Stories & Knowledge

The Journal

Explorations in tea culture, artisan craft, and the stories behind what we source. Knowledge builds trust — and deepens enjoyment.

Tea Education

July 21, 2026

Best Water Temperature for Matcha — A Practical Brewing Guide

A practical guide to the best water temperature for matcha, including why 70–80°C works, how to cool boiling water, and how to fix bitter or flat bowls.

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Tea Education

July 20, 2026

Hojicha vs Genmaicha — Which Japanese Tea Should You Try First?

A practical buyer's guide to hojicha vs genmaicha, including flavor, caffeine, brewing temperature, food pairings, and which Japanese tea to try first.

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Tea Culture

June 13, 2026

Beyond Japanese Tea — The Tisanery's Approach to Honest Herbal Infusions

An editorial feature on The Tisanery by Steeply, their bulk organic herbal infusions, direct sourcing philosophy, and standout botanicals from Crimson Hibiscus to Cederberg Rooibos.

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Tea Culture

June 10, 2026

Japanese Tea Meets Moroccan Tea — Two Great Tea Traditions

Chado's Japanese tea half of a co-authored piece with Tamint, exploring matcha ceremony, sencha as everyday ritual, gyokuro patience, and why Japanese tea rewards slower brewing.

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Tea Education

June 7, 2026

Cold Brew Japanese Tea: How to Make It and Why It Works

A practical guide to cold brew Japanese tea and cold brew green tea, including why low-temperature extraction tastes sweeter, which teas work best, ideal ratios, steeping times, storage, and how cold brew compares with hot brewing.

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Tea Education

June 6, 2026

Gyokuro vs Matcha — Two Shade-Grown Teas Compared

A practical guide to gyokuro vs matcha, including what both shade-grown teas share, how flavor and preparation differ, why matcha usually has more caffeine per serving, and which tea to choose.

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Tea Education

May 20, 2026

The Japanese Tea Calendar — Harvest Seasons Explained

A practical guide to Japanese tea harvest seasons, including when ichibancha, nibancha, and sanbancha are picked, how shade-grown teas fit the calendar, and when to buy Japanese green tea for freshness.

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Tea Education

May 20, 2026

Shincha 2026 — Japan's First Harvest and Why It's Worth the Wait

A seasonal guide to shincha 2026, including what first harvest Japanese green tea is, why this year's new harvest tea from Japan matters, how shincha differs from sencha, and how to brew it well.

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Tea Education

May 19, 2026

What Is Tencha — The Hidden Tea Behind Matcha

A clear guide to what tencha is, how tencha tea becomes matcha, how it differs from gyokuro and kabusecha, and why most tea drinkers almost never see it sold on its own.

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Tea Education

May 19, 2026

How to Brew Sencha — The Japanese Way

A practical sencha brewing guide covering the right water temperature, leaf ratio, steeping times, multiple infusions, and the common mistakes that make sencha taste bitter.

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Tea Education

May 18, 2026

Matcha vs Green Tea — What's the Difference?

A clear guide to matcha vs green tea, including whether matcha is green tea, how processing and nutrition differ, and when to choose matcha over steeped leaf teas like sencha.

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Tea Education

May 18, 2026

What Is Gyokuro? Japan's Shade-Grown Tea Explained

A deep-dive explainer on what gyokuro is, why Japan's shade-grown green tea tastes so different, how shading changes flavor and chemistry, and how to brew gyokuro correctly.

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Tea Education

May 16, 2026

How to Make Matcha at Home — The Complete Beginner's Guide

A beginner-friendly guide to how to make matcha at home, including the basic tools, water temperature, usucha and koicha ratios, common mistakes, and easy iced and latte variations.

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Tea Education

May 16, 2026

Best Matcha for Lattes — How to Choose Matcha That Works with Milk

A practical guide to the best matcha for lattes, including when ceremonial grade is unnecessary, what qualities matter in milk drinks, and how to make a better matcha latte at home.

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Tea Education

May 15, 2026

Ceremonial Matcha vs Culinary Matcha — A Complete Guide to Choosing

A practical guide to ceremonial matcha vs culinary matcha, including what ceremonial grade really means, how the two styles differ, and which type to buy for drinking, lattes, or baking.

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Tea Education

May 15, 2026

Japanese Tea vs Chinese Tea — What's the Difference?

A beginner-friendly comparison of Japanese tea vs Chinese tea, including processing, flavor, tea types, brewing styles, and why many new drinkers start with Japanese tea.

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Gift Guide

May 14, 2026

Best Japanese Tea Gifts — A Buyer's Guide for Tea Lovers

A buyer's guide to the best Japanese tea gifts, including matcha starter sets, sencha and kyusu pairings, gyokuro gifts, price tiers, and quality signals worth checking.

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Tea Education

May 13, 2026

How to Store Japanese Tea — Keeping Matcha, Sencha & Gyokuro Fresh

A practical guide to how to store Japanese green tea, including matcha storage, gyokuro storage, common mistakes, and what to look for in a tea caddy.

