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

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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

It&rsquo;s not just your imagination: Matcha is actually getting harder to track down these days.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s menu. Japan&rsquo;s tea industry has struggled to keep pace with the fervor. There&rsquo;ve been reports of a global shortage and price hikes.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Jeannie Liu, owner of Miro Tea</li>
<li>Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter at Eater&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related stories:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.eater.com/24306549/japan-matcha-shortage-explained-matchatok-marukyu-koyamaen">A Matcha Shortage Hits TikTok&rsquo;s Favorite Japanese Tea Brands | Eater</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/its-not-easy-finding-green-as-matcha-shortage-hits-seattle-shops/">It&rsquo;s not easy finding green as matcha shortage hits Seattle shops | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq7w1n00xeo">Matcha: World's thirst for the tea swallows global supplies</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Matcha is getting harder to track down these days. We asked a local shop if they've been affected by the shortage, then talked to a reporter about why there's a shortage in the first place. 

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