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Tenzo Tea: US Direct-to-Consumer Brand, Kagoshima

Tenzo Tea sources organic ceremonial matcha from Kagoshima family farms, with a silken texture, delicate sweetness, and umami notes.
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Who is Tenzo Tea?

Tenzo Tea is a matcha brand offering organic ceremonial matcha from Kagoshima, Japan. Its matcha has silken texture, delicate sweetness, and umami shaped by shade cultivation.

Small, multigenerational Kagoshima farms supply first-flush Ichibancha leaves, processed in Uji through steaming and granite stone milling. Each batch undergoes contaminant screening and sensory assessment, while production follows FSSC 22000 standards and holds USDA Organic certification.

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Tenzo Tea has 1 product on the platform.
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Tenzo Tea $1.3 / g

Tenzo Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha Bundle

Tenzo Organic Matcha pairs two 30g bags of ceremonial grade organic matcha from Kagoshima, Japan, with a refillable tin and matcha scooper. 38 g · USD · In stock
$40 $50
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Organic ceremonial matcha from Kagoshima, Japan

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Tenzo Tea in details

Tenzo Tea was born from a simple problem: two UCLA volleyball players kept crashing from coffee. Steve O’Dell and Robbie Page discovered ceremonial-grade matcha during their athletic careers and recognized its potential to deliver sustained energy without the jitters. In 2016, they founded Tenzo Tea to bring authentic Japanese matcha to health-conscious consumers seeking a better caffeine alternative.

Direct from Kagoshima’s Organic Farms

What sets Tenzo apart is their direct partnership with organic tea farmers in Kagoshima, Japan. Each batch of ceremonial-grade matcha is hand-selected from shade-grown tea leaves, stone-ground to preserve maximum nutrients and flavor. This direct sourcing model ensures quality control from farm to cup while supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

The result? Matcha that delivers clean, focused energy for 4-6 hours without the crash that comes from coffee or energy drinks.

Built by Athletes, Trusted by Communities

Steve and Robbie’s background in professional volleyball shaped Tenzo’s approach to performance and wellness. They understand what it means to fuel your body properly for sustained mental clarity and physical endurance. This athlete-tested philosophy resonates with customers who demand more from their daily routine.

Today, Tenzo Tea is available in over 100 retail locations and has generated more than $1 million in revenue. The brand has been featured in Entrepreneur, CBS, and HuffPost for its commitment to quality and community impact.

More Than Just Matcha

Tenzo’s mission extends beyond selling tea. The company partners with organizations like The Boys and Girls Club and The Surfrider Foundation to give back to communities and protect the environment. Every purchase supports sustainable farming practices that keep harmful pesticides out of the ecosystem.

  • 100% organic, ceremonial-grade matcha sourced directly from Japan
  • Rich in antioxidants and L-theanine for calm, sustained energy
  • No artificial ingredients, sweeteners, or fillers
  • Supports mental clarity, focus, and overall wellness

Whether you’re looking to replace your morning coffee or fuel an active lifestyle, Tenzo Tea delivers the highest quality organic matcha with a commitment to your health and the planet.

About the Tenzo Tea Matcha

Tenzo Tea specializes in ceremonial-grade organic matcha from Kagoshima, Japan, offering sustained energy without the jitters of coffee.

Flavor and Character

The flagship matcha shows a vibrant verdant hue and silken texture, with distinctive umami undertones and delicate sweetness that reflect the elevated chlorophyll built through careful shading. It is versatile enough for traditional tea ceremonies as well as lattes, smoothies, and culinary use.

Quality and Testing

The matcha is certified USDA Organic, along with Kosher, Paleo, and Vegan certifications, and is produced to FSSC 22000 standards. Every batch is screened for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), pesticides, microbial contaminants, and allergens, and trained experts assess color, aroma, and flavor using standardized sensory scoring.

Matcha from Japan

Japan

Tenzo Tea sources its matcha exclusively from Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, a region prized for its microclimate and rich volcanic soil. It partners with small-scale, multigenerational family farms that have cultivated green tea in this terroir for over 400 years.

Shading and harvest

Production begins with shade-growing that shields the plants for three to four weeks before harvest, using black synthetic cloths (Jikakabuse) or shelf-style systems (Kanreisha) to block 70 to 90 percent of sunlight and raise chlorophyll and L-theanine. Harvest is during the first flush (Ichibancha) from late April to mid-May, with selective hand-picking of the youngest leaves.

Processing

Leaves are processed at an FSSC 22000 certified facility in Uji, Kyoto, where they are steamed to prevent oxidation, then dried, de-stemmed, and de-veined into nutrient-rich Tencha. Granite stone mills grind it into fine powder without overheating.

Tenzo Tea History

Tenzo Tea was founded in 2016 by former UCLA volleyball teammates Steve O'Dell and Robbie Page. Frustrated by coffee's jitters and crashes, they set out to democratize access to steadier energy through matcha.

