Soundside

A lot of people love matcha... And that's causing some problems


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It’s not just your imagination: Matcha is actually getting harder to track down these days.  

The green drink has become a hot commodity in the past few years, blowing up on TikTok and taking up more real estate on your favorite coffee shop’s menu. Japan’s tea industry has struggled to keep pace with the fervor. There’ve been reports of a global shortage and price hikes. 

In this episode, we hear about Miro Tea's experience of the shortage before checking in with Bettina Makalintal, a senior reporter at Eater, who gave us a broader look at what's going on with matcha. 

Guest:

  • Jeannie Liu, owner of Miro Tea
  • Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter at Eater 

Related stories: 

  • A Matcha Shortage Hits TikTok’s Favorite Japanese Tea Brands | Eater
  • It’s not easy finding green as matcha shortage hits Seattle shops | The Seattle Times
  • Matcha: World's thirst for the tea swallows global supplies

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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