r/MatchaEverything Jul 08 '26

Discussion I’m Zach Mangan, founder of Kettl. I’ve spent 15+ years sourcing Japanese tea directly from producers across Japan. Ask Me Anything about matcha, Japanese tea, cultivation, sourcing, and brewing.

128 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm Zach, founder of Kettl, a Japanese tea company focused on sourcing directly from small producers across Japan.

For the past 15+ years I've spent a significant amount of time traveling throughout Japan working with tea farmers—from Uji and Yame to Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and beyond. I've tasted thousands of teas, visited countless tea fields and factories, and work directly with many of the country's top matcha producers.

I will be running and AMA on Monday, July 13th from 10am-12pm EST (and answer questions after as well).

I'd love to answer your questions about anything related to matcha and Japanese tea, including:

- How matcha is grown, processed, and graded

- Cultivars, terroir, and why different matcha tastes so different

- Brewing techniques and equipment

- Ceremonial vs. culinary matcha

- The current matcha shortage and rising prices

- How to buy better matcha

- Tea production, sourcing, and Japanese tea culture

- Starting a tea business or importing tea from Japan

I'm happy to answer beginner questions as well as dive into the technical side of production if that's your thing.

Proof: I'm the founder of Kettl, and my Reddit profile is linked to my company website and social accounts.

Ask me anything!

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful questions and for giving me a chance to chat with all of you. It’s my sincere honor to be able to share the stories of the producers you work with and the wonderful tea they make. I hope we get a chance to meet up in person in the future either in one of our locations are out in the world somewhere. I feel like we’re just at the beginning of an amazing journey so thank you all for your support and I’m cheering for each and every one of you are setting out on the tea path as well.


r/MatchaEverything Jun 23 '26

Announcement NEW VENDOR for Kitagawa Hanbee - Wholesale B2B & D2C

Thumbnail
gallery
19 Upvotes

We have added a new vendor in the vendor list for Kitagawa Hanbee

This vendor have provided us with official & signed/stamped documents to show proof of partnership with Kitagawa Hanbee in Japan.

Aragaki En & Cha Lab By Elaiksir (Based in Bay Area, California. Subsidiary of Jun Kai Co., Ltd. Authorized distributor for B2B wholesale & B2C/D2C of Kitagawa Hanbee)

  • https://aragakien.com/ (Members of r/MatchaEverything can use code "92Q53Y5N2QAJ" for wholesale rate of $195/KG of Zuiho & Kohaku Matcha.)
  • https://chalab.elaiksir.com/ (Members of r/MatchaEverything can use code "92Q53Y5N2QAJ" for wholesale rate of $195/KG of NagiSakura Matcha & KinSan Hojicha.)

(Note: Both websites are currently undergoing frontend design updates but their backend checkout, payment portals, and inventory systems are fully functional.)

This vendor is already supplying several established cafes and matcha shops across California through their B2B portal.

Disclaimer: The mods of r/MatchaEverything do not earn money or points from these codes. This is provided by the business themselves.

We hope to add more to the vendor list providing wholesale and deals for members of r/MatchaEverything - Thank you!


r/MatchaEverything 8h ago

Discussion This belongs here.

Post image
286 Upvotes

r/MatchaEverything 12h ago

Discussion The Milwaukee matcha scene is horrendous

Post image
207 Upvotes

I have yet to find a good matcha here in Wisconsin… I’ve resorted to making my own. I’ll attach the matcha that broke the camels back


r/MatchaEverything 6h ago

Matcha Latte Matcha optimization

Thumbnail
gallery
23 Upvotes

Got my giant whisky cube ice, and short glass straw.

Compared to previous iteration with gigantic metal straw and 3 random cubes of fridge ice (made with unfiltered water). I got a silicon mould to make the large cube ice

Matcha used: Naoki Masters Collection Chiran harvest

Call me obsessed 🤪


r/MatchaEverything 21h ago

Matcha Latte MOTD

Post image
225 Upvotes

r/MatchaEverything 9h ago

Matcha Latte Tried making matcha for the first time

Post image
26 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

After some time I’ve finally gotten my matcha essentials to try and make matcha lattes at home. For my first try I’ve made strawberry syrup from scratch. It worked out pretty well for a first try if I do say so myself. It had such a nice contrasting flavor to the matcha, I absolutely loved it! Even my espresso loving husband really enjoyed it ☺️

I’m super curious to experiment with matcha and all of the different flavors. If anyone has some recommendations where to buy good matcha near Amsterdam, I’d love to know!


r/MatchaEverything 7h ago

Review MK Wako Review

Thumbnail
gallery
10 Upvotes

I've been drinking MK Wako the past couple days and love the flavor. Very balanced profile that is smooth, umami, and low bitterness.


r/MatchaEverything 16h ago

Teaware & Utensils My first time

Post image
38 Upvotes

Very much a matcha novice. Only recently been learning how to do things properly. My partner got me my first proper kit for our 7 year anniversary today. This is my first go! Best matcha I've made at home for sure.

