The Quest for Matcha Alternatives

With Japanese matcha supplies running low, tea aficionados look to the United States for healthy alternatives.
The Quest for Matcha Alternatives
A shortage of matcha is fuelling demand for alternatives. Daryna7/Shutterstock
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Japanese matcha production has almost tripled over the past decade—but it’s still far from enough to meet demand.

With health fiends and trendy influencers touting the drink on social media, consumption has skyrocketed. Social media has transformed a beverage once reserved for tranquil tea ceremonies into a fashionable, on-the-go caffeine fix—a trend that Japanese producers of quality matcha cannot keep up with.

Alexandra Roach
Alexandra Roach
Author
Alexandra Roach is a board-certified holistic health practitioner, community herbalist, and master gardener. She studied sustainable food and farming and lives with her family on an off-grid permaculture homestead. Roach works as a journalist and author, and writes with a broad perspective on health, gardening, and lifestyle choices.