What does a bowl of matcha have to do with power, diplomacy and Japan’s instinct for managing relationships? The answer lies beyond the tea room.
To most people around the world, matcha is a beverage, a wellness trend, or a symbol of Japanese culture. The thick green tea prepared with finely ground, shade-grown leaves and the practice of the tea ceremony have attracted inbound tourists and created a soaring global demand for premium matcha that outweighs the production capacity. Business elites worldwide embrace matcha because of its capacity to calm and focus the mind, while the preparation process is perceived as a Zen-like mindfulness ritual.
