Sugarpine Ă— Mizuba: Meet the Hojicha Banana Pudding Sundae
Our collaboration with Sugarpine Drive-In brings toasty hojicha to a nostalgic banana pudding sundae, layered with chocolate soft serve, miso caramel, and plenty of crunch.
Learn About Matcha with Mizuba
Discover the story, tradition, and art behind matcha with Mizuba Tea Co. If you’re looking to discover the beauty of Japanese tea or want to elevate matcha as part of your lifestyle — we’re your guide to your perfect matcha moment.
Why Mizuba?
Mizuba Tea Co. is more than just tea — it's a connection to centuries-old traditions and the finest Japanese craftsmanship. We source true, authentic matcha directly from our friends: producers who strive to uphold excellence in Japanese tea and farmers who manage centuries-old heritage fields in Uji, Japan – ensuring unmatched quality and freshness. With Mizuba, you're not just sipping tea; you're embracing and supporting a culture of care, authenticity, and community.
What is Matcha?
Matcha (抹茶) is historically revered as the only tea used for over 800 years in the renowned Japanese tea ceremony. Contemporarily prized, one cup of matcha contains numerous health benefits that boost a healthy lifestyle. Extraordinarily versatile, one can drink matcha as a warm and rejuvenating experience–or bake it into endless variations of delectable tea-inspired treats.
However, not all powdered green tea is matcha. In fact, matcha as a term is not currently regulated. You may have experienced trying to shop for an excellent tea, but instead becoming overwhelmed with a torrent of options that are unclear (what does ceremonial really mean, anyway?).
Which tea is right for me?
Our handy chart will help you find your new favorite matcha.
Tsuyuhikari
Shop Tsuyuhikari →Hinode
Shop Hinode →Nagomi
Shop Nagomi →Signature
Shop Signature →Gokou
Shop Gokou →Kokoro
Shop Kokoro →Yugana
Shop Yugana →Uji Hikari
Shop Uji Hikari →Shirakawa
Shop Shirakawa →Tenryu
Shop Tenryu →Daily
Shop Daily →Yorokobi
Shop Yorokobi →House
Shop House →Okumidori
Shop Okumidori →Koshun
Shop Koshun →Yama
Shop Yama →Asahi
Shop Asahi →Samidori
Shop Samidori →Yame
Shop Yame →How to get started with matcha in a few basic steps:
You can enjoy matcha casually or elevate it with special tools – and we can meet you wherever you’re at.
Ready to dive into the world of matcha? Here’s what we recommend:
Traditional Essentials
Chasen (tea whisk)
Chawan (tea bowl)
Your favorite Mizuba matcha
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While matcha is always powdered green tea, there are strict benchmarks tea has to meet in order to be deemed veritable matcha. Â
Matcha is the pearl of Japanese green teas. The tea is a finely milled, vibrant green tea uniquely crafted for whisking into a smooth, frothy drink. Originating from Japan, quality matcha is made from shade-grown tea leaves meticulously stone-ground to preserve its bold flavor, velvety texture, and abundant nutrients.
Matcha isn’t just a beverage—it’s an experience. From traditional Japanese tea ceremonies to modern-day lattes, matcha is beloved worldwide for its flavor, versatility and health and wellness benefits. Mizuba matcha comes from the same plant all tea comes from (Camellia sinensis). However, quality matcha green tea must be made from tencha leaves that have been shade-grown for 4 weeks before harvest and stone-milled into a fine powder.Â
Mizuba strives to uphold tradition, transparently educate our customers with knowledge directly from our matcha producers, and also provide a deeper knowledge and understanding of what matcha actually is as a finely crafted tea: how it is cultivated, produced, and enjoyed.
Not sure where to start? Try our essentials set!
Matcha Moment® Essential Tea Set
Yama Matcha
$75.00
Our popular Yama matcha and hand-carved chasen
Explore Tea Beyond the Cup With Our Recipes:
Gingerbread Hojicha Latte
Made with our Organic Hojicha Powder and Diaspora's Gingerbread Spice Blend, this delicious latte features notes of rich, toasty cocoa, warming spice, and just the right amount of heat from...
Salmon Ochazuke with Organic Genmaicha
A simple, comforting dish that's the perfect way to savor something soupy even when you don't have time to make soup! It features Organic Genmaicha fortified with a little dashi,...
Matcha Glossary
Tools & Utensils
Chasen
A handcrafted bamboo whisk used to mix matcha into water, creating a smooth and frothy consistency. You may find whisks made with 80, 100, or 120 tines. These are now quite rare to find made in Japan, but Takayama Village is home to about 18 remaingin artisans.
Chashaku
A traditional bamboo scoop used to measure the perfect amount of matcha powder for preparation. Read all about the chashaku here.
Chawan
A ceramic bowl used to whisk and serve matcha, often designed to enhance the tea-drinking experience. There are thousands of styles of chawan available! Finding one (or several) that speaks to you for your matcha moment elevates your experience. Some collect chawan for each season, others based on material, or decoration. (PS- this one Is our favorite)
Ishi-usu
A traditional stone mill used to grind tencha leaves into fine matcha powder. Read why the stone mill is important.
Matcha Preparation
Koicha
Thick matcha prepared with a higher ratio of powder to water, resulting in a rich and concentrated flavor. The pinnacle experience in tea ceremonies. Read in-depth about koicha on our blog.
Usucha
“Thin style” matcha. Not necessarily a lower grade, but a more common way to prepare matcha for everyday drinking. Approximately 1.5 chashaku spoonfuls (or 3/4 teaspoon) of powder and about 4-6 ounces of water. The goal is to whisk your matcha to a creamy, frothy finish.