Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Links to Den’s Tea’s own website are not affiliate links. Details below are from Den’s Tea’s website at the time of writing (October 2026) and may change.
Quick Verdict
- Is Den’s Tea worth it? Yes, especially for sencha. It’s the US arm of a Shizuoka tea company that has been in business since 1923, so the tea comes straight from a Japanese producer rather than through layers of importers.
- Best for: sencha and fukamushi sencha lovers in North America who want fresh, authentic everyday Japanese tea delivered quickly.
- Best first order: a fukamushi sencha and a genmaicha – the styles Shizuoka does best. Den’s Tea also sells matcha comparison sets if you want to taste grades side by side.
- Where to buy: directly from Den’s Tea’s website (free shipping on orders of $50 or more at the time of writing), or look for Den’s Tea on Amazon.
- Want teas from many regions and small farms instead? Nio Teas’ sencha collection covers more regions. At the time of writing, ordering through the links on this page automatically applies a 10% discount at checkout – no code needed. Offers can change, so check the final price in your cart.
Below: who’s behind Den’s Tea, what it does well, the honest downsides, and what to order first.
If you live in the US and want good Japanese green tea, you quickly run into a problem: most of what’s on store shelves is old, generic, or not really Japanese at all. Ordering from Japan works, but it takes time and shipping costs add up. Den’s Tea is one of the names that keeps coming up as the answer – a California-based shop that sells Japanese tea from its own family company in Shizuoka.
Here’s what makes it different, and whether it’s the right place for you to buy.
The Problem You’re Actually Trying to Solve
You want fresh, authentic Japanese tea without paying international shipping or waiting weeks, and you want to be sure the seller actually knows Japanese tea. Den’s Tea looks promising, but you want to know who’s behind it, how fresh the tea is, and what’s worth ordering.
Who This Article Is NOT For
- If you’re comparing several places to buy sencha, my sencha brand comparison covers the main options side by side.
- If you’re outside North America, Den’s Tea is set up mainly for US customers; a shop that ships internationally from Japan may suit you better.
- If you’re mainly after rare single-estate teas from many different regions, Den’s Tea’s strength is breadth within Shizuoka-style tea rather than a wide map of small farms.
Who’s Behind Den’s Tea
Den’s Tea isn’t a reseller that happens to like Japanese tea. It’s part of a Japanese tea company:
- Shirakata Denshiro Shoten (SDS) is a tea company in Shizuoka, Japan’s historic tea capital, founded by Denshiro Shirakata. Den’s Tea dates the company’s operations to 1923.
- Den Masanori Shirakata, Denshiro’s grandson, has led SDS since 1996 and owns Den’s Tea.
- Den’s Tea was established in California in 2000 as SDS’s North American subsidiary.
Most of its teas are grown in Shizuoka and processed and packed by SDS, then imported directly to California. Den himself holds the Japan Tea Association’s “Japanese Tea Instructor” qualification, and in 2018 he received a Japanese government award, the Minister’s Award for Overseas Promotion of Japanese Food.
In short: when you buy from Den’s Tea, you’re buying from a Japanese tea producer’s own shop.
What They Sell
The range is broad for a single company:
- Leaf teas: sencha, fukamushi sencha, gyokuro, bancha, hojicha, genmaicha, kukicha, guricha (tamaryokucha), GABA tea, Japanese black tea, oolong and more
- Matcha: usucha and koicha grades, including matcha from several regions, plus comparison sets that let you taste grades side by side
- Organic teas – SDS is certified organic under Japan’s JAS program
- Tea bags, caffeine-free teas, teaware and gifts
What’s Genuinely Good
- Producer-direct. Fewer middlemen means you’re closer to the source, and the people selling the tea are the people who process it.
- Fresh, carefully stored tea. Den’s Tea says it keeps its teas in climate-controlled storage in California after they arrive from Shizuoka.
