about matchoya
Our Story
Where matcha began — brought to the world
Why Uji Changes Everything
In the world of matcha, origin is everything. True Uji Matcha can only come from the Uji region of Kyoto — a designation registered by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture as a Geographical Indication (GI). This is not marketing. This is law.
Uji has been the birthplace and benchmark of matcha for over 800 years. In 1191 AD, the Zen monk Eisai brought tea seeds from China to Japan. It was in Uji that the cultivation of matcha was perfected — the precise methods of tana shading, hand-picking first-flush leaves, and stone-grinding on granite mills that produce a matcha unlike anything else on earth.
The Uji River creates a unique microclimate: morning mists that naturally shade the tea plants, mineral-rich soil nourished by centuries of careful stewardship, and temperatures that produce leaves of extraordinary depth and complexity. While matcha is now grown across Japan — in Kagoshima, Shizuoka, Nishio — Uji remains the gold standard. The origin that all others are measured against.
Matchoya works directly with Uji farming families whose expertise spans generations. We don't buy from brokers or blenders. Every gram of Matchoya matcha is traceable to a specific Uji farm, a specific harvest, a specific stone mill. This is the transparency that a registered origin demands — and the quality that your palate deserves.
The Uji Standard
Only matcha from the Uji region of Kyoto holds Japan's Geographical Indication (GI) registration. Uji Matcha is the original. The standard. The benchmark that every other matcha in the world is measured against.
800 Years of Mastery
The registered origin that defines matcha worldwide
Years of continuous matcha production in Uji, since 1191 AD
Geographical Indication — Japan-registered origin, the birthplace of matcha
The speed of traditional granite stone mills. Precision over production.
Only first-harvest spring leaves (ichibancha). The youngest, most flavorful.
Uji Matcha is the original — the benchmark for matcha worldwide. When Japan's Ministry of Agriculture granted Uji Matcha its Geographical Indication status, it confirmed what tea masters have known for centuries: the combination of Uji's microclimate, soil, water, and generational expertise creates a matcha that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Every other matcha region in Japan — Kagoshima, Shizuoka, Nishio — is measured against the Uji standard.
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Bold, modern, and a little rebellious. We celebrate authentic Japanese matcha while expressing it in a fresh, art-inspired way. We balance confidence with playfulness, making sure our words feel premium but never boring. Matchoya is always clear, engaging, and full of personality.
Our Voice
What We Stand For
The principles that guide everything we do
Registered Origin
Every gram of Matchoya matcha comes from Uji, Kyoto — a Japan-registered region. No other origin carries this distinction. This is the gold standard.
Generational Craft
Our partner farmers in Uji have been cultivating matcha for generations. Tana shading, hand-picking, tencha processing, stone-grinding — methods perfected over 800 years and passed from master to apprentice.
Made to Order
We don't mass-produce. Every batch of Matchoya matcha is stone-ground to order, ensuring maximum freshness, quality, and flavor. From mill to your hands in the shortest time possible.
Full Traceability
Every tin traces to a specific farm, harvest date, and stone mill in Uji. No brokers, no blenders, no mystery sourcing. Complete transparency from field to cup.
Our Partner Farmers in Uji
Generations of expertise, passed from master to apprentice
Matchoya works directly with a small number of Uji farming families whose expertise spans generations. Our primary partner farm has been cultivating tea in the Uji region for over five generations, using the same tana shading methods perfected by their ancestors. Every gram of Matchoya matcha can be traced to a specific field, harvest, and stone mill — the transparency that defines our commitment to quality.
- Direct partnerships — no brokers, no blenders
- Multi-generational farming families in the Uji region
- Every batch traceable to a specific farm and harvest date
- Regular quality audits and farm visits
Our Journey
Milestones along the way
Matchoya concept born — blending Uji matcha heritage with modern design
Direct partnerships established with registered Uji tea farms in Kyoto
First products launched: Ceremonial Matcha No.1 and Premium Matcha No.1
Brand identity created with Just Good Design Studio
Matchoya café concept developed — first location announced
B2B launch: White Label, Wholesale & Custom Blends for premium markets
Expansion into Europe, UAE, Thailand, and Japan markets
Our Credentials
Quality you can trust
Registered Uji Origin
Uji Matcha — Geographical Indication registered by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture
Direct Farm Sourcing
No brokers or middlemen — direct from Uji farming families
Traditional Stone-Ground
Granite mills at 40g per hour for ultra-fine, heat-free processing
First-Harvest Only
Ichibancha — only the youngest, most tender spring leaves