At Nio Teas, every matcha is graded Latte, Entry, Premium or Superior. Superior Grade is the top of our range: first-harvest leaf (ichibancha) from the smallest lots, given the longest shading and the most careful leaf selection. It brings the deepest umami, no perceptible bitterness and a thick, velvety body — made for koicha, the thick preparation, and exceptional as usucha.
The Matcha Zen Sakamoto sits in Superior Grade because of how it drinks. Haruto 34 is a rare cultivar known for a serene balance of umami and floral sweetness, and this matcha begins with buttery, floral notes and a hint of white chocolate, staying clean, with almost no vegetal character and a velvety mouthfeel free of bitterness.
Cultivar: Haruto 34Tea variety
Matcha Zen Sakamoto takes its character from Haruto 34, a rare cultivar prized for its calm, layered sweetness and refined umami. Haruto 34 responds beautifully to long shading in Kagoshima’s mild climate, yielding a powder with a luminous green hue, fine foam, and a gently floral lift over a smooth, brothy core. The result is a meditative cup that feels elegant rather than aggressive, with low bitterness and a clean, lingering finish.
Haruto 34 is a rare cultivar that produces teas with a serene balance of umami and floral sweetness. Known for its complexity, it requires great skill to cultivate but rewards the effort with teas that deliver both depth and elegance. In matcha, Haruto 34 shines with a layered, meditative taste profile.
Preparation & Servings30 g = 15 servings · 60 g = 30 servings
Whisked thin as usucha, 2 g of matcha makes one bowl.
Soak the bamboo whisk — 2–3 minutes before first use, 30–60 seconds for daily use.
Sift 2 g (1 tsp) of matcha, about 2 chashaku scoops, into your bowl.
Heat water to 70°C / 160°F.
Add 10 ml (1 tbsp) of water and work it into a smooth paste with no clumps.
Add the rest of the water — 80 ml / ⅓ cup in total.
Whisk in quick W motions for 15–30 seconds.
Enjoy your matcha, then rinse the whisk, let it air-dry and store it on its holder.
Tea Artisan: SakamotoさんKagoshima
Matcha Zen Sakamoto is produced by Mr. Sakamoto in Shibushi, Kagoshima, on the southern island of Kyushu. His organic techniques, powered by his self-developed natural fertilizer, nurture rich and healthy soils that sustain the delicate Haruto 34 cultivar. This careful approach yields a tea that is both flavorful and environmentally harmonious.
Origin: ShibushiJapan
Matcha Zen Sakamoto is grown in the town of Shibushi in Kagoshima, Japan. This region in southern Kyushu benefits from a warm subtropical climate, seasonal rainfall, and fertile volcanic soils, conditions that make it one of Japan’s best areas for producing top-quality matcha.
Why choose Nio Teas?
For us, tea is more than a beverage—it’s a way of life. We’ve spent years visiting tea farms across Japan, tasting teas with the people who grow them and building lasting, direct relationships. We believe this is the most sustainable way to source tea: fewer intermediaries, greater traceability and a closer connection between farmer and drinker.
Every tea is 100% pesticide-free and carefully selected for its taste, origin and craftsmanship. Whether you’re discovering Japanese tea or comparing cultivars and terroirs, you’ll find honest tasting notes, precise brewing guidance and real support to help you get the best from every cup.
Rich in catechins and other naturally occurring antioxidants.
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Chlorophyll
Naturally rich in chlorophyll, the pigment behind matcha’s vibrant green colour.
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Potassium & Calcium
Naturally occurring minerals that contribute to matcha’s nutritional profile.
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L-theanine
An amino acid naturally found in tea, associated with a calm, focused feeling.
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Vitamins A, C, E & K
Contains a range of vitamins naturally present in the whole tea leaf.
Why Buy Your Matcha from Nio Teas
No middlemen, no pesticides, no risk.
30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Try it with confidence. If it isn’t right for you, contact us within 30 days.
11 Japanese Matcha Farmers
Our matcha brings together the craft and regional expertise of 11 partner farmers across Japan.
Direct from Farmer to Bowl
We build lasting relationships with our farmers for fewer intermediaries and greater traceability.
