Matcha is finely stone-milled green tea powder made from shade-grown Camellia sinensis leaves. Shading the plants for 3–4 weeks before harvest forces them to produce more chlorophyll and L-theanine — giving matcha its vivid green colour, deep umami flavour, and calm, focused energy. Unlike steeped tea, you consume the whole leaf, making it far more nutrient-dense.

What is the difference between koicha and usucha?

Usucha (thin tea) is the everyday preparation — light, frothy, approachable. Koicha (thick tea) is a ceremonial preparation using twice the matcha and half the water, producing a rich, paste-like tea with intense umami. Koicha requires a higher grade matcha.

What matcha grades do you offer?

We offer ceremonial grade matcha using only the youngest first-flush leaves from shaded plants — stone-milled to a silky powder with natural sweetness and umami. Our Premium Matcha is our latte-grade — smooth and balanced for daily use, holding up beautifully in milk.

Hojicha is Japanese green tea roasted at high heat, transforming its colour from green to warm amber and its flavour to nutty, toasty, and caramel-like. Our Organic Yame Hojicha is JAS-certified organic, sourced from Yame, Fukuoka. Because roasting reduces caffeine, hojicha is a beautiful evening tea.

Where does your tea come from?

Our matcha is sourced from generational tea farmers in Uji, Kyoto — the birthplace of Japanese matcha culture. Our hojicha comes from Yame, Fukuoka. Both regions have centuries of tea-growing heritage.

How should I store matcha?

Keep your matcha tin sealed, away from light, heat, and moisture. Once opened, use within 4–6 weeks for best flavour. Store in a cool, dark cupboard — not the fridge, as condensation can affect the powder.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, we ship to New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Europe, Canada, Singapore, and Japan.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

We started Yamada Chaya because we believe good tea should feel good in every sense- not just in the cup, but in how it's grown, packaged, and delivered to you. Sustainability is part of that belief, and here's what it looks like in practice.

Tea from farms we actually trust

We partner with real generational tea farms - families who have been tending their land for decades, sometimes centuries. We choose these relationships carefully, because the quality of the tea and the integrity of how it's grown are inseparable to us. Ethical sourcing isn't a marketing line for us; it's just how we do business.

Packaging we're not embarrassed by

We use recyclable packaging wherever we can, and we're always looking at ways to do better. It's an ongoing process, not a box we've ticked.

What arrives at your door

We try to ship your order using only compostable, recyclable, or repurposed materials. We'd rather take a little extra care packing your order than add unnecessary waste to the world.

Some things need extra care for shipping such as ceramics and glassware, and we are still working on how to reduce the need for bubble wrap when shipping these. Where we do use bubble wrap, it's repurposed from our import shipments.

Less plastic, full stop

We actively look for alternatives to plastic at every stage - from how we source to how we ship. We're not perfect, but we're genuinely trying, and we keep raising the bar for ourselves.

Thinking about our footprint

From the suppliers we choose to the way we ship, we're mindful of our carbon footprint and always looking for ways to reduce it. Small decisions add up.

We know sustainability is a journey, and we're still on it. Thanks for being part of it with us.

Frequently asked questions

We have sourced our matcha blends from generational the farmers in Uji, Kyoto. Japan's most renowned matcha-producing region. One of our partners has been producing tea for over a hundred years. Uji is widely regarded as Japan's top-tier matcha region as it has ideal tea growing conditions and over 800 years of history in the field.

Our JAS Organic Hojicha powder comes from Yame, Fukuoka. An area famed for it's nutty and toasty tasting notes in its tea.

Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder made from specially grown and processed Japanese tea leaves. Unlike other green teas, where the leaves are steeped and removed, matcha is a powder and whisked into water and consumed whole. Allowing you to enjoy the full benefit of the leaf: flavor, nutrients, and antioxidants.

How is it made?

Matcha comes from shade-grown tea plants, typically covered for 2–4 weeks before harvest. This shading slows photosynthesis, boosting chlorophyll (vivid green color) and L-theanine (umami, natural sweetness). Only the youngest, most tender leaves- the first flush of the season- are picked, steamed to stop oxidation, dried, and stone-milled into an ultra-fine powder.

What does it taste like?

High-quality matcha has a vibrant green color, a smooth texture, and a delicate balance of rich umami sweetness with a hint of natural vegetal bitterness- think tender baby greens or sweet green peas, not harsh grassiness. It truly has to be experienced to be believed.

What is Hojicha?

Hojicha is a traditional Japanese green tea made by roasting steamed tea leaves, stems, or powder over charcoal or hot air. This roasting transforms the flavor profile, producing a toasty, nutty, and slightly caramel-like taste, while naturally lowering caffeine content and astringency.

Originating in Kyoto in the 1920s, hojicha was created as a lighter, easy-to-drink tea, perfect for evenings or children.

High-quality hojicha powder, like ours from Yame, Fukuoka, uses first- and second-flush leaves, carefully roasted to bring out rich nutty and cacao notes while preserving subtle sweetness.

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (NZ), you are entitled to a refund or replacement if the product:

Arrives damaged or defective
Is not as described
Is not of acceptable quality

Due to the perishable nature of our matcha products, we do not offer refunds for:

Opened or used items
Change-of-mind returns after an order has been processed or shipped
Personal taste preferences or dissatisfaction with results

See our refund policy for more information.

We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible (within 1-2 business days.)

Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location.

High-quality Japanese matcha isn’t just tea, it’s the result of time, skill, and careful farming:

Tea bushes are shaded for weeks to boost sweetness and nutrients, but this lowers yield.
Farmers pick the youngest, most tender leaves which are the most flavorful and nutrient-rich.
Leaves are steamed, deveined, and stone-milled slowly (just 30–60 g per hour).
Authentic Japanese matcha must meet high standards from farm to tin.

Each step protects its vibrant color, umami flavor, and health benefits- making it more costly than regular tea, but also far more rewarding.

New Zealand: North Island $8. North Island Rural $12. South Island $15. South Island Rural $20. Orders over $100 NZD ship free. Free local delivery for postcodes 4310 and 4312.

Australia: NZ Post Economy Tracked $20 NZD. DHL Worldwide Express $35 NZD. Orders over $150 NZD ship free.

Europe: NZ Post Economy Tracked $35 NZD. DHL Worldwide Express $55 NZD. Orders over $250 NZD ship free.

Asia: Economy Tracked $25 NZD. DHL Worldwide Express $35 NZD. Orders over $250 NZD ship free.

Canada: DHL Worldwide Express $55 NZD. Orders over $250 NZD ship free.

United States: Shipping temporarily paused due to tariff changes.

Finest matcha

from generational tea farms

Japanese owned

& based in New Zealand

Honouring tradition

as well as modern tea culture

Country/Region

Country/Region