01
Is Marukyu Koyamaen matcha in stock in 2026?
Yes — all 7 blends in Marukyu's own retail lineup, as of 2026-09-10. Marukyu Koyamaen is usually one of two premium Uji brands maintaining full catalog availability through the 2026 shortage (Ippodo is the other, though Ippodo currently has one gap: Kuon). The key reason: the company sells direct-to-consumer from Japan (marukyu-koyamaen.co.jp, shipping from Japan, not a US warehouse) and holds its own stock rather than routing through US distributors that have been hardest hit. Current availability: Isuzu (40g, umami 6, body 5), Wako (20g, umami 8, bitter 3), Unkaku (20g, umami 9, bitter 2, body 9), Aoarashi (also spelled Aorashi) (20g, umami 9, bitter 2, body 8), Eiju (20g, umami 9, bitter 1, body 9). Aoarashi is now cheapest via a third-party reseller, Ujicha Matcha ($0.67/g), well below Marukyu's own $1.60/g. Out of stock at every seller we checked on 2026-10-05: Yugen and Kinrin, including Kinrin at Sazen Tea. Note: Marukyu's brand catalog has grown to 9 blends total; the newest 2 aren't sold through Marukyu's own store yet.
02
Which Marukyu Koyamaen blend should I buy right now?
Buy Unkaku if you haven't tried Marukyu before. Umami 9, bitterness 2, sweetness 8, body 9 — one of the best score-per-dollar blends in our entire 595-blend dataset. The logical upgrade path: Isuzu (affordable 40g, entry Uji) for budget-first buyers. Wako for body-forward daily drinking. Unkaku is the one to start with if you're skipping the lower tiers — the umami sits in the back of your mouth after you swallow. Eiju (bitterness 1, sweetness 9) for ceremony tier: no Ippodo equivalent exists at this price.
03
How does Marukyu Koyamaen availability compare to other Uji brands?
Ippodo is close behind — 6 of 7 blends in stock at its own store, with Kuon temporarily out — both brands are the exception in 2026, when most importers run 40–60% in-stock rates. Marukyu's position is strengthened by the fact that all seven of its retail blends carry scored flavor data — availability combined with full data coverage is unusual during the shortage. Most in-stock blends from shortage-affected brands cannot be scored because producers don't release detailed provenance or cultivar specifications.
04
Will Marukyu Koyamaen matcha go out of stock?
Unlikely for the core lineup in 2026. The shortage hits hardest for specialty harvest blends (single-harvest, named farm, rare cultivar) — Marukyu doesn't sell those in retail channels. Their catalog is built for consistent, year-round availability with no seasonal SKUs and no single-harvest exclusives in the retail range. The exception is Aoarashi: if Unkaku goes out, Aoarashi is the next call. Kinrin (body 8, bitterness 2) is normally the entry into the high-value tier, but it is out of stock at Sazen Tea as of 2026-10-05; Sazen still has Unkaku in stock.
