A guide to Japanese green tea
Matcha brings you in.Sayama makes us different.
Most people arrive here searching for matcha. Few leave without discovering Sayama — a small, historic tea region near Tokyo most exporters have never heard of. This is the path from one to the other.
The path we take you on
Every article on this site has a job: move you one step further, from a search query to a genuine taste for Japanese tea.
01 — Discover
Matcha
The search you already made. We meet you at the most common question — what is matcha, how do you make it, is it worth switching from coffee.
Start with Matcha →02 — Learn
Japanese Tea
Matcha is one branch of a bigger tree. We map sencha, gyokuro, and hojicha so you understand what you're actually tasting.
See the full picture →03 — Discover the difference
Sayama Tea
A small, cold-winter region near Tokyo, finished with a distinctive deep roast. Rarely exported, and the reason this site exists.
Taste what's different →Explore by topic
- Matcha
Start here. Whisking technique, comparisons, and how to choose your first tin.
- Japanese Tea
Sencha, hojicha, gyokuro — the wider world of Japanese green tea.
- Sayama Tea
A small tea region near Tokyo, famous for one line: Sayama for taste.
- Recipes
Lattes, iced drinks, and everyday ways to use matcha at home.
- Reviews
Honest looks at brands and tins worth your money.
- Producers
The farms and families behind the leaf.
Latest articles
See all Matcha articles →Japan's Major Tea-Growing Regions: Shizuoka, Uji, Kagoshima, Yame, and Sayama
A guide to Japan's five most important tea regions — how their climate and traditions shape flavor, and where each one excels.
Japanese TeaJapanese Green Tea Guide: Sencha, Gyokuro, Hojicha, and Beyond
Matcha is just the beginning. A guide to the main types of Japanese green tea — how they're grown, how they taste, and where to start exploring.
Japanese TeaMatcha vs Sencha: What Actually Separates Japan's Two Signature Teas
One is a powder you whisk, the other a leaf you steep — but the real difference starts in the field. Matcha and sencha compared on growing, flavor, caffeine, and price.
Japanese TeaSencha vs Hojicha: One Leaf, Two Completely Different Teas
Hojicha is simply roasted green tea — yet it tastes nothing like sencha. How roasting transforms flavor and caffeine, and when to drink each.
MatchaBest Matcha for Beginners: How to Choose Your First Tin
Ceremonial or culinary? $15 or $40? What actually matters when buying your first matcha — and the signs of a tin you should avoid.
MatchaHow to Make Matcha at Home (Without Ceremony-Grade Equipment)
A simple, reliable method for whisking a smooth bowl of matcha at home — what you need, what you can skip, and the mistakes that make matcha taste bad.
More Sayama coverage is coming
We're building out producer stories, brewing guides, and — eventually — a way to bring Sayama tea home. Start with the guide that got you here.
Read the Matcha guide