Kitao Matcha
Kitao Matcha presentation
Since 1919, Kitao Matcha has stood at the intersection of Japanese heritage and modern skincare science. The Kawabata family in Osaka has spent over a century perfecting the art of transforming premium organic matcha into beauty rituals that honor ancestral wisdom while meeting contemporary standards.
A Century-Old Legacy Rooted in Osaka
The Kawabata family’s journey began in 1919, when they first recognized matcha’s potential beyond the tea ceremony. For five generations, they’ve cultivated relationships with select tea farmers and refined extraction methods that preserve matcha’s most potent compounds. This dedication has created a skincare line that carries the weight of tradition without feeling antiquated.
Each product reflects a deep understanding of how green tea antioxidants interact with skin at the cellular level. The family’s approach combines time-tested Japanese beauty principles with rigorous testing protocols.
ECOCERT Organic Certification: Quality You Can Trust
Kitao Matcha holds ECOCERT organic certification, one of the most stringent standards in natural cosmetics. This means every ingredient meets strict criteria for organic farming, sustainable sourcing, and environmental responsibility. The certification isn’t just a label—it’s a promise that what touches your skin comes from verified organic sources.
The brand sources matcha exclusively from certified organic tea gardens that avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This commitment ensures that the antioxidant-rich catechins and chlorophyll remain uncompromised by chemical residues.
Where Science Meets Ancestral Beauty Wisdom
What sets Kitao Matcha apart is the deliberate fusion of old and new. The Kawabata family studies historical Japanese beauty texts while collaborating with dermatological researchers. This dual approach has yielded formulations that deliver measurable results without abandoning the gentle, holistic philosophy of traditional skincare.
Their product range addresses modern skin concerns—oxidative stress, inflammation, uneven tone—using matcha’s natural properties:
- High concentrations of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) for antioxidant protection
- Chlorophyll-rich formulas that support skin detoxification
- L-theanine content that helps calm reactive skin
- Vitamin C and E naturally present in ceremonial-grade matcha
For those seeking clean beauty solutions with documented heritage, Kitao Matcha offers a rare combination: products backed by a century of family expertise and certified organic integrity. It’s skincare that respects both your skin and its origins.
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Matcha produced by Kitao Matcha
Kitao Matcha offers a sophisticated line of skincare products that harness the power of matcha (green tea powder) combined with premium superfoods. The brand launched its signature matcha-infused skincare line in 2019 to celebrate the company’s centennial anniversary.
Flagship Products
The Lotion à l’Essence de Matcha et de Chia stands as the brand’s best-seller, combining organic matcha with superfoods including chia seeds, açaí, and quinoa. This hydrating essence is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids that protect skin against environmental damage while improving elasticity.
The Crème Visage Matcha & Chia serves as a comprehensive facial treatment that soothes dryness and regenerates skin using matcha, chia seeds, and açaí. The formula incorporates hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant that helps retain moisture and plump the skin.
Complete Skincare Range
Beyond these signature products, Kitao offers a complete skincare routine including cleansers, exfoliants, and masks. Each product is formulated with natural and organic ingredients such as jojoba oil, aloe vera, and chamomile extract that nourish and soothe the skin.
Quality Standards
All Kitao matcha products feature ECOCERT-certified organic matcha, ensuring adherence to strict organic farming practices. The brand utilizes different grades of matcha depending on the product application – ceremonial grade for beverages and supplements, and premium cosmetic-grade matcha for skincare formulations. Each grade is selected based on specific criteria including purity, concentration, and intended use.
The company maintains rigorous quality control through advanced analysis techniques that verify purity, concentration, and absence of contaminants at every production stage. Learn more about Kitao’s premium organic matcha certification.
History of Kitao Matcha
Kitao Matcha began its remarkable journey in 1919 when the Kawabata family established their traditional cosmetics company in Osaka, Japan. What started as a visionary quest by Kazuhiro Kawabata’s great-grandfather represented an audacious fusion of ancestral practices with modern scientific approaches to beauty and skincare.
The company’s evolution reflects a deep understanding of Japanese beauty traditions combined with innovative manufacturing techniques. From its humble beginnings as a traditional cosmetics manufacturer, Kitao demonstrated remarkable adaptability and forward-thinking vision that would define its century-long legacy.
The 1950s marked a pivotal expansion period when Kitao broadened its product range in response to growing consumer demand across Japan. This strategic growth phase allowed the company to invest heavily in research and development while maintaining its commitment to natural ingredients and traditional formulation methods. The family carefully guarded their manufacturing secrets, passing down knowledge through generations while embracing technological advances.
