Supplies of matcha are dwindling, thanks to lattes and TikTok videos

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Matcha is a fine powder made from green tea leaves. It’s traditionally drunk suspended in hot water, but in recent years, it has become a staple of coffee shops and restaurants, mixed into everything from lattes to desserts.
Early forms of matcha originated in 8th-century China, but the matcha we know today developed in 16th-century Japan, where the beverage was served to elites during specialized “tea ceremonies.”

“Suddenly you can’t get matcha,” said Leo Lukidi, whose Las Vegas specialty tea shop, Tea and Whisk, has been selling matcha for nine years. “Suddenly everyone wants matcha.”

Here’s what we know about the recent matcha boom — and the shortage it’s causing.
Caption from article by Julian Mark and Margot Amouyal