Milestones

  • 2016: Adopted a direct-to-consumer model
  • 2017: Partnered with multigenerational family farms in Kagoshima
  • 2018: Established an FSSC 22000 certified facility in Uji, Kyoto
January 1, 2016

Company Founded by UCLA Volleyball Teammates

Steve O'Dell and Robbie Page, former UCLA volleyball teammates, founded Tenzo Tea after becoming disenchanted with coffee's energy roller coaster of jitters and crashes. They embarked on a quest for a more harmonious energy source, ultimately discovering the virtues of matcha and launching their venture to democratize access to healthy energy.

June 1, 2016

Strategic Direct-to-Consumer Model Adoption

Tenzo Tea embraced a direct-to-consumer business model as a watershed moment in their development. This strategic decision afforded them meticulous oversight of product integrity, enabled the forging of a distinctive brand identity, and facilitated the cultivation of enduring customer relationships while gathering invaluable real-time feedback.

January 1, 2017

Partnership with Kagoshima Family Farms Established

The company forged alliances with small-scale, multigenerational family farms in Kagoshima, Japan, a region celebrated for its microclimate and volcanic soil composition. These partnerships connected Tenzo with familial custodians of tea cultivation possessing over 400 years of accumulated wisdom in producing premium matcha.

January 1, 2018

FSSC 22000 Certified Production Facility

Tenzo Tea established production standards through an FSSC 22000 certified facility located in Uji, Kyoto, Japan. This certification underscored their unwavering dedication to strict testing and adherence to the highest standards in clean ingredient nutrition, providing complete traceability for each package.

January 1, 2020

Mission Expansion to Sustainability Focus

The company's mission progressively expanded beyond providing healthy energy alternatives to encompass a profound dedication to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and relentless self-improvement. This evolution was encapsulated within their guiding ethos of 'Better Every Day,' reflecting their commitment to continuous improvement and environmental responsibility.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Why did Tenzo Tea's founders choose Kagoshima over Kyoto for their matcha sourcing?

Tenzo Tea's founders Steve O'Dell and Robbie Page specifically selected Kagoshima prefecture for its unique volcanic soil composition and ideal microclimate for matcha cultivation. Unlike the more commonly known Kyoto region, Kagoshima's volcanic soil provides distinctive mineral content that contributes to their matcha's vibrant green color and complex flavor profile.

The company partners with multigenerational family farms that have been cultivating tea in this volcanic soil for over 400 years, ensuring access to centuries of accumulated wisdom and traditional farming techniques that can't be replicated elsewhere.

What does Tenzo Tea's 'Better Every Day' philosophy mean for their matcha quality?

Tenzo Tea's 'Better Every Day' ethos drives their commitment to continuous improvement in every aspect of their matcha production. This philosophy manifests through their FSSC 22000 certified facility in Uji, Kyoto, where they maintain rigorous quality control standards including heavy metal testing, pesticide screening, and sensory evaluation by trained experts.

The philosophy also extends to their direct-to-consumer model, which allows them to gather real-time customer feedback and make iterative refinements to both product development and sourcing practices, ensuring each batch meets their evolving standards.

How does Tenzo Tea's volleyball team origin story influence their approach to energy?

As former UCLA volleyball teammates, founders Steve O'Dell and Robbie Page experienced firsthand the energy roller coaster from coffee during athletic training. This personal experience with needing sustained energy without crashes directly shaped Tenzo Tea's mission to provide harmonious and enduring energy through matcha.

Their athletic background means they understand the importance of clean, sustained energy for performance, which is why they focus on matcha's natural L-theanine content that provides alertness without jitters - a solution born from their own need as competitive athletes.

Can Tenzo Tea's ceremonial-grade matcha be used for cooking and lattes?

Yes, Tenzo Tea's ceremonial-grade organic matcha is specifically designed for versatility. While they don't market a separate culinary-grade variant, their ceremonial-grade matcha exhibits sufficient adaptability for integration into lattes, smoothies, and culinary applications.

  • Lattes and beverages: The silken texture and delicate sweetness work perfectly in milk-based drinks
  • Culinary applications: The vibrant verdant hue and umami undertones enhance baked goods and desserts
  • Traditional preparation: High enough quality for traditional chanoyu (tea ceremony) when whisked with water

What makes Tenzo Tea's FSSC 22000 certification different from other matcha brands?

Tenzo Tea's FSSC 22000 certification at their Uji, Kyoto facility represents one of the most rigorous food safety management systems available, going beyond basic organic certifications. This certification ensures complete traceability and adherence to the highest standards for clean ingredient nutrition.

Their comprehensive testing protocol includes monitoring for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), screening for multiple pesticide categories (organophosphates, organochlorines, pyrethroids), and controlling microbial contaminants - a level of scrutiny that many matcha brands don't maintain consistently.