The popularity of matcha is skyrocketing [worldly / worldwide] . The famous finely-ground green tea powder is [on / in] short supply. Most of the world's matcha is produced in Japan. Record high temperatures there have lowered [harvests / harvest] of the shade-grown tea leaves. Increased demand and lower [clop / crop] yields have resulted [in / of] prices hitting an all-time high. Masahiro Yoshida, [the / a] sixth-generation farmer from Uji, Kyoto, told the Reuters news agency about his [deceased / decreased] production. He said he was only [ability / able] to harvest 1.5 tons of tencha tea leaves this year, instead of his [typical / typically] harvest of two tons. He added: "Last year's summer was so scorching that it damaged the bushes, so we couldn't [pluck / plucky] as many leaves."
Matcha has exploded [on / in] popularity, from being a niche product [for / to] becoming a trendy flavouring for beverages, smoothies, [deserts / desserts] , and even skincare products. The Global Japanese Tea Association said Japan's tourism boom is [exacerbation / exacerbating] the green tea [shortage / short] . It told the website Sustainability Magazine: "Many foreigners buy lots of matcha...as souvenirs, sometimes even [on / in] bulk." It added this increased appetite for matcha was "unprecedented," and was in part [oiled / fuelled] by social media. Yuki Ishii, [founder / flounder] of the store Tealife, said demand has grown ten-fold, and that he is always [without / out] of stock. "Matcha mania" has resulted in a scarcity that is also [effecting / affecting] Japan's traditional tea ceremonies.
