The History of Matcha: Samurai, Nobles, and the Meiji Period Shift
In the early days of matcha’s development, Uji matcha was produced primarily for the nobility, while tea from surrounding regions was made for educated commoners.
However, during the Meiji period, a major political shift completely changed the industry. The fall of the Edo Shogunate—once the largest client for tea producers—and the abolition of the samurai and noble classes led to a sharp decline in traditional tea ceremonies. Combined with the rapid wave of Westernization, the matcha culture faced significant hardship.
As Western influence grew, coffee and tea gradually gained popularity. Although people maintained the habit of drinking standard green tea at home, the sophisticated culture of enjoying matcha among the elite slowly faded away.
In the early days of matcha’s development, Uji matcha was produced primarily for the nobility, while tea from surrounding regions was made for educated commoners.
However, during the Meiji period, a major political shift completely changed the industry. The fall of the Edo Shogunate—once the largest client for tea producers—and the abolition of the samurai and noble classes led to a sharp decline in traditional tea ceremonies. Combined with the rapid wave of Westernization, the matcha culture faced significant hardship.
As Western influence grew, coffee and tea gradually gained popularity. Although people maintained the habit of drinking standard green tea at home, the sophisticated culture of enjoying matcha among the elite slowly faded away.