About Us

What Makes Kettl Tea Different?

Our company is built on transparency, honesty, and an obsession with quality.

All of our teas are purchased weekly from the growers and shipped locally to our headquarters in Fukuoka, Japan. All teas are then repacked into Kettl oxygen-free packaging and cold-stored until they’re ready to be shipped to our Brooklyn, NY headquarters and fulfillment center.

Buying direct and fulfilling from origin allows us to keep our prices lower—supplying pinnacle-grade tea at reasonable prices, directly to our customers.

We also supply a unique range of tea ware, both contemporary and antique, through our network of artisans in Japan and the USA.

Do you have a store I can visit?

Yes. Our cafes are located at 70 Greenpoint Ave, Ground Fl, Brooklyn, NY 11222, and 348 Bowery, NYC 10013. Both cafes carry our full line of teas, teaware, and an expanded offering of ceramics and Japanese incense not available on our website.

We would love to host you.

How can I find out more about your teas?

All of our teas are selected and sourced by us. Each tea comes with a detailed description. Have more detailed questions? Email us at contact@kettl.co and we will be happy to assist you.

About Our Teas

What is the ideal time to steep the tea?

Each tea we sell is unique and the specific dosage and steeping duration may differ. We always included preparation guidelines on the package and online. 

Is there caffeine in green tea?

Yes, green tea (and any other tea derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant) naturally contains caffeine. Each tea is unique and caffeine levels will vary depending on how the tea was grown, which cultivar was used, and how the leaf was processed. Generally, sencha, gyokuro, matcha, and black tea are moderate to high in caffeine. Roasted green teas such as houjicha skew towards the lower end of the spectrum. If you are sensitive to caffeine, try a new tea earlier in the day to see how it affects you.

What is the difference between green, black and oolong tea?

Green, black, and oolong tea are all derived from the same plant—Camellia Sinensis—but their difference lies in cultivation, harvesting technique, and manufacturing processes. Generally, green teas undergo no oxidation after the leaf is picked, oolong is oxidized along a spectrum, and black tea is fully or near fully oxidized. 

Is matcha a type of green tea?

Matcha is 100% green tea that has been shade grown and stone milled.

Loose leaf vs tea bag: which one is better?

We are supporters of great quality leaf and our loose leaf teas are a testament to that, but so are our bagged teas. For us, tea bags get a bad wrap because historically the leaf inside has been very low quality. But it remains that the tea bag itself is a great design. So we to source pinnacle grade tea, cut the leaf slightly smaller to allow it to extract fully, and then pack that leaf in a high-quality non-micro plastic (Soiron comes from a recycled corn polymer) pyramid tea bag. Problem solved—great leaf tea wherever your travels take you.

How many times can I brew my tea?

Generally, Japanese loose leaf teas can be brewed twice with some teas offering multiple steeps beyond that. Our tea bags follow the same guidelines.

Do you stock any caffeine free tea?

Our Nagano Soba Cha and Soba Cha Tea Bags are 100% caffeine-free.

How many tea cups can I drink per day?

Each person is different and their limits will be too. We suggest being sensible with your consumption. While there is no limit to how much tea one person can consume, it is best to start with a few cups a day and see how you feel before increasing your daily dosage. We at Kettl drink upwards of ten cups a day - and we feel great! Just a note regarding green tea, we always suggest avoiding consuming it on an empty stomach. 

Can I drink green tea if I am pregnant?

That is a great question for your OBGYN!

Can children drink green tea?

We'll leave that up to the parents. I drank tea as a child and many children in Japan drink tea at school and at home. Houjicha and Soba cha are mild low to no caffeine options.

What is the ideal water temperature for Japanese tea?

Each tea is unique and requires its own approach to brewing. A general rule is: 175 F or 90 C for Sencha and Matcha, 130 F or 55 C for Gyokuro, 200 F or 95 C for  Houjicha, 195 F or 90 C for Oolong, and 208 F or 99 C for Black Tea.

Why is there such a wide range of prices for Japanese green tea?

The price of tea is very stable in Japan's domestic market and agreed-upon grading systems keep teas from wildly fluctuating or tea prices not reflecting quality. While Japan produces some of the highest quality tea on the planet, they also understand differing markets and produce a range of tea accordingly. We are proud to have some of Japan's most highly regarded teas including exclusive, small-lot offerings. Even to the untrained palate, these teas are singular and provide a level of refined enjoyment unmatched anywhere. We are also to happy offer a delicious lineup of teas priced to be enjoyed daily and in abundance.

Can green tea help me lose weight?

We've seen data and it looks unclear at best. We'd prefer you drink for enjoyment and the notable anti-inflammatory benefits green tea provides.

Can I drink green tea before bedtime?

All green tea contains some level of caffeine, which can postpone or disrupt healthy sleep. Everyone is different so if you are sensitive to caffeine, use caution. If you are sensitive, we recommend our Soba Cha, which is 100% caffeine-free, and our houjicha which has very little caffeine.

I am new to the world of Japanese tea. What tea would you recommend?

We recommend Uji Genmaimatcha, Jou Yanagi Houjicha, Kukicha, Shinme Matcha, and Soba Cha for people just getting into Japanese tea.

What are all the different names you give to your teas?

We name our teas using a variety of criteria. Some are named after the tea plant cultivar (Asatuyu sencha for example), some are named after the region in which the tea comes from (Uji no Sato Sencha) and some are named for the feeling they invoke (Kawa Akari Oolong) - meaning "the sunlight shimmering off the river".

How I should store my tea?

Japanese tea is sensitive to light, heat, moisture, and air. Keep the tea in the fridge before opening then store it in a cool place in an airtight, light-proof container.

What does Single-Varietal mean?

Like wine grapes, the tea plant has propagated cultivars that provide unique flavors aromas, and colors. Single cultivar or single varietal refers to a tea that is 100% one cultivar and has not been blended with any other cultivars. These teas are exciting as they reveal a glimpse of one plant’s singular characteristics and tend to be a great bearer of the region’s specific terroir.

Are your teas organic?

While the majority of our teas are not certified organic, our growers follow responsible farming practices and each tea we carry is produced with consideration for the quality of the teas as well as the sustainability of the land they're grown in.