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Liechtenstein's Royal Artifacts Go on Display at Family Palace

Prince Hans-Adam’s (left) and Crown Prince Alois have inherited wealth that originates from the 12th century and bigger than that of Queen Elizabeth. (Reuters)
Prince Hans-Adam’s (left) and Crown Prince Alois have inherited wealth that originates from the 12th century and bigger than that of Queen Elizabeth. (Reuters)
    Vienna, London - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Liechtenstein's Royal Artifacts Go on Display at Family Palace

Prince Hans-Adam’s (left) and Crown Prince Alois have inherited wealth that originates from the 12th century and bigger than that of Queen Elizabeth. (Reuters)
Prince Hans-Adam’s (left) and Crown Prince Alois have inherited wealth that originates from the 12th century and bigger than that of Queen Elizabeth. (Reuters)

The small Principality of Liechtenstein celebrates its third centennial anniversary this year. On this occasion, 110 artifacts selected from a treasure including 1700 paintings and tens of thousands other items will be displayed in Vienna, Austria.

The Liechtenstein family is one of Europe's wealthiest noble families, and its assets include a huge artistic treasure that is not usually offered to the general public.

Liechtenstein princes have been collecting artifacts for over four centuries. This remarkable period is displayed at the Albertina Museum, where the bust of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius welcomes visitors.

Other works include a surrealist portrait of painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, which is a complex fusion of different animals.

"We stopped collecting contemporary art at the end of the 19th century," Prince Alois, the heir of Liechtenstein's throne, told Austrian television in Albertina.

The paintings are usually shown at the Royal Family Palace in Vienna known for its historic interior golden design, rather than under museum conditions.

According to the German News Agency, Alois's ancestors lived in Vienna until the Nazis took control of Austria in 1938. They then settled in Liechtenstein, a small country between Austria and Switzerland.

The Liechtenstein family, after which the principality has been named, has a wealth that includes a private bank as well as forestry and industrial investments.

Hans-Adam II, the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein, started the costly refurbishment of the palace and the family-owned palace in Vienna to showcase its art collection, but he declared the museum palace closed in 2011 because he was disappointed with the number of visitors. The palace located in the city center was completed without being opened to the public.

Visitors can still see interior design in guided tours a few times a month. Those who are willing to pay more can get an exclusive entry on a private tour for 250 euros ($282), or spend several thousand euros to book a private party or wedding at the former royal palace.

The "Rubens to Makart Liechtenstein, The Princely Collections" exhibition will run in Albertina until June 10.

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Matcha: The Japanese Tea Taking over the World

A staff member at Tokyo's Milia Matcha prepares a matcha drink for a customer. Philip FONG / AFP
A staff member at Tokyo's Milia Matcha prepares a matcha drink for a customer. Philip FONG / AFP
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Matcha: The Japanese Tea Taking over the World

A staff member at Tokyo's Milia Matcha prepares a matcha drink for a customer. Philip FONG / AFP
A staff member at Tokyo's Milia Matcha prepares a matcha drink for a customer. Philip FONG / AFP

Matcha is the new drink of choice at hip cafes worldwide, but Japanese producers are struggling to keep up with soaring demand for the powdered green tea.

Here's what you need to know about the drink beloved of weekend treat-seekers and "wellness" influencers:

What is matcha?

The word matcha means "ground tea" in Japanese and comes in the form of a vivid green powder that is whisked with hot water and can be added to milk to make a matcha latte.

Green tea was introduced to Japan from China in the early ninth century, and was first used for medicinal purposes.

Matcha came much later, in 16th century Kyoto -- part of the tea ceremony tradition developed by tea master Sen no Rikyu.

Today, there are different grades of matcha quality, from "ceremonial" to "culinary" types used in baking.

How is it produced?

Matcha is made from leaves called "tencha", which are grown in the shade in the final weeks before their harvest to concentrate the flavor, color and nutrients.

This "requires the construction of a complex structure with poles and a roof to filter the light", explained Masahiro Okutomi, a tea producer in Sayama, northwest of Tokyo.

Tencha leaves, rich in chlorophyll and L-theanine, a compound known for its relaxing effects, are hand-picked and deveined, then steamed, dried and ground between two stone mills to produce an ultra-fine powder.

It can take up to an hour to produce just 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of matcha -- making the powder on average twice as expensive to produce as standard green tea leaves.

What are its benefits?

Many drink matcha for its rich grass-like taste, but others are drawn to the drink's nutritional properties.

It is rich in antioxidants, and can aid concentration because of its caffeine content: one cup contains on average 48 milligrams, slightly less than a drip coffee but nearly twice as much as a standardly brewed green tea.

"Matcha is often seen as being good for your health," said Shigehito Nishikida, manager of Tokyo tea shop Jugetsudo.

"But people are also attracted to the Japanese culture around tea: the ritual, the time taken, the aesthetics," he said.

Why is it so popular?

Japan produced 4,176 tons of matcha in 2023 -- a huge increase from the 1,430 tons in 2012.

More than half of the powder is exported, according to the agriculture ministry, mostly to the United States, Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

Millions of videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube demonstrate how to make photogenic matcha drinks or choose a traditional "chasen" bamboo whisk.

"I feel like Gen Z really drove this enthusiasm for matcha, and they heavily relied on social media to do so," Stevie Youssef, a 31-year-old marketing professional, told AFP at a matcha bar in Los Angeles.

Matcha can also be used in cooking, extending its appeal to others aside from tea lovers.

"Some customers simply enjoy drinking it, others like preparing it themselves. And of course, many buy it as a gift -- Japanese matcha is always appreciated," said Jugetsudo's Nishikida.