Matcha prices tripled at some Japanese tea auctions after this year’s spring harvest was hit by hot temperatures and 15% U.S. tariffs took effect.

California cafes are scrambling for supply as some shops triple their matcha use per drink, prompting suppliers to ration the prized Japanese powder.

Global buyers from Europe to the Middle East are competing for limited matcha, with some resorting to panic buying and begging suppliers for stock.

The matcha drinks at Kin Bakeshop are so popular that some customers wait hours for their fix.

The little Santa Barbara cafe was going through more than four pounds of the Japanese tea on its busiest days when it started getting tough to get a reliable supply.

This summer, the matcha dealer called to say that after a decade of importing from Japan,

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