Our Story

The People Behind Every Leaf

TeaZen was founded by a small team of tea enthusiasts who wanted to bring the authentic spirit of Japanese tea culture to the world.

Founders in tea garden
Why We Exist

A Mission Rooted in Quality & Respect

TeaZen was born in 2009 from a shared belief: that the world outside Japan deserved access to the same exceptional teas enjoyed in Kyoto tea houses for centuries. Too often, premium Japanese teas were diluted, mislabelled, or simply unavailable beyond Japan’s borders.

We built direct relationships with eight family-owned gardens across Uji, Yame, and Nishio, cutting out every intermediary and ensuring that both the farmers and our customers receive fair, transparent value.

Today, TeaZen supplies tea lovers, cafes, and wellness practitioners across Europe, North America, and Asia. Our commitment remains unchanged: honest provenance, uncompromising quality, and deep respect for the land and its cultivators.

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Core Values

What Guides Us Every Day

Three principles shape every decision we make, from how we source leaves to how we package them.

Purity

No additives, no blending with inferior leaves, no misleading origins. What the label says is exactly what is in the packet — nothing more, nothing less.

Sustainability

We support farms that use traditional organic methods, protect soil biodiversity, and compensate their workers fairly across every harvest season.

Transparency

Every product carries a traceable lot code. Scan it to see exactly which garden, which harvest date, and which farming family produced your tea.

The Team

Meet the People Behind TeaZen

Our small team spans Tokyo, Kyoto, and London, united by a shared obsession with exceptional tea.

Hiroshi Tanaka

Hiroshi Tanaka

Co-founder & Head of Sourcing
Uji, Kyoto

Elena Sato

Elena Sato

Co-founder & Creative Director
London, UK

Kenji Mori

Kenji Mori

Tea Master & Blending Specialist
Nishio, Aichi