Although coffee and black tea have made broad inroads into Japanese people's drinking habits, the traditional green tea is holding its own and is poised to make a major comeback.
Convenience stores and supermarkets are stocking new green tea products, and fashionable green tea shops are becoming popular, particularly with women.
Consumers have started to take another look at green tea, which is drunk without sugar and therefore low in calories. Its ingredients are also considered very good for the health. Thus, the growing trend for Japanese people to become more health-conscious is also helping promote green tea.