- Strong in fukamushi sencha. Deep-steamed sencha is a Shizuoka specialty, and it’s where Den’s Tea shines. Independent reviewers have rated its organic fukamushi sencha highly for flavor and aroma. (More on fukamushi sencha.)
- Matcha comparison sets. Usucha, koicha and organic sets are an affordable way to learn grades without buying full tins.
- US shipping. Domestic shipping is faster and simpler than ordering from Japan, with free shipping over $50 at the time of writing.
- Organic, kosher and halal options. SDS facilities are certified kosher and halal, and many teas are JAS organic.
- Monthly deals. A “Tea of the Month” is often discounted.
The Honest Downsides
- Shizuoka-centric. Most of the teas come from Shizuoka. That’s a strength for sencha, but if you want to compare Kagoshima, Yame, Uji and smaller regions, a multi-farm shop offers more variety.
- Prices are US retail prices. You’re paying for import, storage and domestic shipping. It’s fair for what you get, but it’s more than buying the same tea in Japan.
- A basic website. It’s functional rather than polished, and some product descriptions are brief, so beginners may need to research before ordering.
- Mainly for North America. International customers will usually find better options elsewhere.
- Limited independent reviews. There are fewer detailed third-party reviews than for big brands like Ippodo, so you’re relying partly on the company’s reputation.
What to Order First
| If you like… | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rich, smooth green tea | A fukamushi sencha | Shizuoka’s specialty, deep green and mellow |
| Classic, fresh sencha | A standard sencha | A benchmark for everyday Japanese tea |
| Toasty, gentle tea | Genmaicha or hojicha | Forgiving and easy to brew |
| Learning matcha | A matcha comparison set | Taste grades side by side for less than a full tin |
| Sweet, shaded tea | Gyokuro or karigane | A step up in umami and sweetness |
A good first order is one sencha you’ll drink every day plus one tea you’ve never tried – which, with free shipping above $50, is easy to reach.
Tips for Ordering
- Check the Tea of the Month. It’s usually discounted, and it’s a low-risk way to try something new.
- Order sizes you can finish. Opened sencha is best within a few weeks, so two smaller bags beat one large one.
- Store it properly when it arrives. Keep unopened bags in the fridge, let them reach room temperature before opening, and move opened tea into an airtight canister away from light.
- Brew fukamushi briefly. Deep-steamed sencha releases flavor fast – around 30-45 seconds at 70-80°C (158-176°F) is plenty. Longer steeps turn it bitter.
- Buy matcha in small amounts. Matcha fades faster than leaf tea, so the comparison sets or small tins are the smart way to start.
Den’s Tea vs. Other Ways to Buy
| Den’s Tea | Nio Teas | Buying direct from Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ships from | California | Japan | Japan |
| Strength | Producer-direct Shizuoka tea, fast US delivery | Small farms across many regions | Widest choice, lowest base prices |
| Best for | Everyday sencha in the US | Exploring regions and farms | Experienced buyers who don’t mind waiting |
| Drawback | Mostly Shizuoka | International shipping time | Shipping costs and customs |
A Few Things People Ask Me
Is Den’s Tea actually Japanese? Yes. It’s the US subsidiary of a Shizuoka tea company founded by the owner’s grandfather, and most of its tea is grown in Shizuoka and processed by the family company.
Is Den’s Tea good for matcha? It sells a range of usucha and koicha matcha, including from several regions. Its comparison sets are especially useful for learning.
Does Den’s Tea ship internationally? It’s focused on North American customers. Check its shipping page for current destinations.
Is it better than buying from Japan? For US buyers who want fresh tea quickly, often yes. For the widest variety and lowest base prices, buying from Japan can win.
Where I Landed
Den’s Tea is one of the most trustworthy places in the US to buy Japanese tea, because it isn’t really a middleman at all – it’s a Shizuoka tea family’s own shop. If you drink sencha, and especially fukamushi sencha, it’s an easy recommendation. If you want to explore tea from many regions and small farms, pair it with a shop that covers more of Japan. Either way, start with one everyday sencha and one tea you’ve never tried.