Shincha, or "new tea," refers to the first tea harvested in the year. Known as the first flush, it allows one to savor the tea leaves' intrinsic deliciousness and freshness. Leaves picked later in the year are categorized as second or third flush and are sold at lower prices. However, at Ka:en Japan, we exclusively offer the premium first flush teas.

The release period for Shincha varies by cultivar and region, but the season in Japan is greeted with enthusiasm akin to the week of Beaujolais Nouveau's release.

Yes, all of our tea leaves are organic, chosen with your health and sustainability in mind. Ka:en Japan is certified for organic food production under the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS), a certification respected both domestically and equivalent to international standards such as the USDA (United States), COR (Canada), OFC (Australia), and EuroLeaf (EU).

Certification number: SEZ-05070701 [OCO] / Ka:en Japan.

Detailed information about the variety and cultivation of our tea leaves is provided on each product page. Should you desire more information, please do not hesitate to contact us via our website's chat service or the inquiry form.
Our tea masters at Ka:en Japan source tea leaves directly from various tea farms, and we may be able to share more specific details with you.

No, our products do not contain additives, with the exception of the rice in our genmaicha (brown rice tea).

We hope you enjoy our teas with peace of mind.

Due to our certification under the Organic JAS standards in Japan, Ka:en Japan's teas are primarily produced without the use of pesticides. We are allowed to use only the pesticides that are listed on the Japanese government's "positive list," and such use is limited strictly to emergency situations during cultivation.

Our tea leaves have passed all of the rigorous residual pesticide tests and reviews conducted regularly by the government, so you can enjoy our teas with confidence and peace of mind.

Recent research has been exploring the potential effectiveness of methylated catechins on allergies and hay fever. These catechins are abundantly present in tea varieties such as Kanayamidori, Okumidori, and Yutakamidori.
For more information about the nutrients contained in Japanese tea and the benefits they provide, please refer to this page.

The amount of caffeine in Japanese tea varies depending on the type of tea, containing about 10 to 260 mg of caffeine per 100 ml.
For detailed information on the caffeine content in each type of tea, please visit this page.

High-quality matcha ground by stone mills tends to form clumps due to static electricity, among other factors.
While smooth, powdery matcha is often thought to indicate high quality, this is not always the case.
In particular, the finest matcha ground using stone mills has particles around 5μm in size, which can easily clump together from even slight vibrations caused by static electricity.

Therefore, when preparing matcha, it's recommended to use a "Tea Strainer" to break up the lumps. This should help you to restore the beautiful powder form and enjoy the matcha's creamy taste as intended.
For basic matcha preparation methods, please visit our page at Matcha Guide.

Of course, they can enjoy it. However, please be aware that Japanese tea contains caffeine. This is especially true for varieties like 'Gyokuro' and 'Matcha,' which are rich in caffeine.
For detailed information on the caffeine content in Japanese tea, please check this page.

Some types of Japanese tea, such as Gyokuro or Matcha, contain a significant amount of caffeine, which might be too stimulating to start your story (day). On an empty stomach, like after waking up, we recommend Sencha, Houjicha, or a Matcha Latte made with milk.

Japanese tea contains caffeine. Therefore, varieties rich in caffeine, such as Gyokuro and Matcha, may interfere with your journey to the land of dreams.

Before bedtime, we suggest you opt for Houjicha or Genmaicha, which have less caffeine and a rich aroma.

Please use soft water with a hardness of 30-80 mg/l.

The hardness of the water used when brewing greatly affects the taste of Japanese tea.
Using water with high hardness can cause a loss of umami flavor, bland taste, and accentuate bitterness and astringency.
Using soft water as much as possible will let you enjoy the true taste of Japanese tea.

Please check the temperature and the amount of water when brewing the tea.
Most Japanese teas will extract more of the catechins when brewed at higher temperatures, which can cause bitterness and astringency. While catechins are beneficial for health, they are also responsible for these flavors, so please check your brewing temperature.
The optimal temperature and amount of water for the tea leaves can be found on the Bag's Label or the product page.

Additionally, there are various types of Japanese tea, some of which are meant to be enjoyed for their classical taste, centered around astringency and bitterness.
We hope you will try all kinds of Japanese tea to find the flavor that you like best.

If you need assistance in selecting tea leaves or brewing, please feel free to contact us via chat or our contact form.
An assistant from Ka:en Japan will be happy to support you.

No, I am very sorry, but we do not currently sell tea utensils or tools.

We would like to incorporate our customers' opinions as much as possible, so please let us know what kind of tea utensils you prefer or what kind of tools you are looking for through our inquiry form.

The Ka:en Japan marketing team will share your input and discuss the possibility of making your request a reality.

Please feel free to consult with us via the chat on our website or through our inquiry form.
The Ka:en Japan assistant will be happy to help you choose the tea leaves that are best for you.

Yes, more than 96% of our packaging is made of paper or biodegradable materials, the majority of which are recycled from items like milk cartons and newspapers.
For the bags that hold the tea leaves, we have adopted a new material with barrier properties equivalent to those of aluminum vapor deposition, thereby striving for both sustainability and quality improvement.

Materials for packaging
* Details on inks and adhesives are not provided.

• Tea Box: Recycled Paper / Paper
• Filling Material: Recycled Paper
• Brand Card: Recycled Paper
• Mizuhiki: Washi Paper / Silk
• Bags: Paper / Barrier Film
• Label: Recycled Paper

Furthermore, we offset all CO2 emissions produced by our entire operation through a carbon offset program implemented by Japanese certification organizations.

The spirit of Harmony and Diversity which are the mottos of Ka:en Japan's brand, is also at the core of our approach to the environment and sustainability.
To contribute to the achievement of the SDGs set by the world, we actively support various specialized institutions within Japan using the proceeds from our product sales.
The categories we are currently focusing on include:

• Mitigating climate change, regenerating marine and terrestrial ecosystems
• Eradicating poverty
• Providing clean water and promoting healthy sanitation
• Ensuring access to education

In addition, the production of recycled paper used in Ka:en Japan's packaging requires significant energy.
For this reason, we offset all the carbon dioxide emitted by our entire business through a carbon offset program conducted by Japanese certification bodies.

While not quite as durable as a cricket ball, our packaging is very robust to ensure light protection since Japanese tea leaves are very sensitive to light.
If you haven't consumed all the tea, please store the bags back in the Tea Box.

If you're considering reusing them, they can serve as long-lasting containers for stationery, condiments, accessories, and other small items.
The surface of the packaging uses a type of Washi paper also found in Japanese room dividers, or "fusuma," and we hope you will enjoy its texture that changes over time.

We apologize for the inconvenience.
Please contact us via the inquiry form and share details such as the device you're using, the browser, and the page you're attempting to access to assist our development team in resolving the issue promptly.

We take the protection of our customers' personal information very seriously and operate our brand with the utmost care.
For our overall privacy policy regarding personal information, please refer to the Privacy Policy, and for our website's cookie policy, please see the Cookie Policy.
If you have any questions that remain unanswered, do not hesitate to contact us through the inquiry form.