EP 201- Matcha Is Japanese: Here Are the Facts

Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

Candice Kumai

Health & Fitness, Education, Health, Wabisabi, How To, Nutrition, Mental Health, Wellness

4.9 • 793 Ratings

🗓️ 31 March 2026

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On today’s episode of Wabi Sabi, I’m setting the record straight on matcha. There’s a lot of misinformation out there right now, and as a journalist with over 20 years in media and deep roots in Japanese culture, I felt it was important to share the facts. I break down the real history, the difference between mo cha and matcha, and why matcha is a distinctly Japanese product defined by its process, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity. This is about clarity, respect, and telling the truth. Thank you for listening x Candice

Transcript

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0:00.0	Oh, hio, gozaymas.
0:02.8	Konigua, con-bye, good-bye, good-so, to the Wabi-Sabi podcast.
0:08.9	This is episode number 201.
0:12.6	Macha is Japanese, and here are the facts.
0:16.4	Well, here we are, guys.
0:18.6	I decided to put this podcast together together and I'll write a piece on
0:22.7	Substack to accompany it. This is something I've obviously studied for over a decade now,
0:28.2	almost two and I still see controversy over the origins of macha. So I'm just going to school
0:34.7	everybody by writing historical fact.
0:38.2	I am a reporter that comes from different outlets like The Today Show NBC News, ABC News,
0:44.7	NHK World.
0:45.6	I write for journals like Yoga Journal, Men's Journal, and have written for various publications
0:50.6	like men's health and women's health throughout the years, even, you know,
0:55.3	writing cultural articles at Vogue. Macha is indeed Japanese. I want to lay out the facts here and
1:01.7	be really clear and factual on the differences between Macha and a tea called Mocha, which is
1:09.1	totally different and medicinal. And this is from a journalist
1:13.2	who's grounded and comes from Japanese tea masters and monks, and that is my lineage and heritage.
1:20.1	And so I just feel a call of duty to share the origins with you so we don't get this twisted,
1:27.2	as our friends say.
1:29.1	This is really important. I think I'm just kind of chuckling because I've recorded this
1:33.4	podcast at least four times already because it wasn't perfect. I've rewritten my article
1:39.1	at least seven or eight times now. I've fact checked it and I think I'm ready for this. I'm just kind of
	...

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