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Sencha Naturals: US Brand, Kagoshima Farms Since 2001

Sencha Naturals sources organic Kagoshima matcha for ceremonial powder, everyday blends, lattes, wellness drinks, and green tea mints.
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Who is Sencha Naturals?

Sencha Naturals is a matcha brand sourcing organic tea exclusively from Kagoshima, Japan, for ceremonial powder, everyday blends, lattes, and wellness drinks. It partners directly with small, multigenerational family farms in region’s volcanic-soil tea country.

Emperor’s Matcha uses first-harvest ichibancha leaves, hand-picked, steamed, made into tencha, and granite stone-ground. Its USDA Organic and JAS Organic certifications support cultivation without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, while defined moisture, particle-size, and color metrics guide quality.

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Sencha Naturals

Sencha Naturals Emperor's Matcha Ceremonial Grade

Sencha Naturals Emperor's Matcha is a first-harvest ceremonial matcha from Shizuoka and Kagoshima with mild sweetness, umami, and grassy notes. USD · In stock
$21.95
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Sencha Naturals in details

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.

About the Sencha Naturals Matcha

Sencha Naturals offers a curated selection of organic Japanese matcha, each product designed for a specific use and flavor preference and held to strict quality specifications.

Core matcha

Organic Emperor's Matcha is the ceremonial grade, made from first-harvest ichibancha leaves with a smooth, sweet, umami-rich taste, vibrant green color, and USDA and JAS organic certification, ideal for ceremonies or lattes. Organic Everyday Matcha balances sweetness and slight bitterness for daily lattes, smoothies, and baking while keeping high L-theanine and catechins.

Quality standards

Each product is tested to defined metrics: Emperor's Matcha holds L*a*b* color values around L 40–45, a −20 to −25, b 10–15, while all products keep moisture at 4–6% and particle size under 20 microns for smooth texture and easy dissolution.

Harvest location

Sencha Naturals sources all matcha exclusively from Kagoshima, Japan, a region known for volcanic soil and an ideal climate for tea. The company partners directly with small, family-owned farms run across multiple generations.

Harvest timing and methods

The calendar centres on ichibancha, the first harvest in early May, between late April and mid-May, when the youngest, most tender leaves carry maximum nutrients and colour. Hand-picking is used for Emperor's Matcha, selecting leaves by size, colour, and texture, while mechanical harvesting handles Everyday Matcha during later flushes (nibancha and sanbancha).

Processing

Leaves are steamed at 100C for 15 to 20 seconds to prevent oxidation, then dried, with stems and veins removed to leave pure tencha. Emperor's Matcha is stone-ground on granite mills, taking up to an hour for 30 grams. USDA Organic and JAS Organic certifications ensure cultivation without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers.

Sencha Naturals History

Sencha Naturals was founded in 2001 by David Kerdoon after travels through Asia revealed green tea's versatility beyond brewing, beginning with accessible products such as Green Tea Mints.

Milestones

  • 2005 — pivoted to organic Japanese matcha and partnered with family-run farms in Kagoshima.
  • 2010 — achieved B Corporation certification.
  • 2015 — expanded into ready-to-drink matcha products.
January 1, 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 1, 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 1, 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 1, 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.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

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.