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Tea Education

May 13, 2026

Japan's Tea Regions — How Geography Shapes the Cup

A practical guide to Japanese tea regions, including where Japanese tea is grown, why Uji matcha and Shizuoka sencha taste so different, and what to look for on tea labels.

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Tea Education

May 12, 2026

The Three Steaming Styles of Sencha — Asamushi, Chumushi, and Fukamushi Compared

A side-by-side guide to the three main sencha steaming styles, including how asamushi, chumushi, and fukamushi differ in leaf appearance, color, flavor, cloudiness, and brewing approach.

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Tea Education

May 12, 2026

How to Brew Matcha: The Complete Guide from Beginner to Advanced

A practical matcha brewing guide covering the essential tools, usucha and koicha preparation, water temperature, whisking technique, common mistakes, storage, and simple latte ratios.

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Tea Education

May 11, 2026

Matcha Grades Explained: Ceremonial vs. Culinary and What Actually Matters

A practical guide to matcha grades, including what ceremonial grade really means, how it differs from culinary matcha, and what actually determines quality in the bowl.

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Tea Education

May 10, 2026

Chumushi Sencha: Japan's Medium-Steamed Tea and the Perfect Middle Ground

What chumushi sencha is, how medium steaming shapes flavor and leaf appearance, how it compares with asamushi and fukamushi, and why it remains such a useful everyday sencha benchmark.

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Tea Education

May 9, 2026

Asamushi Sencha: Japan's Lightly-Steamed Tea and Its Bright, Grassy Character

What asamushi sencha is, how lightly steamed sencha differs from fukamushi, why traditional regions like Honyama matter, and how to brew asamushi tea with more precision.

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Tea Education

May 8, 2026

Tamaryokucha: Japan's Curled-Leaf Green Tea and Why It Deserves Your Attention

What tamaryokucha tea is, how guricha differs from sencha, why Ureshino matters, how steamed and pan-fired styles compare, and how to brew this curled-leaf Japanese green tea well.

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Tea Education

May 7, 2026

Fukamushi Sencha: Japan's Deep-Steamed Tea and Why It's Worth Knowing

What fukamushi sencha is, how deep steaming changes leaf structure and flavor, why Kakegawa matters, and how to brew deep steamed sencha well.

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Tea Education

May 7, 2026

Kabusecha Tea: Japan's Shaded Green Tea Between Sencha and Gyokuro

What kabusecha tea is, how partial shading changes flavor and chemistry, how kabusecha compares with gyokuro, and how to brew kabusecha with more confidence.

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Tea Education

April 22, 2026

Hojicha Tea: Japan's Roasted Green Tea and the Art of the Evening Cup

What hojicha tea is, why roasted Japanese green tea tastes so different, how to brew hojicha properly, and how hojicha compares with matcha as a lower-caffeine Japanese tea.

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Tea Education

April 18, 2026

Sencha Tea: Japan's Everyday Tea and Why It's Worth Knowing Well

What sencha tea is, how asamushi and fukamushi differ, why region and harvest timing matter, and how to brew Japanese sencha with more clarity and less bitterness.

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Tea Education

April 17, 2026

Gyokuro: Japan's Most Treasured Shade-Grown Tea

What gyokuro tea is, how shade-grown Japanese tea develops such deep umami, why Uji and Yame matter, and how to brew gyokuro properly.

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Tea Education

April 16, 2026

Shincha: Japan's First Harvest Tea and Why It's Worth the Wait

What shincha tea is, why Japan's first spring harvest matters, how Temomicha preserves hand-rolled tea craft, and why new-season tea is worth waiting for.

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Tea Sourcing

April 15, 2026

The Private Blend Tradition in Japanese Tea: Why Small-Batch Curation Matters

What private label Japanese tea really means, how small brands source through importers, and why small-batch curation can lead to clearer provenance and better tea.

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From Chado

April 13, 2026

The Chado Brewing Guide: Sharing What We Know Before We Open

A note on releasing The Chado Brewing Guide ahead of launch, and what you'll find inside its sections on tea regions, six core teas, brewing, vessels, and ritual.

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Sourcing Journey

April 8, 2026

A Visit to Uji: The Birthplace of Japanese Tea

A story-driven journey through Uji, Kyoto — the region that set the standard for matcha, gyokuro, and some of Japan's most revered teas.

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Tea Education

April 8, 2026

Water, Temperature, Time: The Art of Brewing Japanese Tea

A detailed guide to brewing Japanese tea with the right water, temperatures, steeping times, and adjustments for matcha, sencha, gyokuro, and hojicha.

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Tea Education

April 7, 2026

A Guide to Japanese Green Tea: Types, Brewing, and What Makes Them Special

From matcha to hojicha — a comprehensive guide to the essential Japanese green teas, how they are made, how to brew each one, and what to expect in the cup.

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Ceramics

April 7, 2026

Understanding Japanese Tea Ceramics: Kyusu, Chawan, and the Art of Tea Ware

Why the vessel matters as much as the leaf. A guide to the kyusu, chawan, yunomi, and chazutsu — the essential ceramics of Japanese tea, their origins, and their craft.

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