Our Story

Rooted in Tradition

For over two decades, we have traveled the tea regions of Japan to bring you leaves and vessels that honor centuries of craftsmanship.

Interior of a traditional Japanese tea house in Kyoto with tatami floors, shoji screens, and tea ceremony setup

A Journey That Began with One Cup

Our story began in a small tea house in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, where a single cup of gyokuro changed everything. The depth of flavor, the warmth of the handmade bowl, the quiet reverence of the moment—it revealed that tea is far more than a beverage. It is a practice of presence.

Since that day, we have dedicated ourselves to connecting the world with Japan's finest tea artisans and ceramicists. We travel to the source, walking the rows of shaded tea gardens and sitting beside potters at their wheels, to ensure every product we offer carries the soul of its maker.

Sourcing Practices

From Garden to Cup

Every tea in our collection is sourced directly from family-owned gardens across Japan's premier growing regions. We visit each farm during harvest season, tasting alongside the growers to select only the finest lots that meet our exacting standards.

Our partnerships span generations. Many of the families we work with have cultivated tea for over a century, maintaining traditional methods while embracing sustainable agriculture. No middlemen, no compromises—just pure, traceable tea from people we know and trust.

Lush Japanese tea garden landscape in the Uji region with rows of vibrant green tea plants and misty mountains

What Guides Us

Our Values

Respect for Nature

We source only from farms that practice sustainable cultivation, honoring the soil and seasons that give each tea its character. Natural processing methods preserve the leaf's integrity and the earth's health.

Artisan Partnership

Every ceramicist and tea grower in our network is a true partner. We invest in long-term relationships, fair pricing, and mutual respect—ensuring these time-honored crafts continue for generations to come.

Mindful Practice

We believe tea is a gateway to presence. Our mission extends beyond commerce: we aim to share the Japanese philosophy of mindfulness through every product, ceremony, and interaction we offer.

Our Partners

Meet the Artisans

Behind every product is a master craftsperson carrying forward centuries of tradition.

Master ceramicist Takeshi Yamamoto shaping a tea bowl on a pottery wheel in his Shigaraki workshop

Takeshi Yamamoto

Master Ceramicist, Shigaraki

A third-generation potter whose family kiln has fired continuously for over 80 years. Yamamoto-san's work embraces wabi-sabi, finding beauty in the imperfections left by flame and ash in each unique piece.

Tea master Keiko Fujimoto performing a traditional tea ceremony in a Kyoto tea house

Keiko Fujimoto

Tea Ceremony Master, Kyoto

A certified Urasenke tea master with over 30 years of practice. Fujimoto-sensei guides our selection process and leads our seasonal ceremony workshops, sharing the profound stillness of chado.

Tea farmer Hiroshi Tanaka standing in his lush green tea field in the Uji region

Hiroshi Tanaka

Tea Cultivator, Uji

Fifth-generation tea farmer whose family has tended the same hillside in Uji since 1892. Tanaka-san's meticulous shade-growing techniques produce some of the region's most prized tencha and gyokuro.

24 Years of Heritage
18 Artisan Partners
7 Tea Regions
42 Countries Served