News article
Interview with James Green, KyuTeaCo
James Green, founder of KyuTeaCo, a Wisconsin-based matcha importer, sources directly from eight small family farms across Kyushu without using distributors or exclusivity agreements. Green spent time in Fukuoka in 1998 and later worked as a JET Programme participant in rural Ukiha, developing relationships with producers across different prefectures. The company is expanding beyond matcha into hojicha and genmaicha, and Green emphasizes that marketing labels like "ceremonial…
Key points
- Direct-farm sourcing model: KyuTeaCo imports from eight family farms across Kyushu without distributors or exclusivity a…
- Geographic diversity: Founder selects farmers prefecture by prefecture across Kyushu rather than concentrating in a sing…
- Product expansion: Company moving beyond matcha into hojicha and genmaicha.
- Label skepticism: Green argues that common marketing terms like "ceremonial" and "Uji" designation provide no reliable q…
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What they said
“why "ceremonial" and "Uji" labeled on matcha tell you nothing”
why "ceremonial" and "Uji" labeled on matcha tell you nothing
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