Matcha Zen
Matcha Zen presentation
Matcha Zen brings authentic Japanese tea culture to American homes through a commitment to traditional craftsmanship and uncompromising quality. Founded in 2012 by U.S. Navy veteran Fernando Lopez, the brand bridges Eastern tradition with Western accessibility, offering premium organic matcha sourced directly from the historic tea fields of Uji, Kyoto.
From Service to Ceremony
Fernando Lopez discovered matcha during his naval service in Japan, where he witnessed firsthand the meticulous care that goes into producing exceptional tea. That experience shaped his vision: to share genuine, ceremonial-grade matcha with Americans seeking both quality and authenticity. His military background instilled values of discipline and precision that define every aspect of Matcha Zen’s operations today.
The brand’s partnership with Uji farmers spans over a decade. These relationships ensure access to tea leaves grown in optimal shade conditions, harvested at peak freshness, and processed using centuries-old stone-grinding techniques.
Traditional Methods Meet Modern Standards
Stone grinding remains central to the Matcha Zen difference. While many producers have switched to faster mechanical methods, the brand maintains traditional granite mills that rotate slowly to prevent heat damage. This patient process preserves the delicate amino acids and chlorophyll that give matcha its distinctive flavor profile and vibrant color.
Every batch undergoes rigorous testing for purity and potency. The organic certification guarantees freedom from pesticides, while independent lab analysis confirms the high L-theanine content that creates matcha’s characteristic calm energy.
What Sets This Matcha Apart
Matcha Zen offers three distinct grades to match different needs and preferences:
- Ceremonial Grade — First harvest leaves with smooth, naturally sweet taste ideal for traditional whisked tea
- Premium Grade — Balanced flavor profile perfect for daily drinking and light culinary use
- Culinary Grade — Robust taste that holds up in lattes, smoothies, and baking applications
The brand provides detailed preparation guides and brewing tips, recognizing that proper technique unlocks matcha’s full potential. Customer education extends beyond the product itself to encompass the cultural context and health benefits that make matcha a worthwhile addition to any wellness routine.
With direct relationships in Uji and a founder who understands both Japanese tradition and American expectations, Matcha Zen delivers authenticity without pretension. Each tin represents a direct connection to one of Japan’s most respected tea-growing regions.
Matcha Zen newsfeed
- Matcha Zen has not yet been verified. The newsfeed is disabled.
Matcha produced by Matcha Zen
Premium Japanese Matcha Collection
Matcha Zen offers 100% Organic Premium Japanese Green Tea Matcha Powder sourced exclusively from the renowned Uji region in Kyoto. Their collection features two distinct grades to meet different culinary and ceremonial needs.
Ceremonial Grade Matcha
The flagship ceremonial grade matcha showcases exceptional quality with its vibrant green color resulting from high chlorophyll content. This premium grade features a smooth, fine texture achieved through traditional stone grinding and delivers a delicate flavor profile characterized by a perfect balance of umami (savory richness), natural sweetness, and subtle bitterness. The ceremonial grade proves ideal for traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and creates exceptional matcha lattes.
Culinary Grade Matcha
The culinary grade matcha offers a slightly more robust flavor profile, making it perfectly suited for baking applications and blending into smoothies. This grade maintains the same organic quality standards while providing the stronger taste needed for culinary creations.
Tea Cultivars and Quality Standards
The primary cultivar used is Yabukita, which accounts for over 70% of Japan’s tea production and is prized for its balanced flavor, smooth mouthfeel, and vibrant green hue. Seasonal offerings occasionally feature Okumidori (known for intense green color and sweeter taste from higher theanine levels) and Samidori (prized for delicate aroma and smooth texture used in high-end ceremonial matcha).
All matcha holds JAS Organic certification (Japanese Agricultural Standard), guaranteeing adherence to stringent organic farming practices without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Regular third-party lab testing in Japan ensures purity and absence of heavy metals, with levels well below Japanese standards (typically less than 0.5 ppm for lead and arsenic).
Flavor Profile and Benefits
Customers consistently praise the creamy and crisp green tea flavor that’s neither overly bitter nor excessively grassy. The matcha provides rich concentrations of catechins, amino acids, and essential minerals including Iron, Calcium, Potassium, and L-Theanine. Users report sustained energy and improved focus without coffee jitters, with the L-Theanine content promoting alpha brainwave activity associated with relaxation and focus.
History of Matcha Zen
Zen’s Tea House emerged from a deeply personal journey of healing and discovery. Founded in 2012 by Fernando Lopez, a U.S. Navy veteran returning to Whittier, California, the company began as more than just a business venture—it was a quest for natural wellness solutions.
After his naval service, Lopez faced chronic fatigue and digestive issues that conventional medicine couldn’t adequately address. Using his unemployment check as seed money, he began crafting custom herbal blends for friends and family, focusing initially on detoxifying and energy-boosting teas. His early creations included a dandelion root blend for liver support and a ginger-turmeric infusion for inflammation reduction.
The company’s commitment to quality began with sourcing ingredients from a collective of small, certified organic farms in Southern California. Lopez emphasized purity and potency, creating a stark contrast to mass-produced teas available in the market.
A pivotal transformation occurred through a partnership with Dr. Mei Ling, a local naturopathic physician. This collaboration not only provided credibility but resulted in specialized medicinal tea blends targeting specific health concerns, including a Calm & Focus tea with skullcap and lemon balm designed to alleviate anxiety and improve concentration.
The company’s matcha represents the pinnacle of their quality commitment. Sourced from the renowned Harada and Watanabe family tea farms in Uji, Kyoto—farms that have cultivated tea for over a century—their matcha undergoes traditional processing methods. The tea plants are shaded for approximately 21 days before the first harvest using traditional straw mats (honzu) and modern shading cloths.
