Tea prices surge as global demand impacts consumer costs

Consumers are reporting a significant increase in the cost of tea products, with some tea bag prices rising three to four times higher than previous years. One consumer noted that while a 50-count pack of tea bags previously cost approximately 387 yen, current prices for 30-count packs are ranging between 643 and 755 yen depending on the retailer.

This price surge is attributed to the global popularity of matcha, which has impacted the broader tea market. To mitigate rising costs, individuals are turning to more frugal habits, such as purchasing tea bags from discount stores like Can Do rather than supermarkets, and manually packing loose tea leaves into reusable tea bags to save money.