Sugimoto Premium Japanese Tea: Loose-Leaf in Compostable Sachets

Founded in Shizuoka, Japan in 1946, the Sugimoto Tea Company brings eight decades of multi-generational craftsmanship, innovation, and passion to the world of Japanese green tea. Guided by a philosophy of making premium, delicious teas accessible for daily enjoyment, the Sugimoto family carefully manages every production stage from farm partnerships to final high-heat drying (hi-ire).

To bridge traditional loose-leaf quality with modern convenience, the company offers signature varieties of tea packaged in convenient packs of pyramid sachets. The pyramid sachets are made from Soilon®, a material derived from plant starch. Unlike traditional nylon or polyester tea bags, these microplastic-free sachets completely break down in commercial composting environments while giving the tea leaves ample room to expand and steep.

Here are five types of tea that we offer:

Organic Sencha with Matcha

It combines Japan's two most iconic green teas into a single, vibrant brew.

Key Product Highlights

• The Style: Harmonizes everyday Sencha leaves with fine Matcha powder.

• Flavor Profile: Smooth, subtly sweet, and softly savory (umami).

• Visual Appeal: Brews into a striking, vibrant green color.

  
  

This combination offers the best of both green tea worlds. Sencha provides a crisp, refreshing, and clean base. The addition of Matcha coats the leaves, adding a rich, velvety texture and a deeper savory complexity. Because it contains Matcha powder, this tea delivers a quicker, more noticeable energy boost than standard Sencha.

Organic Sencha Fukamushi

It is a deep-steamed green tea that represents the pinnacle of the Sugimoto family's eighty-year tea-making heritage.

Key Product Highlights

• The Style: Fukamushi (deep-steamed) method originating from Shizuoka, Japan.

• Flavor Profile: Rich, deep, and warm with a bold, vivid character.

• Visual Appeal: Full-bodied with a cloudy, vibrant green liquor due to fine leaf particles.

  
  

Traditional sencha is lightly steamed, keeping the leaves whole. Fukamushi process steams the leaves for two to three times longer. This intense steaming breaks down the leaf structure, allowing healthy nutrients and fine particles to flow directly into your cup. The Sugimoto family then applies hi-ire, a final high-temperature roasting step. This master-level technique locks in freshness, reduces grassiness, and injects a distinct roasted warmth and depth.

Because the leaves are deeply steamed and more fragile, they break into smaller particles. When brewed, these particles create a rich, cloudy, opaque green appearance rather than a clear yellow liquid. This gives the tea a thicker mouthfeel and a naturally sweeter, less astringent taste.

Organic Yuzu Kukicha with Matcha

It is a vibrant, citrus-infused green tea blend designed for both hot and cold brewing.

Key Product Highlights

• The Style: Blends naturally sweet Kukicha (twig tea), smooth Matcha, and real Japanese yuzu peel.

• Flavor Profile: Bright, aromatic citrus paired with a soothing, gently savory tea base.

• Dual-Brew Design: Smooth and warming when hot; crisp and citrus-forward when cold-brewed.

  
  

Kukicha is made from the stems and stalks of the tea plant, giving it a unique, creamy sweetness and very low astringency. Coating these stems in Matcha adds a rich color and a velvety mouthfeel. The addition of authentic Japanese yuzu - a rare, highly aromatic citrus fruit - cuts through the earthy tea notes with a refreshing, zesty brightness.

Organic Hojicha 

It is a premium roasted Japanese green tea crafted from early-harvest Organic Sencha Asamushi leaves and stems.

Key Product Highlights

• The Style: Uses early-harvest Sencha instead of standard late-summer Bancha.

• Flavor Profile: Balanced, toasty aroma with a smooth, earthy taste.

• Low Caffeine: Naturally lower in caffeine due to the roasting process.

  
  

Most traditional Hojicha uses Bancha, which consists of older, tougher leaves harvested later in the season. By selecting early-harvest Sencha Asamushi (lightly steamed green tea), Sugimoto creates a more refined, naturally sweeter flavor profile with less bitterness. The addition of roasted stems enhances the warm, woody aroma.

Sugimoto, Matcha Genmaicha

It is a comforting, aromatic Japanese green tea blend that pairs lightly-steamed tea leaves and fine matcha powder with the savory warmth of roasted brown rice.

Key Product Highlights

• The Style: Harmonizes crisp, lightly-steamed tea leaves, rich matcha, and toasted Japanese rice (genmai).

• Flavor Profile: Nutty, toasty, smooth, and brisk.

• Visual Appeal: The matcha powder coats the roasted rice and tea leaves, brewing into a cloudy, vibrant green liquor.

  
  

Genmaicha is traditionally loved in Japan for its cozy, roasted-popcorn aroma and nutty undertones. By incorporating lightly-steamed tea leaves and dusting the blend with a layer of premium matcha, Sugimoto elevates this humble classic. The matcha injects a velvety mouthfeel and a rich umami depth that perfectly rounds out the crisp, brisk notes of the green tea. It offers a balanced, grounding cup that pairs beautifully with savory dishes or sushi.

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There is a lot of food items, housewares, stationery, and gifts available at the store and our online store, Maido! Kairashi Shop, where you can place your order for shipping or store pickup! Happy shopping. :)