News article
Matcha production accelerates as November brings 'tea person's New Year'; global boom drives raw-material costs higher
As November approaches—marked in tea ceremony as the "tea person's New Year" when the kiln-opening ritual begins—matcha production is intensifying across Uji tea country. Marukyu Koyamaen, a 300-year-old manufacturer, is running its stone mills at full capacity, grinding fresh leaf into powder at about 40 grams per hour per mill to preserve flavor. Global matcha demand has driven raw-leaf prices sharply higher; the company has raised prices twice in the past year, with matcha…
「茶人の正月」で抹茶の需要が本格化 世界的ブームで原材料値上がり 京都府南部の工場をのぞくと - 京都新聞デジタル
Key points
- November marks the traditional 'tea person's New Year' in tea ceremony (炉開き); matcha demand peaks as the season opens.
- Marukyu Koyamaen produces ~40 grams of matcha per hour per stone mill to prevent friction-heat damage; each mill require…
- Raw tea-leaf costs have surged; matcha prices have doubled after two increases in the past year, driven by global boom d…
- Strong inbound and domestic demand persists despite price doubling; the maker now rations sales volume rather than expan…
Read the full article at the source ↗
You're reading the free briefing — upgrade to unlock every story and read any full article in English, one click.
About this article
The numbers
Stone mill output per hour: 40 g
Matcha price increase: ~2×
Marukyu Koyamaen history: over 300 years
What they said
“We maintain the mill grooves constantly.”
臼の溝も常にメンテナンスしている
“I want to make products of stable quality and deliver them to tea practitioners across the country.”
安定した品質の製品を作り、全国の茶道家に届けたい
Unlock every story on Matcha Wire.
All articles open, plus read any full article in English in
one click — $75/mo, cancel anytime.
See what you get →
Comments
Create a free account or sign in to join the conversation.
Be the first to comment.