FAQ

Harvest (first, second or autumn), how long the field was shaded, the cultivar, and the mill. First-harvest, 20-day-shaded, stone-milled tencha is the most expensive to make and is what we sell as Ceremonial. Every product page lists all four so you can see what you are paying for.

Shading, hand-sorted tencha and slow stone milling are labour that most overseas producers skip. Japan also grows less tea every year while demand rises. We only sell Japanese-grown leaf; we do not blend overseas powder in for volume.

Ceremonial: first harvest only, stone-milled, meant to be drunk straight or in a signature latte. Café: first or second harvest blends chosen for colour hold and low bitterness at 2 g per cup. Culinary: autumn tencha or second harvest with enough strength to survive sugar, butter and heat. See Grades & quality.

Yes, once a year after the first harvest in May. Standing monthly orders lock the price for the harvest year. Sample and spot prices can move if a lot sells out and we replace it.

Up to three products per request, 20 g each. That is enough for roughly ten lattes per product, which is what it takes to decide.

Credited, not refunded: the sample price and the sample shipping are deducted from your first order of 5 kg or more.

We invoice within one business day of your request and ship within three business days of payment from Osaka. Tracked air is usually 4–7 days to the US and EU and 5–8 days to the Gulf.

1 kg per product, as a 1 kg bulk foil bag or 10 × 100 g foil bags.

Up to about 10,000 kg per month across the catalog. Individual products have their own ceilings; ceremonial lots are the tightest. Ask before planning a launch above 100 kg per month of one product.

Stock ships in three business days. A fresh mill to your spec (particle size, blend, packaging) takes two to four weeks from confirmation.

Yes. Standing monthly orders get reserved stock and a fixed price for the harvest year, confirmed in writing after the first order.

DDP (delivered duty paid) if you want one invoice and no surprises at the door: we handle freight, duties and clearance. FOB Osaka if you have your own forwarder or consolidate with other Japanese suppliers.

Yes, for every US shipment, including samples. The mill that produces and packs our matcha is FDA registered, and the prior notice confirmation is emailed with the tracking number.

Green tea is HS 0902 (0902.10 in packs of 3 kg or less, 0902.20 above). Duty is zero or low in most markets we ship to; VAT or GST is charged at import in the EU, UK and Australia. We itemise the estimate on every quote.

Every country. We ship DDP or FOB Osaka by DHL, FedEx or sea freight. Partners are already pouring ISSA MATCHA! in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, the UK, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Australia. A few countries need an import licence on your side, which we tell you about before invoicing.

Wakatake (JAS) and Yanagi (JAS + USDA). See the organic page for what each certificate covers.

Yes. Every lot has a residue report to the Japanese MHLW standard; radiation reports are available on request. Both ship with the order and can be sent before you buy.

Every catalog product is milled at a Halal-certified facility (Nippon Asia Halal Association). The certificate is the mill's, and a copy ships with the order. See the Halal page.

12 months unopened in the nitrogen-flushed foil. Once opened, use within four weeks for full colour; keep the bag sealed and chilled.

Unopened bags: cool and dark is enough; a fridge is better in summer. Opened bags: yes, sealed, and let the bag reach room temperature before opening to avoid condensation.

Oxidation and heat. Lower-grade or older matcha browns faster. Whisk with cold water, keep pre-mixed matcha chilled and use it within the hour. Café-grade blends like Moegi are chosen for colour hold.

200 units for a sticker label on our 30 g pouch or 100 g bag. 1,000 units for a fully printed pouch.

Sticker labels are applied in Osaka in two weeks. Full-print pouches take six weeks. We do not change the pouch structure or size. See Packaging & private label.

Yes. We provide the compliant back-label panel in English, Japanese, French and Arabic, with the lot number and best-by date.