As a Chashi-level tea master, Mr. Ikeda’s experience and mastery of green tea products create the foundation of Ikeda Tea World’s expertise and professional reputation in the matcha tea industry.
At Ikeda Tea World, we take our certified organic matcha incredibly seriously. Whether it’s our culinary, ceremonial, or industrial-grade teas, our head of manufacturing and master Tea Sommelier, Kenta Ikeda, puts his heart, soul, and expertise into every batch we make. His company, Ikeda Seicha, was first established in 1945 by his grandfather in Kagoshima, Japan. Having been born quite literally in his family’s tea shop, it’s no surprise that Mr. Ikeda developed a lifelong passion for the art of tea making.
As a 10th-level Chashi(tea master), Mr. Ikeda’s experience and mastery of green tea products create the foundation of Ikeda Tea World’s expertise and professional reputation in the matcha tea industry.
In 2014, Mr. Ikeda became certified as a 10th-level Chashi (茶師) or tea master. In Japanese culture, this is the highest rank of tea makers, and it is synonymous with the title of a Michelin star chef in the tea industry. This honorable distinction reflects the extraordinary breadth and depth of Ikeda's knowledge and experience which he pours into each of our matcha products.
Only 13 people around the world have earned the title of 10th-Level Chashi in the last 65 years. Ikeda is one of them.
In order to receive this esteemed designation, a master tea maker (or Tea Sommelier) must have the ability to recognize high-quality leaves from a variety of sources, evaluate their potential, and then accurately characterize the properties of each group to determine how best to blend and use them.
The Chashi certification is a crucial part of what gives Ikeda Tea World’s matcha its superior quality.
A master tea maker must have the ability to recognize high-quality leaves from a variety of sources, evaluate their potential, and then accurately characterize the properties of each group to determine how to blend them.
Our Tea Sommelier’s ability to distinguish and expertly produce the best flavors in each grade of matcha makes every batch consistent in taste, aroma, and quality.
Kenta Ikeda has been a significant part of our growth in the wholesale bulk organic matcha and private label matcha world. Having a master Tea Sommelier of his caliber on our team allows Ikeda Tea World to produce high-quality, premium bulk matcha, Hojicha, and Sencha tea versatile for a variety of applications.
Our diverse client base in the food and beverage industry fully trust Mr. Ikeda's insight when it comes to ceremonial-grade matcha and other teas, and we are passionate about sharing his expertise with the world and the difference in quality it creates.
With a mission to bring better matcha to the masses, Ikeda Tea World partners with Mr. Ikeda to create carefully crafted custom matcha tea formulations and entirely new grades of matcha, formulated with an incredible amount of research and development. Contact us today with any questions or to receive your custom quote.
