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 Sugimoto’s own website are not affiliate links. Prices, shipping rules and product details below are from Sugimoto’s US website at the time of writing (November 2026); they change often, and the shop runs frequent sales, so always check before ordering.
Quick Verdict
- Is Sugimoto Tea worth it? Yes, especially for everyday sencha and organic matcha. It’s a three-generation tea maker from Shizuoka with its own US branch, so you get Japanese tea without waiting for an international parcel.
- Best for: US and Canadian buyers who drink a lot of sencha, people who want fast domestic shipping, and anyone happy to buy bulk bags for better value.
- Watch out for: it ships only to the US and Canada, and the free-shipping threshold is fairly high.
- Best first order: the Sencha Fukamushi plus a small bag of the Organic Ceremonial Matcha Yui – or a sample first if you’re unsure.
- Easiest way to try it: Sugimoto teas are also sold on Amazon. Sugimoto Tea on Amazon
- Outside the US or Canada? Nio Teas’ sencha collection ships worldwide from Japan. 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 Sugimoto is, what it sells, prices, shipping, the honest downsides, and what to order first.
Most good Japanese tea shops ship from Japan, which means a week or two of waiting and, sometimes, customs fees. Sugimoto is one of the few established Japanese tea makers with its own branch in the United States, so US customers can buy sencha and matcha from a Shizuoka family business and get it in a few days.
That convenience is the main reason people look at Sugimoto. Here’s whether the tea lives up to it.
The Problem You’re Actually Trying to Solve
You want good Japanese green tea – ideally from a real Japanese producer, not an anonymous import – but you don’t want to wait for international shipping. You’ve seen Sugimoto on Amazon or in a store, and you want to know whether it’s good, what to buy and whether to order direct.
Who This Article Is NOT For
- If you’re comparing sencha from several sellers, my sencha brand comparison puts the main options side by side.
- If you’re new to deep-steamed sencha and want to know what it is first, my fukamushi sencha guide explains it.
- If you live outside the US and Canada, Sugimoto’s own shop won’t ship to you – look at a shop that ships from Japan.
Who Is Sugimoto?
Sugimoto’s story, as the company tells it:
- 1946: Zenichi Sugimoto began making tea by hand in Shizuoka and delivering it by bicycle. Demand grew, and the family business became Sugimoto Seicha.
- 1978: his son, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, became the second-generation head after training at a Tokyo tea shop near Tsukiji.
- 1986: Hiroyuki won the Shizuoka Prefectural Tea Competition and the national blind tea tasting championship.
- 2004: his son Kyohei, a certified tea adviser, set up Sugimoto’s US branch.
- Today: the third generation, Masaaki and Kyohei, run the business. The company says it buys leaf directly from farmers and was one of the early companies to bring certified organic matcha to the US.
In other words, this is a genuine family tea maker, not a brand that simply puts its label on bought-in tea.
What You Can Buy
- Sencha – Sugimoto’s core range, including deep-steamed fukamushi, medium-steamed chumushi and an organic light-steamed (asamushi) sencha
- Matcha – from an organic daily matcha to ceremonial grades
- Sugimoto Reserve – a premium line, including the Mizuki ceremonial matcha and higher-grade sencha
- Genmaicha, hojicha, kukicha and bancha
- Tea bags – including matcha-blended sencha and genmaicha bags sold in stores and on Amazon
- Bulk bags and samples – large nitrogen-flushed bags for regular drinkers, and small samples to try first
Prices at a Glance
| Tea | Size | Price (at the time of writing) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sencha Fukamushi | 1 lb (454g) | $45 on sale (listed at $60) | Excellent value per gram |
| Organic Daily Matcha | Small bag | $13.50 on sale (listed at $18) | For lattes and everyday use |
| Ceremonial Matcha Kochi | Small bag | $18.75 on sale (listed at $25) | Entry ceremonial grade |
| Organic Ceremonial Matcha Yui | 100g | $75 on sale (listed at $100) | Shizuoka and Kagoshima leaf |
| Reserve Ceremonial Matcha Mizuki | 100g | About $90-120 | Yame (Fukuoka) leaf, premium |
Sale prices come and go, so treat these as a rough guide. The big takeaway: Sugimoto’s bulk bags are where its value really shows. A pound of fukamushi sencha for everyday drinking costs much less per cup than small premium tins.
