Just as with very fine wines or other delicacies, there is a large demand for matcha but only a limited supply. Cultivating and making matcha requires a great deal of time and labor - it takes up to a decade to learn how to properly make it. In addition, only the finest and youngest leaves are good enough for making matcha. This guarantees maximum flavor and health benefits, and the quality of the tea generally correlates to the price. Very high end matchas can go for hundreds of dollars. However, our close relationship with local producers means that we are able to offer exceptionally fine quality teas for a very reasonable price.