A first 100% matcha tea room in Waterloo
In Waterloo, the walls are still immaculate and the cups have barely been unwrapped. However, the opening is imminent. This new tea room, which will also offer yoga sessions, intends to ride a trend that continues to grow.
At the origin of the project, Xiomara Quintero, founder of Maison Ma. “Matcha is above all a very particular tea. It comes from a single harvest per year and is part of an entire Japanese tradition, notably the tea ceremony. Originally, it is consumed in a very calm, almost meditative moment.” An ancestral ritual that appeals today well beyond its original borders.
Because if matcha is historically enjoyed plain, the West has appropriated the drink by transforming it. “Today, we find it mainly in the form of lattes, with milk, sometimes sweetened or flavored. It is very different from traditional use, but it clearly contributes to its success”explained Xiomara Quintero.
Result: demand is exploding, driven in particular by social networks where matcha has become a true lifestyle icon.
Demand that exceeds supply, spring 2026 will be decisive for the sector
But this popularity is not without consequences. Production remains limited. “We already feel a certain scarcity of the product,” notes the founder. “We are reaching a moment where demand clearly exceeds what producers can supply.”
A tension confirmed by sector specialists. For François Vanden Brulle, tea market expert, the coming months will be crucial. “Matcha depends on very specific climatic conditions. There is only one harvest per year, so each hazard has a direct impact on the volumes available.”
And the recent signals are not reassuring. “Last year, a heat wave in Japan caused the harvest to fall by between 15 and 40% depending on the region. This has already contributed to tensions on the market.”
From then on, all eyes are on this spring. “We must hope that there is no climatic incident. Otherwise, we risk seeing the shortage worsen in the months to come.”