What’s Genuinely Good
- Fast US shipping. At the time of writing, orders shipped within about 3 business days and usually arrived within 1-5 business days in the US.
- Strong everyday sencha. The Sencha Fukamushi is finished with a higher roast (hi-ire), which Sugimoto says gives it a rich aroma and an umami finish across several steepings. Customer reviews on Sugimoto’s site often praise its aroma and value for daily drinking.
- Organic options. Organic sencha and organic matcha are easy to find in the range.
- Bulk value. Large, nitrogen-flushed and vacuum-sealed bags suit people who drink tea every day.
- Samples. You can try a small amount before committing to a large bag.
- A real producer behind it. Three generations, competition awards and direct relationships with farmers.
The Honest Downsides
- US and Canada only. At the time of writing, Sugimoto’s own shop shipped only to the US and Canada.
- A high free-shipping threshold. US shipping was a flat $7.95, free from $75. Canadian shipping was free only from $200, and customs fees were not included.
- Returns need approval. You had to contact Sugimoto within 30 days, and teaware had to be unused.
- Not every tea suits every taste. Sugimoto sells several sencha cultivars, and some are floral and light rather than deep and savory. One independent reviewer found a limited-edition Sugimoto sencha high quality but too floral for their taste – so read the tasting notes before you buy.
- Prices without a sale are higher. The listed prices are noticeably above the sale prices, so it pays to wait for a sale.
What to Order First
| If you like… | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rich, everyday green tea | Sencha Fukamushi | Sugimoto’s signature and best value |
| Organic sencha | Organic asamushi sencha | Light-steamed, clean flavor |
| Matcha lattes | Organic Daily Matcha | Affordable for milk drinks |
| Matcha straight | Organic Ceremonial Matcha Yui | Smooth, sweet, organic |
| A premium treat | Reserve Ceremonial Matcha Mizuki | Rich, creamy Yame matcha |
| Something toasty | Hojicha or genmaicha | Gentle and easy to like |
If you’re unsure, start with a sample of the fukamushi. It shows you Sugimoto’s style in one cup.
How to Brew Sugimoto’s Fukamushi Sencha
Sugimoto’s own instructions for its Sencha Fukamushi, at the time of writing:
- Use 5g (about 2 teaspoons) of leaf for 350ml (12oz) of water.
- Cool the water to about 80°C (175°F).
- Steep for just 30-60 seconds. Fukamushi leaves are fine and release flavor quickly.
- Pour every last drop, then re-steep with shorter times.
For cold brew: use the same 5g in 350ml of ice water and steep for about 10 minutes.
A kyusu with a fine filter helps, because deep-steamed leaves break into small pieces.
Should You Buy Direct or on Amazon?
- Buy direct for the full range, bulk bags, samples, Sugimoto Reserve teas and sales.
- Buy on Amazon for convenience, tea bags and a single trial bag – but check the seller and best-before date.
A Few Things People Ask Me
Is Sugimoto Tea Japanese? Yes. It’s a family tea maker from Shizuoka, founded in 1946, with a branch in the US.
Where does Sugimoto ship from? Its own shop sells to the US and Canada. Check the website for current shipping information.
Is Sugimoto matcha good? Its organic ceremonial matcha is popular for both lattes and drinking straight, and the Reserve Mizuki is its premium choice. Customer reviews on the site are mostly positive, with the occasional comment about bitterness or price.
Is Sugimoto good value? Especially in bulk and on sale. A pound of fukamushi sencha is excellent value for daily drinking.
Where I Landed
Sugimoto is one of the easiest ways for US and Canadian tea drinkers to buy authentic Shizuoka tea from a real family producer without international shipping. Its strengths are everyday fukamushi sencha, organic matcha and good-value bulk bags. It’s not the shop for buyers outside North America, and it’s worth waiting for a sale – but if you drink sencha every day, it’s a very sensible place to buy it.
You can browse its range at Sugimoto Tea.