Japan Matcha Market Updates

Fake Uji Matcha in China: A Warning for Wholesale Buyers

Jul 21 2026

A wave of counterfeit "Uji matcha" products is spreading across China, using misleading labels such as "Uji De Matcha" and other altered characters to imitate the genuine Kyoto brand. According to a report by FNN Prime Online, a Japanese television program obtained and investigated some of this Chinese-made fake Uji matcha, tracking down the sellers directly. The investigation reportedly revealed that a Japanese company was also involved in the distribution of these counterfeit products. For businesses engaged in matcha wholesale Japan and wholesale matcha Japan sourcing, this story is a clear signal that verifying true origin has become a pressing issue in the ceremonial-grade matcha trade.

What the Report Found About Fake Uji Matcha

Uji matcha refers specifically to matcha grown and processed in Kyoto using traditional methods, and the term is protected precisely because of that regional and production heritage. Despite this, products bearing altered or misleading versions of the "Uji matcha" name have reportedly become common in the Chinese market. A long-established Kyoto tea merchant expressed anger over the situation, stating that the value of Uji tea itself is being damaged by this counterfeiting.

Traceback to a Japanese Company

Perhaps the most notable point in the report is that the investigation traced involvement back to a company based in Japan, not only Chinese sellers. This detail matters for international buyers because it suggests the problem is not purely a foreign labeling issue at the retail level in China — it may also involve supply-side actors connected to Japan. The specific name of the company and the nature of its involvement were not detailed in the available report, so no further claim can be made here without confirmation.

Why This Matters for Japanese Matcha Wholesale Buyers

For buyers who purchase ceremonial grade matcha — matcha intended for traditional tea preparation such as usucha (thin tea, whisked with less powder for a lighter consistency) — origin verification is not a cosmetic detail but a core part of due diligence. A product labeled "Uji matcha" but processed and blended by an unverified operator carries real reputational and quality risk once it reaches a U.S. café menu or retail shelf.

From our position handling matcha export transactions in Japan, we can say that the safest way to avoid the kind of mislabeling described in this report is to work with trustworthy Japanese seicha (tea processing and finishing) manufacturers and wholesalers with an established track record, rather than choosing a supplier based on price alone. A genuine, reputable Japanese matcha manufacturer or wholesaler will operate a real, verifiable business in Japan and will not resist basic questions about who actually processed and packaged the tea.

This is also why many overseas buyers are increasingly asking not just "is this ceremonial grade matcha," but "which Japanese company actually processed this tencha (the shaded, unground tea leaf used to produce matcha) into matcha." Prioritizing a relationship with a trustworthy, established Japanese tea manufacturer or wholesaler is a practical step that directly addresses the risk highlighted in this report, where a Japanese company itself was reportedly implicated in the counterfeit supply chain.

Authentic Matcha vs Fake: A Growing Concern

The broader concern raised in the report is that this kind of counterfeiting risks damaging the value of Uji tea as a whole, not just the specific fake products themselves. In the context of a global matcha boom, industry participants may increasingly view robust labeling and origin verification as necessary safeguards, though the report itself does not detail any specific regulatory or industry-association response. Wholesale buyers sourcing authentic matcha vs fake product should treat the trustworthiness of the actual Japanese manufacturer or wholesaler as a non-negotiable part of any purchase agreement, particularly for lots marketed under the Uji name.