What is Shincha?
 新茶  Shincha, also known as "new tea" or "first flush tea," holds a significant place in Japanese tea culture. It refers to the very first harvest of young...
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The 2025 Matcha Shortage: What’s Really Happening in Japan?
If you’ve had trouble finding your favorite matcha lately, you're not imagining things — the 2025 matcha shortage is real. At Mizuba, we believe education is a core part of...
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The Best Way to Drink Green Tea
You’re sitting outside on your deck, enjoying a Matcha Moment as the first signs of spring are starting to peek through. Flowers are budding. Birds are chirping. And then you...
What is Hanami? The Significance of Sakura in Japanese Tradition
By Mariah Bourne Taking a moment to stop and admire the flowers is one of the most beautiful parts of spring. Appreciating springtime is common all over the world, but...
The Importance of Green Tea Steaming
By Mariah Bourne + Lauren Danson Brewing fukamushicha in a red Tokoname kyusu As soon as the tea leaf is plucked from the plant, every step of tea processing is...
Can You Reuse or Rebrew Loose Leaf Tea?
By Mariah Bourne & Lauren Danson You've just brewed the last of your sencha, and your next order won't be in until tomorrow. Then the question arises – can you...
How to Brew Green Tea: 7 Mistakes You Might be Making
Table of Contents 1. 7 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Tea 1.1 Water is too Hot or Cold 1.2 Tea-to-water Ratio is off 1.3 Steeping Tea Too long (or Short...
What is Astringency in Japanese Green Tea?
The Difference Between Astringency and BitternessBy Mariah Bourne Every style of Japanese green tea boasts unique, complex flavor profiles and nuances that excite our feelings and senses. Astringency and bitterness...
What is a Tea Cultivar?
By Lauren Danson + Mariah Bourne In the world of Japanese green tea, understanding cultivars vastly expands your capacity to appreciate the art of tea growing. A tea cultivar is...
The Myth of Decaf Japanese Green Tea: Decaffeination Processes
By Mariah Bourne If you’re sensitive to caffeine, having a cup of decaf tea may seem like your best option. We’ve all heard that decaf tea has the same benefits...
Understanding High-Quality Japanese Green Tea
 By: Mariah Bourne Venturing into the world of Japanese green tea is exciting but can sometimes be overwhelming if you’re just getting started. As you embark on your journey,...
How to Store Matcha Powder and Japanese Loose Leaf Teas
Our farmers take great care in growing and harvesting your matcha and loose leaf teas, so naturally, you’ll want to take great care in properly storing it in order to...
What Is a Japanese Tea Ceremony and
How To Attend One
A Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) is an ancient event ingrained in Japanese culture and cherished by many. The people of Japan have perfected and choreographed every detail of the tea...
The Tools You Need To Enhance Your Tea Experience
 The Japanese tea experience is rooted in tradition and culture. Each step and the tools selected to use all have a purpose. With all the different tea tools and...
Matcha Caffeine Content: How Much Caffeine is in Your Matcha?
Does Matcha green tea have Caffeine? Yes — matcha has caffeine, and often more than other green teas. But the amount isn't fixed: it shifts based on the tea's quality,...
What is Hojicha?
If you’re looking to broaden your organic green tea horizons this fall, hojicha may be just the tea for you. Also commonly spelled as houjicha or hōjicha, hojicha has a...
What is Hachiju Hachiya? Celebrating Japan's 88th Night
Today is a special day! 88th Night (Hachiju-Hachiya) is a Japanese holiday that celebrates the start of the year’s first tea picking and harvest. This first flush of tea is...
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