EP 195 Matcha, Culture, and Clarity: A Japanese-American Perspective

In this episode, I’m sharing the real story behind matcha — where it comes from, why it’s special, and what’s actually happening right now with the global demand and supply. After nearly two decades working in Japanese culinary culture and tea education, I wanted to give you a clear, respectful guide to understanding matcha the right way. I walk you through the regions that shape its flavor, the history that shaped its ceremony, and why Japanese politeness often keeps the deeper truths from being spoken. I also talk about what it feels like to watch a part of my heritage become a trend, and why it’s so important to learn from Japanese voices, farmers, authors, and journalists. If you love matcha or want to understand Japanese culture with more depth and care, this episode is for you.

You can listen to EP 195 Matcha, Culture, and Clarity: A Japanese-American Perspective online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

EP 195 Matcha, Culture, and Clarity: A Japanese-American Perspective is an episode from Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai by Candice Kumai.

This episode is 00:28:32 long.

This episode was published on Nov 11, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.