Japan's first imperial capital, birthplace of its culture, and home to some of the finest matcha farms in the historic Yamato region.
The climate is cooler here, the elevation higher, the soil rich with minerals from the surrounding mountains. Sacred cedar forests blanket the hills, and morning fog settles over the tea fields.
The terroir comes through in all our matcha — deeper flavor, richer color, and a natural sweetness that's unmistakably Nara.
We have our own farm and work directly with a small circle of partner family farms in Nara, many of whom have farmed here for generations.
This is the matcha we bring to our café partners.
Waka Matcha was founded to bring Nara's matcha tradition to cafés worldwide, directly from the source.
Every step of production happens with our team in Nara. That means complete oversight of what we produce and complete honesty about how we produce it.
When you work with Waka, you're working with the source.
We grow patiently, harvest carefully, and process without shortcuts.
We oversee our own farm and a close group of family growers in Nara we know personally.
We can tell you which farms grew your matcha, how it was processed, and when it was harvested.
We support your team from first sample to daily service.
Our matcha is grown on our own farm and a few neighboring family farms in one corner of Nara.
All our matcha is grown and processed within one of Japan's oldest and most respected tea-producing regions.
Small-scale farms. The people growing your matcha have been on this land for decades.
Shade-grown, stone-ground, processed according to techniques refined over centuries in this region.
Five grades, each named for a quality of green found in Nara's landscape. All grown by our farming families, stone-milled in Nara, and shipped direct.
Named for the Japanese bush warbler that nests in Nara's ancient forests. Our finest first-harvest leaves, milled in micro batches. The umami is intensely rich, with a natural sweetness that stays on the palate. This is matcha at its most refined.
Named for the skylark that climbs above Nara's ancient cedar canopy, this blend carries the depth and stillness of those old-growth forests. Crafted primarily from first-harvest leaves grown on our Nara hillsides, it's rich and smooth — layered umami with a natural sweetness that lingers long after the cup is empty. No bitterness. Just the quiet depth you find when you stop beneath those cedars and listen.
Named for the rush of spring wind that sweeps across Nara's hillsides, shaking the new growth into life. A premium blend of early spring-harvest leaves from our Nara farms — the same hillsides where the seiran moves through the tea fields each year, just as the season turns. Full and vibrant, with a lively, clean energy and a beautifully balanced finish. Refined enough for a perfect bowl of usucha, versatile enough to anchor a signature latte.
A special blend of spring-harvest cultivars built for volume café programs. Balanced profile: bright vegetal notes, natural sweetness, and a clean, creamy finish. Holds up beautifully in milk. Consistent batch to batch with strong pour-cost economics. Purpose-built for specialty latte programs.
Waka's house blend of early-harvest leaves from our Nara farms. Smooth, well-rounded flavor that performs in every application. Stands up to oat milk, dairy, and sweeteners without losing its character. Consistent batch to batch, season to season.
Whether you're building a matcha program from scratch or upgrading what you already serve, Waka brings the quality, sourcing, and support to build a matcha menu your customers will love.
A complimentary sample kit with all five grades, a tasting guide, and wholesale pricing.
Air-shipped fresh from Nara. Your matcha arrives weeks after milling. Barista training, recipe development, pour-cost analysis, and menu support tailored to your café.
Ongoing support as your program evolves: new recipes, seasonal specials, expanded grade options, and first access to new products. Waka is built for long-term partnerships.
Send us a note about your café — we'll send samples, pricing, and a tasting guide.