Our Matcha Wins the Global Tea Champion 2025 and Video Recaps from the World Tea Expo 2025

We are excited to share that our matcha won the Global Tea Champion 2025. 

The matcha category had 5 competitions, and we won all 5. 

Here is the list of the competitions: 

• Origin Awards (Japan) - Certificates for the best matcha from production origin
  
  
  
• Superior Awards Best Ground Leaf Profile - Awarded for the best leaf profile
  
  
  
• Superior Awards Best Cup Character - Awarded for the best cup character
  
  
  
• Premium Award (Ceremonial) - Awarded for the best matcha in type
  
  
  
• Grand Prize - Awarded for the overall best matcha
  
  
  

We put these trophies on our booth the next day, and this is how they looked.

Award Ceremony

The award ceremony took place at the World Tea Expo held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on March 25, 2025.

Miki, our Chief Brand Officer, and I were called on the stage 5 times, which we did not expect. Watching us being called so many times must have been quite funny. 

Our friend, tea sommelier Ana Lucia from @ana.likes.tea, recorded the ceremony, which you can watch here.

Here are snaps from the video. (Thank you, Ana!)

The ceremonial matcha that won the awards can be found here.  This same matcha won the Global Tea Champion in 2018 as well. 

Thank you so much for helping make this possible. We couldn’t have done it without your continued support.

Recap from the World Tea Expo 2025

As mentioned above, the award ceremony was part of the World Tea Expo 2025, in which we had a booth. 

This was the first time we joined after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Getting to Las Vegas

We are currently situated in Los Angeles, so we decided to drive to Las Vegas. It is about 4 4-hour drive. 

Our car was not big enough to accommodate all the booth setups, so we rented a van. I always rent a car from the airport, and this was one of the first times renting outside the airport. 

At the airport, getting the car after the pickup time is always ok, but I did not realize it is not the same at local car rental locations.  I was 1 hour late, and they cancelled the booking and gave the van to someone else. :0    

I booked the last minute van (much more expensive) at the LAX Airport and picked up the car from there.  On top of it, they charged me for the "no show" fee.  Well, I was there... just 1 hour late. 

I am lucky I could get a van at the last minute.

A good start to a trip! (^^)

We loaded the van with our goodies and drove to Vegas. 

I am learning to use Instagram and have tried posting as many stories as possible.  Here is some footage I posted chronologically for loading the van and getting to Vegas. (Follow us here if you haven't yet!)

Apparently, Instagram Stories cannot be linked after a day unless we add them to the highlight.  So here are the stitched stories and videos that have been uploaded to our YouTube channel. (Sorry, Meta, I couldn't figure out other ways.)

About our Booth - How it was Made

Our display backdrop resulted from a true collaboration between skilled artisans in Portland, meticulously crafted over two months from concept to completion. The structure was built by Malachi from @milbournwoodworks , a professional furniture designer and carpenter, who brought Miki's detailed design to life with expert craftsmanship.

The project was far from simple.

One of the key challenges in creating this wall was ensuring that it remained fully transportable — whether packed in a car or shipped securely on a pallet.

Every panel, joint, and support structure was thoughtfully configured and custom-sized to meet this requirement without compromising aesthetics or durability.

To further reinforce the integrity of the backdrop, the metal backing was engineered and custom-built by Pete Bosack, the renowned Portland-based metalworker and founder of Madeway Design. Their team carefully designed the metal framework not only to match the visual design but to ensure the entire structure remained stable and safe in any environment — whether indoors, outdoors, or even in strong wind conditions.

This backdrop is more than just a display wall; it’s the result of intentional craftsmanship, technical problem-solving, and months of hands-on work by some of Portland’s most talented makers.

Every detail — from the fine Port Orford Cedar wood panels to the precisely engineered metal frame — reflects our commitment to quality, beauty, and thoughtful presentation.

Here is a rough drawing he prepared before he started building. 

About the Special Wood Used in our Booth

The wood selected is very special. 

Malachi had access to Port Orford Cedar wood — a rare and highly valued timber that holds deep significance in Japanese architecture and craftsmanship.

Known in Japan as Hinoki of America (アメリカ檜), Port Orford Cedar is native to a small region of southern Oregon and northern California.

It is prized for its fine grain, light color, subtle citrusy aroma, and natural resistance to decay and insects — qualities that made it an ideal material for building Shinto shrines, temples, and traditional crafts.

Historically, Japan sought out the finest materials from around the world to preserve the purity and longevity of sacred spaces. Port Orford Cedar was one of the few foreign woods that earned the honor of being imported specifically for religious and cultural purposes. Its properties closely resemble Japan's native Hinoki cypress, which has been used for centuries in the construction of Ise Jingu (伊勢神宮) and other iconic shrines.

Malachi was fortunate to obtain some of this remaining, precious wood — timber that once traveled across the Pacific to become part of Japan's spiritual and cultural heritage.

In Japanese tradition, wood is not just a material; it is alive, breathing, and carries the spirit of the forest. Incorporating such a meaningful wood into our presentation was intentional — it allowed us to connect the natural, sacred essence of Japan with the products we proudly offer.

Each piece of Port Orford Cedar used in our presentation is a tribute to craftsmanship, cultural connection, and the timeless beauty of nature — honoring the tradition of choosing only the finest, most meaningful materials.

Wood is embedded in Japanese culture, and using such a special type of wood meant a lot, especially in presenting our finest Japanese products. 

It is quite heavy, though  (now that I realize transporting these to a few events)

Here is a video of the backdrop being assembled.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of the World Tea Expo was charming.  Reiko Wake, a Japanese Tea Ambassador and opera singer, sang the "Sukiyaki" song.  (You can see her performance on her Instagram. post here)

I was shooting the whole scene from the back side (as a vendor, I could be in the back).  I shot the entire ceremony using Instagram Live for the first time! (that no one probably watched.) 

The video was so lovely that after cutting the ribbon, lots of people came onto the show floor, which was great footage I shot!

I did not realize that the Instagram Live does not get saved automatically; I have to stop and share the live video after the live is done.   Well, I didn't know that. : 0   So the footage is lost forever. Thank you again, Meta!!  (I'm learning!)

Here is the video I took BEFORE the live. 

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by our booth!

We were so happy to meet and see many people, some of whom we knew, some of whom we had just met for the first time. 

Thanks to everyone who came to say hi at our booth; the time flew by quickly. 

I am in the process of communicating with each of you who left your contact information with us. 

In case you haven't please get in touch with us from here. 

Buy Ceremonial Matcha that won the Global Tea Champion 2025

We are out of stock at the moment, but taking order for the Global Tea Champion winner matcha. Please expect 2-3 weeks for the delivery.