacrificing quality, and "in small rural areas, it's almost impossible," grower Okutomi said.

In 2024, matcha accounted for over half of the 8,798 tonnes of green tea exported from Japan, according to agriculture ministry data — twice as much as a decade ago. Advertisement 5.

LOS ANGELES - At a minimalist Los Angeles matcha bar, powdered Japanese tea is prepared with precision, despite a global shortage driven by the bright green drink’s social media stardom.

Amid the rising demand, the number of tea plantations in Japan has fallen to a quarter of what it was 20 years ago. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

LOS ANGELES: At a minimalist Los Angeles matcha bar, powdered Japanese tea is prepared with precision, despite a global shortage driven by the bright green drink's social media stardom.