Sencha Naturals
Sencha Naturals presentation
Sencha Naturals began in 2001 when founder David Kerdoon returned from a transformative journey through Asia with a vision. Traveling across the region, he discovered green tea being used in ways that went far beyond traditional brewing—from snacks to skincare to confections. This revelation sparked a mission: to introduce North Americans to the versatile potential of organic Japanese matcha through unique, socially responsible products.
From Kagoshima Farms to Your Cup
The company sources its organic matcha from carefully selected farms in Kagoshima, Japan, ensuring authenticity and quality in every product. What sets Sencha Naturals apart is their commitment to reimagining how green tea can be consumed. Their product line extends beyond traditional matcha powder to include innovative offerings like green tea mints, matcha latte mixes, and wellness drinks—all featuring the same premium Japanese matcha.
Sustainability Meets Innovation
Sencha Naturals operates as a Certified B Corporation, demonstrating their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. In 2009, they became the first natural confectionery manufacturer in the U.S. to power their Los Angeles facility with solar energy. This clean energy initiative will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 1,200 tons of CO2 over 25 years—equivalent to planting 47,000 trees.
Their dedication to ethical sourcing runs deep. In 2005, they pioneered the use of Fair Trade & Organic Certified tea extracts in non-chocolate confectionery products, ensuring fair wages for farmers and supporting community investment programs.
Quality Without Compromise
Every Sencha Naturals product reflects their philosophy of creating better-for-you alternatives. Their offerings are:
- Made with organic Japanese matcha from Kagoshima
- Free from refined sugars, using natural sweeteners instead
- Non-GMO and made with whole food ingredients
- Packaged in biodegradable containers made from post-consumer waste
A Legacy of Tea Innovation
From their original Green Tea Mints—launched after years of collaboration with tea masters and food formulators—to their expanding line of matcha lattes and wellness beverages, Sencha Naturals continues to push boundaries. Their in-house manufacturing facility in Monterey Park, California, allows complete quality control while maintaining their environmental commitments.
For matcha enthusiasts seeking authentic Japanese quality combined with innovative applications and genuine sustainability practices, Sencha Naturals represents more than two decades of dedication to reimagining green tea’s possibilities.
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Matcha produced by Sencha Naturals
Sencha Naturals offers a carefully curated selection of organic Japanese matcha products, each designed for specific uses and flavor preferences. The company’s product line showcases their commitment to quality and accessibility in matcha consumption.
Core Matcha Products
Organic Emperor’s Matcha represents the company’s ceremonial-grade offering, crafted from the finest ichibancha (first harvest) leaves. This premium matcha delivers 60-70mg of caffeine per 2g serving with a smooth, sweet taste enhanced by natural umami notes and a vibrant green color. The product holds both USDA Organic and JAS Organic certifications, making it ideal for traditional tea ceremonies or elevated latte preparations.
Organic Everyday Matcha provides a well-balanced option for daily consumption, featuring a harmonious blend of sweetness and slight bitterness. With 40-50mg of caffeine per 2g serving, this versatile matcha works excellently in lattes, smoothies, and baking applications while maintaining high levels of L-theanine and catechins.
Ready-to-Drink Options
Matcha Iced Tea – Lemonade offers a refreshing alternative with 20-30mg of caffeine per serving, combining matcha’s antioxidant benefits with vitamin C from lemonade. This product contains less sugar than traditional iced teas while maintaining organic certification where applicable.
The company has also expanded into Oat Milk Matcha Lattes and maintains their original Green Tea Mints, demonstrating their evolution from innovative green tea products to comprehensive matcha offerings.
Quality Specifications
Each product undergoes rigorous testing with specific quality metrics: Emperor’s Matcha maintains L*:a*b* color values of L = 40-45, a = -20 to -25, b = 10-15, while all products maintain moisture content between 4-6% and particle sizes under 20 microns for optimal texture and dissolution.
History of Sencha Naturals
David Kerdoon founded Sencha Naturals in 2001 following an eye-opening journey through Asia that revealed green tea’s remarkable versatility beyond traditional brewing methods. His travels exposed him to green tea being used in everything from savory snacks and skincare to candies and cookies, sparking a vision to introduce these health benefits to a broader Western audience.
The company initially focused on innovative products like Green Tea Mints, designed to make green tea accessible in convenient, familiar forms. However, as Kerdoon recognized matcha’s potent antioxidant properties and unique flavor profiles, Sencha Naturals strategically pivoted toward organic Japanese matcha as its core focus.
This transition involved establishing direct relationships with family-run tea farms in Kagoshima, Japan, a region celebrated for its volcanic soil and ideal tea cultivation climate. These multi-generational partnerships support traditional farming practices while ensuring the highest quality matcha sourcing. The company works exclusively with Japanese farms, leveraging the country’s centuries of refined matcha processing methods and rigorous quality control standards.
