Global Matcha Shortage 2025: Why the UK’s Matcha Lovers Are Feeling the Impact

Matcha green tea powder — long celebrated in Japanese culture—is facing a global shortage in 2025, and the UK is one of the most affected regions. With the UK’s matcha consumption at an all-time high, this ceremonial green tea is flying off shelves, sparking concerns among health-conscious consumers, cafes, and wellness brands alike.

In this article, we explore:

  • The cause of the global matcha shortage
  • The rising demand for matcha in the UK
  • The health benefits of matcha powder
  • Reviews of the best matcha products available on medino right now

What’s Causing the 2025 Matcha Shortage?

The matcha shortage is being driven by two major factors:

  1. Extreme weather conditions in Japan, especially in Uji and Nishio (the heartlands of high-quality ceremonial-grade matcha), have significantly reduced crop yields.
  2. Skyrocketing global demand, particularly from the UK, United States, and Europe, is far outpacing supply.

Since matcha production is highly labour-intensive—requiring shading, hand-harvesting, and stone grinding—scaling operations quickly is nearly impossible. This bottleneck is causing both price increases** and supply delays across international markets.

Matcha Consumption in the UK Is Booming

Over the past two years, the UK has seen a dramatic increase in matcha tea powder sales, fueled by:

  • The wellness boom and preference for clean, functional beverages
  • The rise of matcha lattes, iced matcha drinks, and matcha-infused recipes
  • Influencer marketing and TikTok trends touting matcha’s clean energy benefits

Cafés across London, Manchester, and Brighton now feature matcha prominently on their menus. Health stores and e-commerce sites are struggling to keep high-quality matcha in stock, especially premium-grade options.

Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea

One of the main reasons for matcha’s soaring popularity in the UK is its impressive health profile. Unlike regular green tea, matcha green tea powder involves consuming the entire leaf, making it far richer in nutrients.

Top Health Benefits of Matcha:

  • High in antioxidants, especially EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which supports cellular health and may reduce inflammation
  • Calm energy boost thanks to L-theanine combined with natural caffeine
  • Supports metabolism and fat oxidation, aiding in weight management
  • Enhances mental focus and clarity
  • Detoxifies the body with high chlorophyll content

Best Matcha Products

With shortages affecting availability, choosing high-quality, trusted matcha brands is more important than ever. Here are four of the top matcha products you can find at Medino.

🥇 KIKI Health Organic Premium Ceremonial Matcha Powder

Best ceremonial-grade matcha

This ultra-fine, bright green matcha comes from first-harvest tea leaves grown in Japan. With a rich umami flavour and smooth texture, it’s perfect for traditional tea ceremonies or creamy matcha lattes.
Ideal for: Pure matcha drinkers and matcha purists

🌿 Planet Paleo Pure Collagen Matcha Latte

Best matcha latte blend with added collagen

Combining premium matcha with grass-fed collagen peptides and coconut milk powder, this blend is ideal for those looking to support joint, skin, and gut health. It mixes easily and delivers creamy, energising results.
Ideal for: Beauty-conscious consumers, athletes, and wellness enthusiasts

🍵 Indigo Teas Organic Matcha Tea Powder

Best affordable everyday matcha

This versatile, mid-grade matcha is great for smoothies, baking, and daily matcha lattes. The grassy, fresh flavour makes it a solid choice for anyone looking to enjoy matcha regularly without breaking the bank.
Ideal for: Matcha beginners and recipe creators

🧠 Mushrooms For Life Organic Lion’s Mane Matcha Latte

Best functional matcha latte for focus and brain support

This smart blend combines matcha with organic Lion’s Mane mushroom extract, known for its cognitive and neurological benefits. It’s a great alternative to coffee for students, professionals, and biohackers.
Ideal for: Focus, productivity, and brain health support

As the global matcha shortage continues to affect availability and prices in the UK, it's more important than ever to:

  • Choose high-quality, organic matcha from trusted brands
  • Explore matcha latte blends that combine functional ingredients

Despite the current challenges, matcha’s place in UK wellness culture is firmly rooted. As demand grows and producers adapt, we can expect the market to stabilise, though premium matcha may remain a luxury item for the near future.