Top Matcha-Drinking Countries in the World (2026 List)

By Sarah Chen, Matcha Specialist & Tea Educator | Published July 6, 2026 | Updated July 20, 2026

Top Matcha-Drinking Countries in the World (And Where Australia Fits In)

Matcha has gone from a quiet Japanese tea-ceremony tradition to a genuine global phenomenon: the kind of drink you'll now spot in a Tokyo tearoom, a New York café, and a Bondi brunch spot all in the same week. But which countries are actually driving the boom? And where does Australia sit in all of this?

At iki Matcha Co, we spend our days sourcing and drinking this stuff, so we've pulled together the most reliable figures we could find to give you a clear picture. Let's dig in.

The Global Matcha Landscape at a Glance

First, some context. The global matcha market has been growing at a serious clip. Estimates vary between research firms, but the direction is unmistakable:

Metric	Figure
Global market value (2025)	~US $4–5 billion
Projected value (2030–2033)	~US $7–9 billion
Annual growth rate (CAGR)	~7–11%
Japan's share of global supply	~70%
Japan's matcha exports (2024)	~5,092 tonnes

The Asia Pacific region held the largest share of the matcha industry in 2025, at around 56%, with Japan remaining the leading producer of tencha the tea leaves used to make matcha. Japan still leads the global supply chain with roughly 70% of production, though China and Korea are steadily increasing their share.

Top Matcha-Drinking Countries

Here's how the biggest players stack up, based on production, consumption, and market activity:

Rank	Country	What Makes Them Notable
1	Japan	The birthplace and heart of matcha centuries of tradition, ~70% of global supply, and deep everyday consumption
2	China	Held the largest market share of any single country in 2025; rapidly scaling up its own production
3	United States	The largest and fastest-growing Western market; cafés there buy over 1,500 tonnes of matcha annually
4	South Korea	Strong domestic tea culture plus a booming café and dessert scene
5	United Kingdom	Moving from niche health-store product to mainstream supermarket shelves
6	Germany	Europe's quality-focused market, with strong demand for organic, ceremonial-grade matcha
7	Canada	Steady growth in major cities, especially matcha paired with plant-based milks
8	Australia	One of the most advanced foodservice markets in the world (more on this below)

A quick note on how to read this: Japan and China lead on both production and sheer volume, while the US leads Western consumption growth. But volume isn't the whole story some smaller markets punch well above their weight when it comes to quality and café sophistication. Which brings us to Australia.

Where Australia Stands

Here's the part that surprises people: for a country of our size, Australia is genuinely one of the most sophisticated matcha markets on the planet.

Australia is considered one of the most advanced markets for matcha in foodservice, with specialty cafés treating matcha with the same care they give specialty coffee which supports strong premium positioning. That's a big deal. In a lot of countries, matcha is still treated as a novelty or a sweet, sugary latte add-on. Here, it's handled with real respect, which is exactly what you'd expect from a nation that already takes its flat whites very seriously.

The market itself is sizable and growing fast. The Australian matcha tea market was valued at around USD 340 million in 2025, driven by rising health awareness, growing preference for antioxidant-rich beverages, and the expansion of specialty cafés and health-drink brands.

And demand is climbing quickly. Australian imports of Japanese green tea rose by nearly 20% year-on-year in 2024, reflecting surging consumer demand.

The Trend of the Australian Market

A few clear patterns are shaping matcha in Australia right now:

Café culture is the engine. Matcha has become a café staple, with lattes in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane typically priced between $6 and $8, and even smaller cities like Adelaide and Perth seeing prices of $5.50 to $7 per serve. Where coffee culture goes, matcha tends to follow and Australia has one of the strongest coffee cultures in the world.

Wellness and mindfulness are driving it deeper. Australian consumers, especially millennials and Gen Z, are drawn to matcha's "calm energy" the steady focus from caffeine paired with the amino acid L-theanine, without the coffee jitters. It fits neatly alongside the broader interest in slow living, clean eating, and mindful consumption.

Supply is tightening, prices are rising. This is the flip side of the boom. Shortages in Australian cafés were observed as early as 2024 and worsened into 2025, with record-high import costs and prices unlikely to stabilise soon. For drinkers, that increasingly means matcha is shifting from an everyday cheap option to a premium treat worth choosing carefully.

Why All the Craze?

So what's actually behind matcha's rise from ceremonial niche to global obsession? A few things are happening at once:

The coffee alternative. More people want a caffeine hit without the crash. Matcha's slow-release energy (thanks to L-theanine) hits that sweet spot perfectly.
The wellness halo. Matcha is packed with antioxidants, particularly catechins like EGCG, which has made it a poster child for functional, health-conscious drinking.
It's ridiculously photogenic. That vivid green colour is made for social media. Matcha mentions on social platforms surged over 107% year-on-year, and matcha menu items grew more than 30% year-on-year.
Versatility. It's no longer just a whisked bowl of tea, it's in lattes, smoothies, cheesecakes, ice cream, and baking. That range keeps it fresh and constantly reaching new people.

