Specialty Matcha Podcast

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) share their experiences and learnings from their recent trip to Kyoto, where they met renowned matcha farmer Tsuji-san, toured Marukyu Koyamaen, and visited Baisa Nakamura. They deep dive into insights from Tsuji-san on matcha fertilization, innovations happening in the world of matcha, and cross-cultural exchanges happening i...

In this episode, Ryan Ahn and Zongjun (Sam) Li delve into the complexities surrounding how the word "matcha" is being used by both marketers and consumers all over the world. The conversation highlights the fluidity of matcha's identity historically, is use and perhaps misuse today, and the importance of education in understanding both historical and contemporary tea cultures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KirlTPzWoqo In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) sit down with the founder of ChaEn Tea Experience in Bangkok, khun Big. They discuss the unique cultivation of Jinxuan cultivar matcha in northern Thailand and the art of blending Thai and Japanese cultivars. The conversation covers the evolution of consumer preferences in Thailand, the impact of COVID on tea educa...

https://sankomatcha.com/collections/tencha Buy Tencha References Online (a very humble start of a list! Please forgive us, sourcing tencha is very difficult at the moment): In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) delve into the complexities of matcha and tea tasting, emphasizing the importance of reliable references for building a mental model of flavors. They discuss the balance between transpare...

https://youtu.be/H_hEuvftkrw In this episode of the Speciality Matcha Podcast, hosts Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) talk with khun Jev of MTCH™ in Bangkok. They delve into the nuances of matcha production, matcha extraction theory, flavor profiles, specialty matcha culture in Thailand. The conversation highlights the evolution of consumer preferences and the importance of transparency and education in bui...

In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) discuss their experiences and insights from the past year in the matcha industry, reflecting on the lessons learned in the past year. They also share their predictions for the coming year in the matcha industry.

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) interview Simona Suzuki from the Global Japanese Tea Association. They discuss the origins of the association, its mission to connect tea lovers and producers, and the challenges faced by the Japanese tea industry, particularly in light of the recent matcha boom. Simona shares insights on community engagement, education, and t...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) explore various aspects of matcha and tea culture more broadly, including how matcha can serve as a gateway to other leaf teas, their vision for a tea farm, the importance of sifting matcha, the relevance of best buy dates, and what consumers should ask to ensure they receive high-quality products. Thanks to all the listeners...

In this episode, Ryan and Sam (Zongjun) discuss the evolution of matcha with guests Jules Reyes and Marc St Raymond, formerly of the Jade Leaf Matcha. They explore the journey of matcha from a niche product to a mainstream beverage, the importance of consumer education, and the challenges of preparing matcha in cafes. The conversation delves into the significance of feedback in shaping matcha prog...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, hosts Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) talk with with Dr. Rebecca Corbett, a historian specializing the history and practice of Japanese tea culture (chanoyu), and early modern Japanese women’s history. Dr. Corbett shares her personal journey into the world of tea and discusses the complexities of gender roles within tea practices. The conversation also touch...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) discuss their journey in developing a countertop matcha mill and the challenges they face in sourcing high-quality tencha. They explore the unexpected flavor profiles discovered in fresh milled gyokuro and the science behind milling and flavor extraction. The conversation delves into the contradictions within the matcha indust...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) delve into the complexities of transparency in the matcha industry. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers and brands in sharing sourcing information, the importance of consumer education, and the evolving market dynamics that influence pricing and quality. Ultimately, they envision a future where consumer preferences sh...

In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) explore matcha through the lens of sensory science, flavor profiling, and quality assessment. They discuss cultural perspectives on taste, the socially-constructed nature of quality assessment, the role of descriptive analysis, and different frameworks for tasting. The episode concludes with comparative tastings examining the effects of temperature and dilut...

https://forms.gle/48rLN1nXi6vAC1YF6 In this episode, the hosts delve into the intricate world of matcha blending after spending an afternoon with a top-ranked chashi. The conversation covered topics such as new and exciting cultivars, compromises made when blending lower quality tencha, and their options of Chinese matcha which might surprise you! Koto Tea Space / Chajin Life in Bangkok recorded t...

*Correction: Uji City produced only 37.6 tons of tencha in 2024, not 70 tons. I confused this number with the area of actively farmed tea cultivation in Uji City which is 73.6 hectares (source: https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/nosan/documents/r6chachosa2.pdf) In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) delve into the intricate relationship between trust and the matcha industry...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) welcome Lissi and Zach from Cosmic Cultures. They discuss the importance of low intervention agricultural practices in matcha, especially regarding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides . The conversation delves into the importance of building relationships with farmers, the evolving landscape of matcha sourcing, and...

In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) explore the history and evolving landscape of matcha and Korean tea culture. They discuss the globalization of matcha, the impact of Japanese colonial history, and the modern practices of tea production in Korea, particularly in regions like Jeju Island but also Boseong and Hadong. The conversation highlights the unique characteristics of Korean matcha, its...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, hosts Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) talk with Oscar Brekell, a renowned expert and author in Japanese tea. He is the founder of the tea brand Senchaism, author of multiple books including A beginner's guide to Japanese Tea , and is a certified Nihoncha instructor. They explore Oscar's journey into the world of Japanese tea, the inner workings of te...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Sam (Zongjun) reflect on the evolution of matcha culture, the challenges posed by a global shortage, and the importance of embracing new consumer trends. They discuss the cultural shifts in matcha consumption, the stigmatization of non-Japanese matcha, and the need for a more inclusive global matcha community. The conversation highlights th...

In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) interview Carolina , founder of Soy Té, who shares her tea journey. Carolina discusses the evolution of the matcha scene in Mexico, the different consumer groups, and the cultural influences on matcha consumption. She also shares her experiences in Japan, the challenges of sourcing quality matcha, and the importance of educating consumers about matcha. The c...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) interview Abby, a matcha scientist, who shares her journey from getting a PhD in chemical engineering at Stanford to exploring the world of matcha. The conversation delves into the science behind matcha, the challenges in researching it, and the importance of consumer education and transparency in the matcha industry. Abby dis...

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, hosts Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) welcome back Pau from Tea Nursery to discuss various aspects of tea cultivation and processing. The conversation delves into the 2025 spring harvest in Wazuka, including weather impacts and frost prevention techniques. They explore the realities of tea farming and the physical demands of tencha processing. The discussion...

In this episode of the Specialty Match Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) interview Rocky Xu, founder of Rocky's Matcha. They discuss Rocky's journey into the world of matcha, the evolution of his brand, and the importance of authenticity and community in building a successful business. Rocky shares insights from his previous experience at Nike and how it has influenced his approach to brandi...

In this episode of the Specialty Match Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) interview Kensuke Suji, Founder of Zenkyu Matcha based in Tokyo. Suji-san shares his journey from a corporate marketing career at Procter & Gamble to launching his own matcha brand. He discusses the cultural perceptions of matcha in Japan, the challenges of sourcing quality matcha, and the importance of mindfulness in the m...

In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun interview James from No Bad Matcha, discussing the evolution of matcha in the Philippines, the challenges faced in the specialty cafe industry, and the importance of sourcing high-quality matcha. James shares insights on consumer preferences, recipe development, matcha workflows, and the future of matcha in the region, emphasizing the need for education, quality c...