Today, Explained

labubu matcha dubai chocolate

97 snips
Sep 26, 2025
Amanda Mull, a Bloomberg Businessweek senior reporter, dives into the wild world of TikTok-driven trends, from Labubu toys to Dubai chocolate. Dr. Rebecca Corbett, a scholar specializing in tea culture, shares insights on the recent global matcha shortage and its complex production process. Together, they explore how algorithms amplify viral trends without context, shaping consumer desires and creating a new culture around aesthetically pleasing products. Discover the quirky side of sweetened matcha and how these trends reflect our online and offline lives.
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ANECDOTE

Line, Filming, And The Matcha Surprise

  • Sean describes standing in line at a Tokyo-style matcha shop where people filmed their drinks obsessively.
  • He learned about a worldwide matcha shortage after seeing the social media frenzy.
INSIGHT

Why Matcha Shortages Happen

  • Matcha supply is constrained by seasonal harvests, expensive stone grinding, and limited arable land in Japan.
  • A sudden global demand spike can't be quickly met because production is slow and costly.
INSIGHT

Long History, Recent Boom

  • Matcha has centuries-long roots from China to Japan and resurged globally recently rather than appearing overnight.
  • The modern matcha boom began around 2021, though media mentions date earlier.
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