Sencha Naturals achieved B Corporation certification, marking a significant milestone that underscores the company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This certification requires meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
The company has continually evolved its product line to meet changing consumer preferences while maintaining its core values of quality and sustainability. Recent additions include Oat Milk Matcha Lattes and Matcha Lemonade, expanding beyond traditional matcha powder to ready-to-drink options that make daily matcha consumption more convenient.
Today, Sencha Naturals maintains its commitment to matcha for daily wellness, implementing comprehensive sustainability initiatives including waste reduction programs, water conservation practices, and strict organic certification standards through both USDA Organic and JAS Organic certifications.
4 events from Sencha Naturals's history
January 2001
Company Founded by David Kerdoon
David Kerdoon established Sencha Naturals following his transformative travels through Asia, where he discovered green tea’s versatility beyond traditional brewing methods. His initial vision focused on introducing green tea’s health benefits to Western consumers through innovative, accessible products like Green Tea Mints.
January 2005
Strategic Pivot to Organic Japanese Matcha
Recognizing matcha’s superior antioxidant properties and unique flavor profiles, Sencha Naturals strategically shifted its focus from green tea mints to organic Japanese matcha. This transition involved establishing direct partnerships with family-run tea farms in Kagoshima, Japan, leveraging the region’s volcanic soil and ideal cultivation climate.
January 2010
B Corporation Certification Achievement
Sencha Naturals achieved B Corporation certification, demonstrating its commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This milestone required meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, positioning the company as a leader in sustainable business practices.
January 2015
Product Line Expansion
The company broadened its product offerings to include ready-to-drink options such as Oat Milk Matcha Lattes and Matcha Lemonade. This expansion catered to evolving consumer preferences while maintaining core values of quality and sustainability, making daily matcha consumption more convenient and accessible.
Gallery and medias
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Frequent questions
Find below some answers to the most common questions about Sencha Naturals.
What's the difference between Sencha Naturals' Emperor's Matcha and Everyday Matcha?
Emperor’s Matcha is Sencha Naturals’ ceremonial grade made from ichibancha (first harvest) leaves hand-picked in early May. It delivers 60-70mg of caffeine per 2g serving with a smooth, sweet taste and vibrant green color perfect for traditional tea ceremonies or drinking straight.
Everyday Matcha uses mechanical harvesting from later harvests, providing 40-50mg of caffeine per 2g serving with a well-rounded flavor balancing sweetness and slight bitterness. It’s specifically designed for lattes, smoothies, and baking applications.
How does Sencha Naturals process their matcha differently for Emperor's versus Everyday grades?
Sencha Naturals uses distinct milling processes for each grade:
- Stone Milling for Emperor’s Matcha – Traditional granite stone mills that can take up to an hour to produce just 30 grams, preventing overheating and preserving delicate flavor
- Ball/Bead Milling for Everyday Matcha – Ceramic or stainless steel balls efficiently produce larger quantities while maintaining quality
- Cyclone Milling for blended products like their Matcha Iced Tea-Lemonade using high-speed air streams for consistent particle size
Why does Sencha Naturals source exclusively from Kagoshima family farms?
Sencha Naturals partners with multi-generational family farms in Kagoshima, Japan because this region offers volcanic soil and ideal climate conditions for tea cultivation. These small farms blend traditional hand-picking methods with modern mechanical harvesting – skilled pickers can harvest 1-3kg per hour by hand, while their two-person mechanical harvesters collect 200-250kg per hour.
This direct relationship supports traditional farming practices while ensuring quality control. The company conducts regular supplier audits to maintain their strict standards for both USDA Organic and JAS Organic certifications.
What specific quality metrics does Sencha Naturals test for in their matcha?
Sencha Naturals maintains rigorous quality control with precise measurements:
- Color: Spectrophotometer testing with L*:a*b* values of L=40-45, a=-20 to -25, b=10-15 for Emperor’s Matcha
- Moisture Content: 4-6% range using moisture analyzers to prevent clumping
- Particle Size: Less than 20 microns measured by laser diffraction for smooth texture
- Caffeine/L-Theanine: HPLC testing ensures Emperor’s contains 60-70mg caffeine and 30-40mg L-theanine per 2g serving
- Heavy Metals: ICP-MS testing keeps lead below 2 ppm and arsenic below 1 ppm
How did David Kerdoon's 2001 founding story influence Sencha Naturals' current product line?
David Kerdoon founded Sencha Naturals in 2001 after Asian travels revealed green tea’s versatility beyond traditional brewing. His initial innovation was Green Tea Mints to make green tea accessible to broader audiences.
This accessibility focus evolved into today’s diverse lineup including Oat Milk Matcha Lattes and Matcha Lemonade with reduced sugar content (20-30mg caffeine per serving). The company’s B Corporation certification reflects Kerdoon’s original vision of combining wellness innovation with social and environmental responsibility.
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