From Ceremony to Cafe - The Rise of Matcha

With what first began as a drink that was reserved for the elite, matcha has taken over the world by storm. It used to only be consumed by Buddhist monks and samurai warriors as a long-standing tradition, but now, its presence can be found anywhere in all sorts of beverages and desserts. Will its popularity continue to rise, or will it only remain as a trend like many others during this generation?

Matcha has many roots, with its earliest coming from China during the Tang Dynasty from the 7th-10th century. The tea leaves would first be extracted then steamed in order to form bricks. This was to ensure that the leaves would be able to withstand the conditions that it would be put through during transport and trade. To prepare the tea, they would have to break off a piece of the brick and ground it into a fine powder, before mixing it together with hot water for consumption. 

Moving into the Song Dynasty from 960-1279, the tea had taken on an approach that resembled how modern matcha is prepared. The leaves would be stone-ground into a fine powder which would then be whisked with hot water. This created a rich, frothy drink that Buddhist monks and scholars would indulge in for its calming and energizing properties. 
Matcha would make its way to Japan through a Buddhist monk named Eisai, who returned from his pilgrimage to China in the 12th century. He had brought back tea seeds and planted them on mountains, as well as gifting them to another monk named Myoue Shounin. He planted the seeds near a temple in the Uji region of Japan which remains as the region that produces the highest quality of matcha available today. 

Matcha’s popularity continued to grow throughout the years, becoming a staple of Japanese tea ceremonies as a form of art that emphasizes simplicity and mindfulness. By the 21st century, it had become a daily drink for many. It can be seen used in lattes, smoothie bowls, and has even been infused in skincare products for its health benefits. However, this rapid demand for matcha has become too much for Japan.

The production process is very tedious, and with matcha leaves only being harvested once a year, it is natural to see that matcha has become scarce in many parts of the world. Though the popularity of matcha has dimmed down, it has grown exponentially for the rest of the world. Between 2010-2023 the production has increased by three-fold in order to keep up with the demand. 

Matcha will never fully run out, so there is no need to stockpile tins of matcha powder; keep in mind that there is an expiry date. So, let others have their cold whisks before you turn into shrek.