Nodoka - Organic Japanese Tea Powder

Nodoka provides high quality organic Japanese green tea directly from Japan's premier organic tea farms. Nodoka means calm and peaceful in Japanese. The traditional Japanese tea ceremony is a symbol of peace, harmony and happiness. 

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My story 

I was born and raised in Tokyo Japan but I lived in NY for several years working to promote Japanese products to an international audience and manage Japanese cultural events. Through these experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation of culture and small, local producers who put passion into their products.

Despite the popularity of Matcha and Japanese green tea, I couldn't find what I knew as good Matcha green tea in New York. I soon discovered that most green tea there was not made with leaves from Japan, despite being labeled, “Japanese Green Tea.” From this I set off on a journey to discover why this is, and in the process, I rediscovered the Japanese tea farm. 

While searching and meeting with dozens of organic tea farmers, I became fascinated by the world of organic green tea in Japan. These encounters guided me through  a journey to understand the cultural and philosophical importance of organic green tea. I also learned the immense of the challenges―both natural and economic―facing organic tea farmers in Japan.

Japan's traditional tea makers are becoming more and more at risk.

Despite its vast popularity, 98% of tea grown in Japan stays in Japan, with only 2% being sold in other countries. 

In the past few years, the trend has moved away from small tea producers and ornate ceremonies towards bottled green tea alternatives―often made from sub-par product.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, there were 59,248 tea farmers in 1995. In 2015, there were only 29,624 tea farmers. 

With the average age of tea farmers being over 60 and little incentive for a younger generation to take over, the traditional Japanese tea trade is at a critical juncture.These farmers cannot speak English. They cannot use any technology like Skype or email. 

Although they have a superior product with a long history, but they just aren’t able to sell it outside of the country.

Bringing the farmers to market

During my journey, I met Yoshimitsu Masuda, and fell in love with his farm, where I found a tea that really spoke to me. 

 Under the watchful eye of Mount Fuji in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture, the Masuda family has been delicately tending to their organic tea farm for generations. Before ‘organic’ farming became a trend, the family’s patriarch, Yoshimitsu Masuda, took a stand against the chemical companies, choosing to go through the long process of converting all his tea fields to organic cultivation. 

When they find harmful insects on their crop, Yoshimitsu and his family remove them by hand, one-by-one.

Now the entire his tea farm and tea manufacturing facility have received JAS and USDA organic certification, which is so rare that only 3% of tea grown in Japan is certified as organic.

OUR MISSION 

After my encounter with Yoshimitsu, I started my new company, Nodoka, to bring these premium products to the rest of the world. I feel very strongly that, if only they could gain access to the international market, things would change for the better for these farmers and their communities.

Not only is organic green tea delicious and nutritious, but it also offers a more stable source of income for local small family-owned organic tea growers in Japan. I believe it is very important that we appreciate the story behind the things we use, who made it, and how it was made.

NODOKA'S TRADITIONAL JAPANESE TEA POWDER 

Every Nodoka’s tea contains essential plant nutrients that will energize your body, improve mental clarity, reduce stress, and promote vibrant health.

JAS and USDA certified organic.

No preservatives. Non-GMO. Gluten-free. Vegan.

Powdered, delicious, incredibly versatile.

Nodoka is tea powder. Powdered tea doesn’t take long to prepare. Just mix it in water and enjoy.

About 70% of the nutrition is lost when you make tea from leaves. By drinking green tea as a powder, you receive the benefits of the whole leaf instead of only the water-soluble parts.   

This powerful tea powder mixes well into everything from baked goods and smoothies,to lattes and blends.   

AWARD

A finalist in the World Tea Expo Awards for the 2016 New Product in Tea as an Ingredient category    

NODOKA IN THE PRESS

CREW STORY : How Nodoka built a brand by helping save traditional Japanese tea makers

http://stories.crew.co/archive/nodoka/

WORLD TEA NEWS : Reviving Japan’s Tea Lands

http://worldteanews.com/news/world-tea-communit...

TECH IN ASIA : 5 startups that caught our eye at Tech in Asia Tokyo 2016

https://www.techinasia.com/5-startups-caught-ey...

Original Pouch and Cap  

Risks & Challenges

We've built relationships with tea farmers. We are confident that we will procure and personalize the highest-quality teas for you.

Making tea is a profession with many nuances as is tasting tea, so trying to reproduce the exact same flavor profiles as our first flush is a challenge. We are taking all the necessary measures to ensure that the quality is the same. 

As backers, you will always be kept up to date with the latest developments, and you will know exactly what we know, as soon as we know it.

We also anticipate possible improvements to future products, if we receive convincing feedback from our backers.

Please Share Our Message 

We hope you'll join us and are thankful for your pledges. In addition to pledging, sharing this page in social media is very valuable as well!

Nodoka website: https://www.nodokatea.com

Thanks for your Support!