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 Kettl itself are not affiliate links. Prices and policies below are from Kettl’s website at the time of writing (November 2026) and change often – check before you buy.
Quick Verdict
- Is Kettl worth it? Yes, if you want some of the best Japanese tea available in the US and don’t mind paying for it. Kettl buys directly from producers it visits in Japan, packs tea in Fukuoka, and air-ships it to the US.
- Best for: tea lovers in the US who want high-grade matcha, gyokuro and sencha from named Japanese producers, plus ceramics and tea tools.
- Not ideal for: budget shoppers or people who mostly make sweet lattes – you’d be paying for quality you won’t taste.
- Best first order: one matcha or sencha from a named producer, plus a tea tool or teaware piece to reach free shipping (over $150 at the time of writing).
- Want to read before you buy? Kettl founder Zach Mangan’s book, Stories of Japanese Tea on Amazon, is a beautiful introduction to Japanese tea regions and growers.
- Prefer to buy shipped straight from Japan, often for less? Nio Teas ships teas from small Japanese farms. 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 runs Kettl, what makes it different, the honest downsides, and how it compares with other places to buy Japanese tea.
Ask serious tea drinkers in the US where to buy Japanese tea, and Kettl’s name comes up quickly. It’s a Brooklyn-based company with cafés in New York and Los Angeles, an office in Fukuoka, and a reputation for sourcing teas that are hard to find outside Japan. It’s also noticeably more expensive than most other options.
So what are you actually paying for – and is it worth it for you?
The Problem You’re Actually Trying to Solve
You want genuinely high-quality Japanese tea in the US, from people who know the producers, and you’re willing to pay more for it. But you want to know whether Kettl’s prices reflect real quality, which teas are worth buying, and whether a cheaper shop would serve you just as well.
Who This Article Is NOT For
- If you’re comparing several places to buy sencha, my sencha brand comparison covers the main options.
- If you’re comparing matcha brands rather than shops, my matcha brand comparison puts the big names side by side.
- If you’re on a tight budget, Kettl’s prices may be hard to justify for everyday drinking.
Who Runs Kettl
Kettl was founded by Zach Mangan and his wife Minami, and at the time of writing it describes itself as being in its 15th year. Zach began his tea career at a Japanese tea shop in Manhattan and has since written Stories of Japanese Tea: The Regions, the Growers, and the Craft (Princeton Architectural Press, 2022), with chapters on sencha, matcha and gyokuro and interviews with growers.
The company has offices in Fukuoka, Japan, Brooklyn and Los Angeles, and runs cafés and shops in:
- Greenpoint, Brooklyn
- Kettl Matcha Sen Mon Ten, Brooklyn – a matcha-focused shop
- Los Feliz, Los Angeles
How Kettl Sources Its Tea
This is what sets Kettl apart:
- Direct relationships. Kettl buys from growers and producers it knows personally and visits several times a year. The founders spent two years building those relationships before launching.
- A short supply chain. Tea is received and hand-packed by Kettl’s team in Fukuoka, then shipped by air to its Brooklyn warehouse, with deliveries arriving weekly.
- Named producers. Many teas are sold under the name of the producer or region, so you know where your tea comes from.
- Fresh processing in New York. Kettl has milled matcha and roasted hojicha at its Brooklyn shop, and runs a matcha subscription built around fresh milling.
In short, Kettl works more like a specialty coffee roaster than a typical tea brand: fewer middlemen, more information about the source, and a focus on freshness.
What You Can Buy
- Matcha – a wide range, from everyday to rare high-grade tins (at the time of writing, prices ranged from around $45 to $85 and up for a tin)
- Loose-leaf teas – sencha, gyokuro, hojicha and other Japanese green teas, plus black, oolong and caffeine-free options
- Tea bags
- Ceramics and tea tools – kyusu, matcha bowls, whisks and more
- Sweets, incense and kombucha
- Classes and events – in-person tea and latte classes in New York, plus virtual matcha classes
- Subscriptions – which ship free in the US
What’s Genuinely Good
- Exceptional sourcing. Direct relationships with named producers mean access to teas rarely sold outside Japan.
- Freshness. Air shipping, weekly deliveries and fresh milling help keep tea vibrant.
- Expertise. The founder has written a book on Japanese tea, and the team clearly knows its producers.
- Beautiful teaware. A well-chosen selection of ceramics and tools.
- Learning opportunities. Classes and events help you get more out of your tea.
- US-based shipping. No international customs to deal with for US customers, and free shipping over $150 at the time of writing.
The Honest Downsides
- Price. Kettl is one of the more expensive places to buy Japanese tea in the US. You’re paying for sourcing, freshness and expertise – but it adds up.
- Overkill for lattes. High-grade matcha shines with water; in a sweet latte, much of what you pay for is lost.
- Popular items sell out. Some matcha is sold on pre-order or in limited quantities.
- Mainly for US customers. If you’re outside the US, buying from Japan is usually simpler and cheaper.
- Easy to overspend. The range of beautiful teaware and rare teas makes it tempting to buy more than you need.
What to Order First
| If you like… | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Matcha straight | One of Kettl’s everyday matcha tins | A clear step up from supermarket matcha |
| Sencha | A sencha from a named producer | Shows how much producer and region matter |
| Sweet, rich tea | A gyokuro | Kettl’s sourcing shines with shaded teas |
| Roasted tea | Hojicha | Gentle, easy to brew, and lovely in the evening |
| Learning | A class or a subscription | Guided tasting teaches more than reading |
How to Get the Most Out of an Expensive Tea
If you’re paying premium prices, a few habits make sure you taste what you paid for:
- Weigh the tea. Use a small kitchen scale – about 2g of matcha per bowl, or 4-5g of leaf per small pot.
- Control the water temperature. Around 80°C (175°F) for matcha and sencha, 50-60°C (122-140°F) for gyokuro.
- Drink it straight first. Taste a high-grade tea with water before deciding whether to add milk.
- Re-steep leaf teas. Good sencha and gyokuro give two or three delicious infusions, which makes the price per cup much lower.
- Store it well. Keep tins sealed in the fridge and finish opened matcha within a month.
Kettl vs. Other Ways to Buy
| Kettl | Den’s Tea | Nio Teas | Sazen Tea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ships from | US (Brooklyn) | US (California) | Japan | Japan |
| Strength | Direct relationships, rare high-grade teas | Producer-owned Shizuoka tea | Small-farm teas, easy to browse | Famous Uji brands at Japanese prices |
| Price level | Premium | Mid | Mid | Japanese retail + shipping |
| Best for | Special teas, experienced drinkers | Everyday sencha | Exploring farms | Famous matcha, teaware |
A Few Things People Ask Me
Is Kettl matcha worth the price? For drinking straight, its higher-grade matcha is among the best you can buy in the US. For sweet lattes, cheaper matcha is fine.
Where are Kettl’s shops? At the time of writing: Greenpoint and Sen Mon Ten in Brooklyn, and Los Feliz in Los Angeles.
Does Kettl ship outside the US? It’s focused on US customers. Check its site for current shipping destinations.
Is Zach Mangan’s book worth reading? If you want to understand Japanese tea regions and the people who make the tea, yes – it’s one of the best English-language introductions available.
Where I Landed
Kettl is where you go when you want the special stuff. Its direct sourcing, fresh shipping and genuine expertise make it one of the best places in the US to buy high-grade Japanese tea – and its prices reflect that. Start with one tea you’ll drink straight, from a named producer, and taste the difference. For everyday sencha or latte matcha, a more affordable shop will do the job just as well.
You can browse Kettl’s range at kettl.co.