This story was written in collaboration with L.A. TACO’s Media Lab class at USC, an incubator for emerging journalists aimed at forging a new path for the future of journalism. Keep a look out for our ongoing series of stories from L.A. TACO Media Lab students.
This viral $36 matcha tin just got more expensive.
Ashley Alexander, a popular YouTube influencer and founder of the matcha brand Nami Matcha, posted a TikTok in late October announcing that Nami would have to raise prices due to the “matcha shortage.”
Her most expensive product, Yame First Harvest Matcha powder, used to cost $36. Now, it costs $42.
Alexander’s TikTok caught the matcha community's attention, receiving 423.2K views—the most Nami Matcha’s TikToks have ever received. Her comments were flooded with negativity, the top comments reading, “Insane bc ur matcha is alr SO expensive,” and, “More than $40 that’s just insane ur matcha is already expensive enough yeah goodluck!!”