100% Pesticide-Free Matcha
Every matcha is grown without pesticides, then personally tasted and selected by our team.
How to Make Matcha Like a Pro
Discover the art of preparing the perfect bowl of matcha, from choosing the right tools to mastering the traditional whisking technique.
Prepare
Soak the bamboo whisk. First use: 2–3 minutes · Daily use: 30–60 seconds. Sift 2 g (1 tsp) of matcha, or 2 chashaku scoops, into the bowl.
Make the Paste
Heat water to 70°C / 160°F. Add 10 ml (1 tbsp) of water and combine into a smooth matcha paste with no clumps.
Whisk
Add the rest of the water, 80 ml / ⅓ cup in total. Whisk in quick W motions for 15–30 seconds.
Enjoy & Care
Enjoy your matcha. Rinse, air-dry and store the whisk on its holder.
Not All Matcha is Created Equal.
Nio Teas Superior Grade compared side by side with the same grade purchased on Amazon.
Legendary organic tea farmer in Shibushi.
Farmer: Sakamotoさん
Mr. Sakamoto is a legendary organic green tea farmer in Shibushi, Kagoshima. Over decades in the tea industry he has found a sustainable way to make flavourful gyokuro and matcha without pesticides or chemicals, using an organic fertiliser he developed himself from organic compost and a sedimentary rock mulch.
Why Organic Matcha Fields Make a Difference
Tea plants absorb everything from the soil, making pesticide-free farming especially important. The farmers we work with have found a way to grow delicious tea without harming the natural ecosystem.
Nio teas has been my favourite place to purchase good quality teas for a while now, and still they never disappoint me. Their teas are excellent quality, however, I’d like to give more attention to customer service - Nio team has been very kind and helpful each time I had any sort of problem. Their customer service never disappoints, they are very attentive and quick in responding to any queries, hence why I’ve been a loyal customer for a while now.
Apr 1, 2026
5 out of 5 stars
5/5
Sean
My favorite vendor for Japanese organic loose leaf green teas. They are sourcing some of the best organic teas out of Japan and supporting family farmers and the growing organic tea industry as a whole.I have ordered from every vendor for years and Nio consistently has the best prices and selection overall. They provide top notch customer service and fast shipping as well. Highly recommended 🍃
Shipping is free once your order passes the threshold for your country — USD 54.99 · EUR 54.99 · GBP 44.99 · CHF 49.99 · CAD 74.99 · DKK 399 · SEK 599 · PLN 229 · CZK 1,290. Everywhere else it's the equivalent of USD 54.99, converted automatically. Below the threshold a flat rate applies, always shown at checkout before you pay.
We ship from warehouses in the US, the EU and Japan — whichever is closest to you. US and EU orders arrive in 4–12 business days; the handful of countries served from Japan take around 10. Business days count from dispatch rather than from when you order, and exclude weekends and public holidays. You'll get a tracking number by email the moment your parcel leaves the warehouse.
We only buy from fields grown without pesticides or chemicals. We ask each farmer directly how they manage their land, visit the plantation and processing facility ourselves, taste every harvest before committing, and check that the biodiversity around the fields is alive. Small family farms don't always carry paperwork — so we verify it in person instead.
Japanese green tea covers an enormous range, and choosing online isn't easy. If you've tried yours and it isn't for you, email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a line on what you didn't enjoy. We'll send a different tea of equal or lower value, free. Nothing to post back — keep it, share it, or try brewing it cooler. Once per order.
Email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a photo. We'll approve it, cover the return postage with a prepaid label or a reimbursement, and refund you — no restocking fee. Refunds go to your original payment method within 2 business days of the return reaching us; your bank may take another 5–20 to show it.
Unopened items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days. Tea is sealed for hygiene, so opened packs can't come back — but the swap above covers exactly that situation. Return postage is yours unless the item arrived damaged, defective or incorrect.
Orders to the US and EU ship domestically from our local warehouse, so there's no customs charge and no duty. A small number of destinations are served from our Japan warehouse, where your own customs authority may apply import duty, VAT or a carrier handling fee on delivery. Those are set by your country, not by us. Ask before you order and we'll help you check.
