@pbsnews: Wondering why your favorite coffee shop may be out, or limiting their matcha? The bright green tea has become so popular it's facing a shortage. A rise in social media presence highlighting the possible coffee alternative has sparked increased online and in coffee shops – so much so that Japanese tea farmers aren't able to meet the high demand. PBS News spoke with Frankie Contreras, co-owner of Little Hat Coffee in Washington, D.C. who has been out of matcha for the last month and whose suppliers warned of the shortage, "They've told me a while back, maybe three months ago, that they were gonna limit retail sales, they were going to limit the amount of drinks they sold at their own shop. They were telling me that now, anytime I ordered, there would be a two to four week wait for the order. But now it's like, hey, it's six weeks out." Weather, exacerbated by climate changes, an increase in demand, a labor-intensive tea and a low supply of matcha tea farmers is making it hard to meet the drink's high demand. In order to increase matcha production, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, forestry and fisheries announced a plan to help matcha tea farmers financially. So the next time you reach for this bright green treat, that was originally brewed special for Japanese tea ceremonies, remember that "matcha is not merely a drink," said Anna Poian co-founder of the Global Japanese Tea Association. "It takes lots of time and effort to grow the tea plants, to prepare the tea plants for matcha to process... it takes lots of people, lots of effort and lots of time. So please do appreciate your tea when you drink it." #pbsnews #news #matcha #japan #tea

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Monday 19 May 2025 13:34:13 GMT