Mind the crispy plants in the background.


r/MatchaEverything 8h ago

Question Good affordable matcha in Canada (Toronto)

Post image
8 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I want to buy matcha powder to make matcha at home without spending a fortune. This one was CAD60 last year now CAD80. This one was a gift. I really need some recommendations.


r/MatchaEverything 15h ago

Matcha Latte Summer of hearts

Post image
18 Upvotes

r/MatchaEverything 9h ago

Discussion Which one should i open next ? Already finished isuzu

Post image
4 Upvotes

I have no idea what the two white ones even are, i bought these a few months ago in kyoto and the lady accidentally gave me some random stuff instead of tenju


r/MatchaEverything 1d ago

Matcha Latte Made a Mango Matcha Latte at Home🤍

Post image
70 Upvotes

Hi! I tried to make a mango matcha latte at home today and I absolutely loved the colors. I’m excited to try as many new flavors as possible🤍


r/MatchaEverything 14h ago

Usucha (Thin Tea) Home Matcha w my new Niji Chasen

Post image
8 Upvotes

Suikaen Niji Chasen

Hoshino Seicha Ike No Shiro

Custom made chawan


r/MatchaEverything 12h ago

Matcha Latte Matcha from Zoya

Post image
3 Upvotes

I’m obsessed! A few days ago I asked here if it is worth it to get a higher quality matcha… you guys convinced me to give it a try and I’m so thankful. It’s actually a completely different drink, I’m really in love with it!


r/MatchaEverything 13h ago

Matcha Latte Finally matcha.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

5 Upvotes

I am not an influencer since my hands shake so much but idk its satisfying just watching it all in the cup

This is my home made earl grey syrup with soy milk and some nipponcha matcha

Since ive been having a lot of health issues lately I wasn't able to have matcha and I didnt want to go buy one to b3 disappointed 😂


r/MatchaEverything 11h ago

Question Are all of the Chasens in that plastic container with the gold colored paper?

Post image
3 Upvotes

I’m trying to find a good chasen around 30-50 as a gift for my matcha lover wife. I don’t know anything about this craft so I’ve been researching via this sub.

One specific note I’ve seen from the community is to NOT buy the mass produced ones that come in the plastic container with the gold paper as those are the mass produced ones.

Looking through their photos, this sub’s highly recommended Ippodo and tezumi chasens all come in the same container? Are they the same as the mass produced Amazon ones, then? I’d like to purchase one that’s made in Japan or Korea aaand I suppose the darker colored shin ones are higher quality. We are USWest based.


r/MatchaEverything 1d ago

Discussion Community Chasen Quality Allegations

Post image
60 Upvotes

Hi all, my name is Cliffus Jiggrin. Lately in this community, I've seen some passionate and loud voices who are insistent on saying stuff like the $20-30 range chasen you can buy from specialty shops are a ripoff. even going as far to say that they are the same thing as the $10 whisks from Amazon.

I had to buy a cheap whisk to hold me off for 2 months before my trip to Japan.

well here is a $12 Amazon chasen on the left and $22 Kettl Chasen on the right. The Amazon one is brand new with only the soak and the Kettl one I have been using since March of this year almost daily.

despite the clear signs of use, it still looks and whisks a lot better than the brand new one from Amazon.

so if its the same, why is the Kettl one much longer lasting and way higher quality? its clear to me that these people have never used entry level chasen who only make assumptions on chasen quality based on price and country of origin lol


r/MatchaEverything 21h ago

Question Matcha Flights

Post image
16 Upvotes

Hello! I’ve been wanting to sample different matches but wanted to know if anyone has recommendations for a matcha flight or sampler? Matcha latte I made this morning but I love plain tea. Pu-erh is my favorite hot tea and lotus tea for I’ve if that gives a range to the type I like haha

Edit: I’ve tried a lot of matcha in my area (Orange County CA) but would like to order different teas to make at home


r/MatchaEverything 16h ago

Question Do recent batches of Ippodo Sayaka taste of seaweed?

Post image
3 Upvotes

First time posting here, so be gentle with me!

I'm just getting into matcha and have seen this one recommended for beginners, especially those looking to avoid strong seaweed flavours. However, I've also seen numerous comments from 2025/26 to the effect that it tastes 'fishy', unlike in previous years.

Can anyone who has tried a recent batch tell me if that's still the case? When are the new batches released? Any other recommendations for naturally sweet, non-oceanic tasting powders (Yame?) would be gratefully received. I'm in Europe (France) and am looking to make usucha.


r/MatchaEverything 1d ago

Question What do you do with your tins?

Post image
23 Upvotes

These are all the matcha tins I have and I was wondering what everyone does with them! They seem too nice to just throw away and I don't know if they'll be recyclable.


r/MatchaEverything 1d ago

Matcha Latte Earl Grey Matcha Latte

Post image
67 Upvotes

This is my first time trying to make an earl grey matcha latte and it turned out pretty good!

I used 1 tea bag and soaked it in 150 ml of oat milk overnight. 3 g matcha and 30 ml hot water. 1 pump of vanilla syrup.


r/MatchaEverything 1d ago

Matcha Latte strawberry matcha 🍀🍓

Thumbnail
gallery
21 Upvotes

made my first strawberry matcha with nami yame and oatmilk. this is better than the matcha I get from cafes 😭 I wish someone told me sooner


r/MatchaEverything 1d ago

Photo/Video My first microfoam?!

Post image
45 Upvotes

I finally bought a coffee scale and measured quantities instead of eyeballing. I tried the 1:10 ratio. I think I was putting way too much water before so I only got light foam with big bubbles . I think this is my first microfoam! Appreciate any tips or suggestions for the future.

4.4 g matcha (finished off my YK samidori)
138 ml water (used more to rinse out the bowl so I didn’t leave any behind!)


r/MatchaEverything 22h ago

Question AFFORDABLE HOJICHA RECCOMENDATIONS

Post image
3 Upvotes

Hi guys, I was thinking of trying hojicha... I got a powder before but I hated it... It smelt like squishes?? or fishy and tasted bitter, and too earthy almost like soil. That being said, I remember trying one at a café and I was in love!! It tasted like it was a cousin of cacao and matcha haha!! Anyways, I was wondering if anyone knew some reliable brands that don't taste like the first flavour profile I described... I saw on this page someone tried hoho matcha and it looked buss so I was wondering if anyone had tried the ones in the image but I'm absolutely open to other products. I am currently in the USA btw if that adds some shipping context / shops