{"id":19714,"date":"2025-08-21T11:52:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=19714"},"modified":"2025-08-21T11:52:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:52:15","slug":"can-your-matcha-addiction-survive-a-shortage-and-tariffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=19714","title":{"rendered":"Can Your Matcha Addiction Survive a Shortage and Tariffs?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Matcha \u2014 a green tea powder deeply rooted in Japanese tea ceremonies \u2014 has surged in U.S. popularity in recent years. Its vibrant green color has become a social media staple, flaunted by influencers and wellness-conscious consumers.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Performative as it may seem, matcha is also addictively delicious \u2014 at least to some. To others, it just tastes like grass. But as anyone who has developed a habit for the earthy beverage will tell you, it\u2019s also incredibly expensive. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I couldn\u2019t possibly count how much I\u2019ve paid for matcha since I first started drinking it in 2020 and if I could, I\u2019d be embarrassed. In a moment of weakness, I once spent $11.50 on a latte, an unusually high price even for New York City, where I live. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But like any consumables, there\u2019s no price ceiling \u2014 especially during a shortage, as with matcha. A limited supply combined with <\/span>steep new U.S. tariffs<\/span> could make both your \u2014 and my \u2014 daily fix that much more expensive. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

How much does matcha typically cost? <\/span><\/h2>\n
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Matcha represents a small portion of the U.S. tea market, says Peter Goggi, president of the Tea Association of USA, a trade group representing U.S. tea interests. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe U.S. is very predominantly a black tea\u2013drinking nation, and more than 70% of the tea consumed here is iced tea,\u201d says Goggi. \u201cSo we\u2019re a very different market than any other tea-consuming market in the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Goggi says that matcha represents roughly 2.8% of the U.S. tea market by dollars \u2014 and even smaller by weight. At the end of the day, matcha is just powdered tencha leaves, which can be served hot or cold with water and as a latte with milk. Even so, the price can vary drastically on the shelf and in cafes depending on the location and type of matcha served. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chains are no exception. Starbucks\u2019s grande iced matcha latte costs $6.80 at my nearby Starbucks in Brooklyn. My colleagues logged $5.25 in Ann Arbor, Mich.; $5.89 in Tucker, Ga.; $5.95 in Ripon, Calif.; and $6.01 in Seattle. The coffee super giant recently added an upcharge for additional matcha powder.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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If you make matcha at home, the price for a tin or bag of powder varies drastically by brand and amount, but also by tea leaf grade, which is used as an unofficial classification in the tea industry. One ounce of matcha can make roughly 14 servings of tea. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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