Limited Availability of Bancha Teas

Today, we are sharing an update on a shift in the Japanese tea industry that is affecting the availability of our bancha category teas, including hojicha and genmaicha.

The Context

Global demand for matcha has dramatically increased in recent years. To meet this demand, many tea farmers are dedicating more fields to shaded tea plants to produce tencha, the base material for matcha.

The Impact on Bancha

As a blender, Ippodo sources from diverse farms to maintain the specific flavor and quality of each tea.

We are now seeing the direct effects of the recent shift in production within the bancha category (including hojicha and genmaicha).

Unfortunately, there is currently a lower volume of bancha available that meets our—and our customers’— high standards.

Our Response

Rather than compromise on quality, we have made the difficult decision to limit the amount of bancha we offer.

For the foreseeable future, availability of hojicha and genmaicha on ippodotea.pro will be limited.

To ensure fair access for our customers worldwide, we will be monitoring and adjusting supplies across all channels. Please note that availability may fluctuate.

Looking Ahead

In spring, as we write this, the new tea buds are just about to emerge, and the start of the harvest season is near. We anticipate that this year the trend of increased matcha production will continue for the first harvest.

After this, we expect the second harvest, which provides a portion of the tea for bancha, to shrink, due to:

• Increasing stress on plants. Shading for the first matcha harvest is taxing, leading many farmers to skip the second harvest to allow the tea trees to recover.
• Rising environmental challenges. Intense summer heat has made the second harvest period physically difficult for farmers to manage.

While the long-term outlook for gyokuro and sencha remains unclear, we will keep you informed as the situation develops.

A Sustainable Future for Farmers

Importantly, the farmers themselves are directly benefiting from this shift in the industry. Many who previously struggled to sustainably produce high-quality tea at market prices are now receiving higher compensation. We remain optimistic about the future of Japanese tea for the next generation.

Closing Thoughts

Maintaining the quality of our blends is our highest priority. During this period of industry volatility, we are deeply grateful for your continued loyalty. Thank you for making our tea an important part of your daily routine. We thank you for your support and look forward to continuing to serve you.

Ippodo Tea