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Republic of Tea: California Tea Company Since 1992

Republic of Tea offers Japanese matcha as ceremonial powder, tea bags, concentrates, capsules, and packets for varied daily rituals.
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Who is Republic of Tea?

Republic of Tea is a California tea company offering Japanese matcha for daily steeping and quick preparation. Its range includes ceremonial powder, tea bags, concentrates, capsules, and packets, with flagship Organic Double Green Matcha Tea Bags blending Japanese matcha powder and green tea leaves.

Founded in 1992 in Mill Valley, California, brand sources matcha from Japan and uses certified organic ingredients. Japanese processing includes plant shading, steaming leaves into tencha, then stone-grinding fine matcha powder.

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Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp matcha philosophy

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Republic of Tea in details

Since 1992, The Republic of Tea has championed a mindful approach to tea drinking with their “Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp” philosophy. Founded by Mel and Patricia Ziegler, the brand brings this same intentionality to their premium matcha collection, sourcing shade-grown Japanese matcha that honors centuries-old tea ceremony traditions while meeting modern wellness needs.

The Art of Shade-Growing

Republic of Tea sources matcha from shade-grown Camellia sinensis leaves, a cultivation method that increases chlorophyll content and creates the powder’s signature dark emerald green color. The leaves are carefully destemmed, deveined, steamed, and stone ground into an ultra-fine powder that delivers a bright, grassy flavor profile with natural sweetness.

This meticulous production process preserves the amino acid L-theanine, which provides clean energy without the jitters common to coffee. Each 6-ounce serving contains approximately 60 mg of caffeine—less than half that of coffee—releasing energy smoothly throughout the day while supporting focus and memory.

Beyond Traditional Powder

The brand offers matcha in multiple formats to fit different lifestyles. Their product line includes Daily Matcha Powder for everyday use, Organic Ceremonial Matcha Powder for traditional preparation, and convenient options like tea bags, concentrates, capsules, and single-serve packets.

Republic of Tea also creates innovative matcha blends that expand beyond traditional preparation:

  • U•Matcha® Chai combines matcha with warming spices for a sweet and spicy experience
  • Organic Serenity SuperGreen blends matcha with lavender and holy basil for calming benefits
  • Organic Immunity SuperGreen adds echinacea, elderflower, and orange for wellness support

Freshness and Education

Understanding that quality diminishes over time, the company packages matcha in airtight tea tins designed to preserve freshness. They complement their products with bamboo whisks, electric frothers, and starter sets that help both newcomers and experienced matcha drinkers achieve optimal preparation.

The brand provides extensive recipes and guidance for matcha lattes, iced drinks, smoothies, and baked goods. This educational approach reflects their founding philosophy: tea should be savored mindfully, with attention to both the ritual and the remarkable anti-inflammatory antioxidant properties that continue to attract scientific interest.

About the Republic of Tea Matcha

Republic of Tea brings matcha into everyday routines with a curated selection built for steeping and quick preparation rather than traditional whisking.

Products

The flagship Organic Double Green Matcha Tea Bags blend organic Japanese matcha powder with organic green tea leaves for a fresh, springtime-grassy taste in a steepable bag. The range also includes bulk organic full-leaf matcha and matcha concentrates for fast latte preparation.

Quality

The matcha is premium culinary grade, sourced from Japan and prepared to preserve its traditional character. All products carry certified organic status, with Kosher options valued for vibrant color and umami-rich, savory taste.

Harvest location

Republic of Tea sources its matcha from Japan, following traditional cultivation methods refined over centuries. Production begins with shading tea plants before harvest to raise chlorophyll and amino acids, giving the vibrant green colour and rich flavour.

Five-step harvest

  • Shading: plants are sheltered before harvest.
  • Harvesting: tender young leaves are selected, often by hand for ceremonial grade.
  • Steaming: leaves are steamed to halt oxidation.
  • Drying: leaves are dried into tencha.
  • Grinding: tencha is stone-ground into fine particles of 1 to 20 micrometres.

The first harvest (ichibancha) yields the highest grade, while later harvests (nibancha and sanbancha) serve culinary use. Organic certification ensures suppliers avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, though exact regional sources remain proprietary.

Republic of Tea History

The Republic of Tea was founded in 1992 in Mill Valley, California, by Mel and Patricia Ziegler with Bill Rosenzweig, who set out to transform American tea culture under the philosophy "Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp." That same year it became a founding member of the Ethical Tea Partnership. The company later developed a matcha product line, drawing on Japanese tea traditions for modern American consumers.

January 1, 1992

Mel and Patricia Ziegler, along with Bill Rosenzweig, established The Republic of Tea in Mill Valley, California, with the revolutionary philosophy of 'Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp', setting out to transform American tea culture and bring mindful tea consumption to the masses.

January 1, 1992

Republic of Tea became a founding member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, establishing their commitment to ethical sourcing and social responsibility within the tea industry from the company's early days, championing sustainable and responsible tea trade practices.

January 1, 2000

The company expanded into matcha offerings, developing a comprehensive range of products including organic matcha concentrates, ceremonial-grade matcha powder, and innovative matcha tea bags that combine Japanese matcha powder with organic green tea leaves, bringing ancient Japanese tea ceremony traditions to modern American consumers.

January 1, 2010

Republic of Tea achieved certified organic status for their matcha products and introduced Kosher-certified options, reflecting their commitment to quality, transparency, and inclusivity while maintaining their focus on thoughtful sourcing and careful preparation of premium matcha products.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

What types of matcha products does Republic of Tea offer?

Republic of Tea offers matcha for several preparation styles and routines. Its range includes Daily Matcha Powder, Organic Ceremonial Matcha Powder, tea bags, concentrates, capsules, and single-serve packets. The broader selection also includes blended matcha products, giving customers options for traditional preparation, everyday drinking, or convenient use without measuring loose powder.

How is Republic of Tea matcha produced?

Republic of Tea sources shade-grown Camellia sinensis leaves from Japan. The leaves are destemmed, deveined, steamed, and stone-ground into an ultra-fine powder. This process produces matcha described as dark emerald green, with a bright, grassy flavor and natural sweetness. The company’s Japanese processing information also identifies dried tencha as the material ground into matcha.

Which Republic of Tea matcha is intended for everyday or traditional preparation?

Republic of Tea positions Daily Matcha Powder as its option for everyday use. Organic Ceremonial Matcha Powder is intended for traditional preparation. People seeking quicker formats can instead choose tea bags, concentrates, capsules, or single-serve packets. This assortment separates loose powders by intended preparation while providing convenient alternatives for routines that do not involve traditional whisking.

How does Republic of Tea package matcha to preserve freshness?

Republic of Tea acknowledges that matcha quality declines over time and packages its matcha in airtight tea tins intended to preserve freshness. The brand also supplies preparation tools, including bamboo whisks, electric frothers, and starter sets. These products support both newcomers and experienced drinkers in preparing matcha while the tins address storage and exposure after purchase.

What drinks and foods can be made with Republic of Tea matcha?

Republic of Tea provides recipes and preparation guidance for several matcha applications. The listed uses include matcha lattes, iced drinks, smoothies, and baked goods. Its product range also includes concentrates for quick preparation and powders suited to everyday or traditional use, allowing customers to select a format that fits the drink or recipe they plan to make.