The youngest, most tender leaves are carefully hand-picked and immediately steamed for 15-20 seconds at 90-95°C to prevent oxidation. After careful drying and manual sorting by skilled artisans, the leaves are stone-ground using traditional granite mills from Okayama Prefecture, rotating at a deliberate 20-30 RPM to preserve delicate flavors and create an ultra-fine powder with 5-10 micron particles.
The company holds JAS Organic certification and conducts regular third-party lab testing in Japan, ensuring purity and absence of heavy metals with levels well below stringent Japanese standards. Their matcha features the prized Yabukita cultivar, known for its balanced flavor and vibrant green hue, occasionally featuring Okumidori and Samidori cultivars depending on seasonal availability.
5 events from Matcha Zen's history
January 2012
Company Founded by Navy Veteran
Fernando Lopez, a U.S. Navy veteran, founded Zen’s Tea House in Whittier, California, using his unemployment check as seed money. Motivated by personal health challenges including chronic fatigue and digestive issues, Lopez began crafting custom herbal blends focusing on detoxifying and energy-boosting teas, sourcing ingredients from certified organic farms in Southern California.
January 2013
Farmers Market Debut in Downey
Zen’s Tea House made its strategic debut at the Downey, California farmers market, investing approximately $500 in market stall setup including canopy, tables, and marketing materials. This hands-on approach provided direct customer interaction and immediate feedback, with early sales averaging $200 per market day, allowing Lopez to fine-tune blends and build a loyal customer base.
January 2014
First Warehouse Opening in Santa Fe Springs
The company opened its first 1,200-square-foot warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, California, marking a critical step in scaling operations and streamlining inventory management. With an initial investment of approximately $5,000 including rent and equipment, this expansion enabled fulfillment of larger orders from local businesses and health food stores, expanding reach beyond farmers’ markets.
January 2018
Million Dollar Sales Milestone
Zen’s Tea House achieved a significant milestone of one million dollars in annual sales, demonstrating the brand’s growing popularity and effective marketing strategies. This achievement enabled further investment in product development, expansion, and additional staff hiring. The company celebrated with a community appreciation event, solidifying commitment to its loyal customer base.
January 2019
First Tea House Opens in Norwalk
The company opened its first physical tea house in Norwalk, California, with an initial investment of approximately $25,000 including rent, renovations, and equipment. This location served as a hub for educational workshops, tea tastings, and community events, quickly becoming a popular gathering spot that boosted brand awareness and customer loyalty through partnerships with local artists.
Gallery and medias
Find below images and videos uploaded by Matcha Zen as of November 2025.
Frequent questions
Find below some answers to the most common questions about Matcha Zen.
What makes Zen's Tea House matcha different from other brands sourced from Uji, Kyoto?
Zen’s Tea House sources exclusively from the Harada and Watanabe family tea farms in Uji, Kyoto, which have been cultivating tea for over a century. Their matcha is stone-ground using traditional granite mills from Okayama Prefecture, rotated at precisely 20-30 RPM to prevent overheating. The farms use a multi-layered shading system combining traditional honzu (straw mats) with modern black shading cloths for exactly 21 days before the Ichibancha (first harvest) in May.
Does Zen's Tea House offer different matcha cultivars, and how do they compare?
Yes, Zen’s Tea House features multiple Japanese cultivars depending on seasonal availability:
- Yabukita – Their primary cultivar, accounting for 70% of Japanese tea production, known for balanced flavor and vibrant green hue
- Okumidori – Features intense green color and sweeter taste due to higher theanine levels
- Samidori – Prized for delicate aroma and smooth texture, often used in high-end ceremonial matcha
All cultivars maintain their JAS Organic certification and undergo third-party lab testing for heavy metals with levels below 0.5 ppm for lead and arsenic.
Can I visit Zen's Tea House founder Fernando Lopez at any of their California locations?
Fernando Lopez, the U.S. Navy veteran who founded Zen’s Tea House in 2012, operates multiple locations throughout Southern California. You can visit their tea houses in Norwalk and Whittier, or their retail space in Torrance. The original Norwalk location serves as their educational hub, hosting workshops and tea tastings. Lopez still maintains an active presence at over 50 weekly farmers’ markets across the region, continuing the direct customer engagement that built the brand from his initial $500 investment in 2013.
How does Zen's Medicine platform connect to their matcha offerings?
Zen’s Medicine is Zen’s Tea House’s online platform that collaborates with Naturopathic Doctors, Homeopathic Doctors, and Licensed Medical Physicians. This platform reinforces their matcha’s health benefits through educational resources and virtual consultations. The connection stems from founder Fernando Lopez’s personal journey using herbal remedies for chronic fatigue and digestive issues after his naval service. The platform hosts webinars on topics like herbal remedies and stress management, positioning their L-Theanine-rich matcha within a broader holistic health approach.
What's the difference between Zen's Tea House ceremonial and culinary grade matcha?
Both grades are sourced from the same Uji, Kyoto farms and maintain JAS Organic certification. The ceremonial grade features vibrant green color from high chlorophyll content, smooth texture from fine grinding, and a delicate flavor profile with balanced umami, sweetness, and subtle bitterness – ideal for traditional tea ceremonies and lattes. The culinary grade has a slightly more robust flavor profile, making it well-suited for baking and blending into smoothies while maintaining the same nutritional benefits including catechins, amino acids, and minerals like Iron, Calcium, and Potassium.
Find a matcha brand like Matcha Zen
Click below to see the profile of a matcha brands similar to Matcha Zen.