Today, under the leadership of Kazuhiro Kawabata, the company operates from a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Osaka, certified with ISO 9001 and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards. This modern facility represents the perfect marriage of traditional Japanese craftsmanship with cutting-edge production technology, ensuring every product meets the highest purity and efficacy standards.
Kitao’s partnership with specialized farms in the Uji region of Kyoto, including the renowned Harashima farm, ensures access to the finest quality matcha. These collaborations support traditional agricultural practices while maintaining the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility through ECOCERT certified organic ingredients.
3 events from Kitao Matcha's history
January 1919
Kitao Foundation by Kawabata Family
The Kawabata family established Kitao as a traditional cosmetics company in Osaka, Japan. Founded by Kazuhiro Kawabata’s great-grandfather, the company began with a visionary approach to fusing ancestral Japanese beauty practices with modern scientific methods, laying the groundwork for a century of innovation in skincare and cosmetics.
January 1950
Strategic Product Range Expansion
Kitao underwent significant expansion of its product portfolio during the 1950s, responding to growing consumer demand across Japan. This strategic growth phase involved substantial investment in research and development capabilities while maintaining the company’s core commitment to natural ingredients and traditional formulation methods passed down through generations.
January 2019
Centenary Matcha Skincare Line Launch
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Kitao launched its revolutionary matcha-infused skincare line, marking a strategic pivot into premium beauty products. This milestone represented the culmination of decades of research into matcha’s beneficial properties for skin health, utilizing ECOCERT certified organic matcha sourced exclusively from the prestigious Uji region of Kyoto.
Gallery and medias
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Frequent questions
Find below some answers to the most common questions about Kitao Matcha.
What makes Kitao's 2019 matcha skincare launch special for their centennial celebration?
Kitao launched their matcha-infused skincare line in 2019 to commemorate their 100th anniversary, having been founded by the Kawabata family in 1919. This wasn’t just a marketing move – it represented the culmination of a century of expertise in traditional Japanese beauty practices combined with modern skincare science. The timing allowed them to leverage both their established reputation and the growing global interest in matcha (powdered green tea) as a beauty ingredient.
How does Kitao's partnership with Harashima farm in Uji ensure authentic matcha quality?
Kitao works exclusively with specific farms in the Uji region of Kyoto, including the renowned Harashima farm, to source their ECOCERT certified organic matcha. This partnership ensures:
- Access to Ichibancha (first harvest) matcha with the highest nutrient content
- Traditional shade-growing techniques that increase chlorophyll and L-theanine levels
- Sustainable farming practices without pesticides or chemical fertilizers
- Direct quality control from cultivation to processing
This farm-to-skincare approach guarantees the authenticity and potency of their matcha ingredients.
Why does Kitao combine matcha with superfoods like chia and açaí in their skincare products?
Kitao’s signature approach combines premium Uji matcha with complementary superfoods to create synergistic skincare benefits. Their Lotion à l’Essence de Matcha et de Chia and Crème Visage Matcha & Chia blend matcha’s antioxidants with:
- Chia seeds – rich in omega fatty acids for skin barrier repair
- Açaí – provides additional antioxidant protection
- Quinoa – offers amino acids for skin regeneration
This unique formulation philosophy maximizes the anti-aging and protective benefits beyond what matcha alone could provide.
What's the difference between ceremonial and non-ceremonial grade matcha in Kitao's products?
Kitao strategically uses different matcha grades depending on the product application. For their skincare line, they use high-quality but non-ceremonial grade matcha that maintains excellent antioxidant properties while being cost-effective for topical use. Ceremonial grade matcha from their Ichibancha harvest is reserved for consumable products like beverages and supplements, where the superior taste profile and vibrant color matter most. Both grades undergo the same rigorous quality testing at their ISO 9001 certified facility in Osaka.
How does Kitao's century-old Kawabata family heritage influence their modern production methods?
The Kawabata family’s vision since 1919 has been to merge traditional Japanese beauty practices with scientific innovation. Current CEO Kazuhiro Kawabata continues this legacy through their state-of-the-art Osaka facility that combines ancestral knowledge with modern technology. Their production maintains traditional elements like respecting seasonal Ichibancha harvesting while incorporating advanced quality control systems with GMP certification. This balance allows them to preserve the authenticity of Japanese skincare traditions while meeting international safety and efficacy standards.
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