In an age of fierce geopolitical tension, it’s easy to lump all Chinese exports into the same category: state-subsidised oversupply flooding western markets.
However, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to matcha. As your Big Read shows (“Can Japan satisfy the world’s thirst for matcha?”, October 10), the enormous surge in demand for matcha in the UK and the rest of the world is causing some serious global shortages.
This trend compelled me to turn to China as a source of supply.
As a business owner, I found Chinese matcha to be a great commercial delight. I discovered matcha of comparable grade to Japan’s, for half the price, sometimes even less.
And as a certified tea sommelier, I found Chinese matcha intriguing. Though there was a fair share of pretty rubbish matcha, if one looks there are certainly gems that rival what Japan has to offer. Perhaps not the grand cru of matcha, but premier cru it certainly is.
So perhaps China turning its hand to this rediscovered agricultural export may end up bringing good to the world — or at least to Gen Z and yuppy millennials, who will no longer have to pay £5 for a cup of matcha.
Raphael Chow
Managing Director & Co-founder, Brut Tea, London W1, UK