AROUND THE CUP

Cherry Blossoms 2026

Cherry Blossoms 2026

A Gentle Reminder Another year has quietly passed, and once again, spring arrives to remind us of the fleeting beauty that surrounds us. The school...
All About Kabusecha

All About Kabusecha

How Shading Tea Changes Flavor Above: Takaki san's Gyokuro field in Hoshino Village in Yame. Kabusecha refers to tea that has been shaded before harvest....
A Complete Guide To Matcha For U.S. Drinkers: Grades, Benefits, Brewing, & How To Choose The Right Matcha

A Complete Guide To Matcha For U.S. Drinkers: Grades, Benefits, Brewing, & How To Choose The Right Matcha

From bright green lattes in coffee shops to wellness influencers praising its calm energy, matcha has firmly taken root in the U.S. But as its...
Why Some Genmaicha Tastes Watery Or Too Strong: Getting Ratio & Rice Toasting Right

Why Some Genmaicha Tastes Watery Or Too Strong: Getting Ratio & Rice Toasting Right

Genmaicha is one of the most comforting Japanese teas — warm, nutty, and easy to drink. But if you’ve ever brewed a cup that tasted...
Sencha Steaming Styles Explained: Which One Matches Your Taste?

Sencha Steaming Styles Explained: Which One Matches Your Taste?

If you enjoy sencha, you may already know that not all of them taste the same, even when they come from the same region or...
Can Matcha Affect Iron Absorption? What Every Matcha Lover Should Know

Can Matcha Affect Iron Absorption? What Every Matcha Lover Should Know

Matcha has become a daily ritual for many tea lovers, but as its popularity grows, so do questions about how it interacts with the body....
Why Genmaicha Is Typically Made With Lower-Grade Green Tea & How That Affects Its Quality And Flavor

Why Genmaicha Is Typically Made With Lower-Grade Green Tea & How That Affects Its Quality And Flavor

Genmaicha is traditionally made from later-harvest green tea, most often bancha or a sturdier, lower-grade sencha. This is not a shortcut. The base leaf is...
A Complete Guide To Japanese Tea For Tea Drinkers In The US: Genmaicha, Gyokuro, Matcha & More Explained

A Complete Guide To Japanese Tea For Tea Drinkers In The US: Genmaicha, Gyokuro, Matcha & More Explained

Why Japanese tea is growing in popularity in the US Japanese tea is gaining serious traction in the US — and for good reason. From...
Why Sencha’s Antioxidant Effects Aren’t As Straightforward As You Think

Why Sencha’s Antioxidant Effects Aren’t As Straightforward As You Think

If you’re sipping a cup of sencha because you’ve heard it’s packed with antioxidants, you’re in good company. Headlines often proclaim that green tea is...
Ceremonial Vs. Culinary Matcha: Why 'Ceremonial Grade' Isn’t A Japanese Classification

Ceremonial Vs. Culinary Matcha: Why 'Ceremonial Grade' Isn’t A Japanese Classification

If you’ve ever searched for matcha online, chances are you’ve come across the term “ceremonial grade.” It’s often used to describe the highest-quality matcha: vibrant green in color,...
A tea harvest machine in a green tea field in Satsuma, Kagoshima

Satsuma Matcha

Organic, single cultivar from remote Kagoshima Last weekend, the Ikkyu team went to Kagoshima in southern Kyushu to greet producers both old and new.In the...