Put simply: matcha sits at the intersection of several big cultural shifts wellness, mindfulness, coffee-culture evolution, and social media all at the same time. That's a rare combination, and it's why this isn't looking like a passing fad.

New to Matcha? Start Here

If all this talk has you curious to actually try it, the good news is you don't need to fly to Kyoto to get the real thing. A good starting point is a quality ceremonial-grade matcha, a bowl, and a whisk that's genuinely all you need for your first proper cup.

We built iki Matcha Co specifically for the Australian market: small-batch, freshness-first, and sourced with the same care those top-tier Aussie cafés put into their menus. If you're just getting started, our smaller trial-size tins are the easiest, lowest-commitment way in. Have a browse of our full matcha range to find your starting point.

Keep Reading & Get Whisking

If you're going down the matcha rabbit hole, these will help:

How Much Caffeine Does Matcha Have? how it really compares to coffee
How Long Does Matcha Last Once Opened? keeping your tin fresh in the Aussie climate
Matcha vs Coffee: The Full Comparison which one suits your day

A couple of recipes to try:

Classic Iced Matcha Latte the perfect intro drink, ideal for an Australian summer
Traditional Whisked Matcha (Usucha) how to make a proper ceremonial bowl at home

Curious where to start, or which grade suits you? Get in touch we're always happy to point you in the right direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries drink the most matcha in the world?

Japan leads global matcha consumption and production, supplying around 70% of the world's matcha. China holds the largest single-country market share and is rapidly scaling production, while the United States is the largest and fastest-growing Western market, with cafés buying over 1,500 tonnes annually. South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Australia round out the top matcha-drinking countries, each notable for either volume, quality focus, or café sophistication.

Where does Australia rank among matcha-drinking countries?

Australia is one of the most advanced matcha markets in the world for foodservice, even though it's smaller by volume than leaders like Japan, China, and the US. Australian specialty cafés treat matcha with the same care they give specialty coffee, supporting strong premium positioning. The Australian matcha market was valued at around USD 340 million in 2025 and is growing fast, with imports of Japanese green tea rising nearly 20% year-on-year in 2024.

How big is the global matcha market?

The global matcha market was valued at roughly US $4–5 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach around US $7–9 billion by 2030–2033, growing at an annual rate (CAGR) of about 7–11%. The Asia Pacific region held the largest share in 2025 at around 56%, with Japan remaining the leading producer of tencha, the tea leaves used to make matcha.

How much does a matcha latte cost in Australia?

Matcha lattes in major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are typically priced between $6 and $8. Smaller cities such as Adelaide and Perth generally see prices of $5.50 to $7 per serve. Prices have been rising due to global supply shortages and record-high import costs, which are unlikely to stabilise soon.

Why is matcha so popular right now?

Matcha's rise is driven by several cultural shifts at once. It's a coffee alternative offering slow-release energy from L-theanine without the jitters or crash, it carries a wellness halo thanks to antioxidants like the catechin EGCG, and its vivid green colour is highly photogenic for social media. Matcha mentions on social platforms surged over 107% year-on-year, and matcha menu items grew more than 30% year-on-year. Its versatility across lattes, smoothies, desserts, and baking keeps it constantly reaching new audiences.

Why is there a matcha shortage?

Matcha demand has grown faster than Japan's supply of tencha can keep up with, creating shortages that were observed in Australian cafés as early as 2024 and worsened into 2025. This has driven record-high import costs and rising prices that are unlikely to stabilise soon. Japan still produces around 70% of the world's matcha, and while China and Korea are increasing output, the tightening supply is pushing matcha from an everyday cheap option toward a premium treat.

Is matcha a good alternative to coffee?

Matcha appeals to people who want a caffeine hit without the crash. It contains the amino acid L-theanine, which pairs with caffeine to deliver a steady 'calm energy' and focus rather than the jitters associated with coffee. This makes it especially popular with millennials and Gen Z drinkers drawn to slow living, clean eating, and mindful consumption.

What makes matcha healthy?

Matcha is packed with antioxidants, particularly catechins like EGCG, which have made it a poster child for functional, health-conscious drinking. Because you consume the whole ground tea leaf rather than just an infusion, matcha delivers a concentrated dose of these compounds, alongside L-theanine for calm, focused energy.

What do I need to start making matcha at home?

To make a proper cup of matcha at home, you only need three things: a quality ceremonial-grade matcha, a bowl, and a whisk. That's genuinely all that's required for your first proper cup. Beginners often find smaller trial-size tins the easiest, lowest-commitment way to get started before committing to larger quantities.

How much of the world's matcha comes from Japan?

Japan produces roughly 70% of the world's matcha and remains the leading producer of tencha, the shade-grown tea leaves used to make it. In 2024, Japan exported around 5,092 tonnes of matcha. China and Korea are steadily increasing their share of global production, but Japan still leads the supply chain and is regarded as the birthplace and heart of matcha.