Saicho
Saicho is a London-based, privately held producer of premium 0.0% ABV single-origin sparkling teas, sold direct-to-consumer worldwide and through Michelin-starred restaurants and fine dining accounts as a sophisticated non-alcoholic alternative to champagne and wine.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Saicho does
Saicho is a London-based, privately held producer of premium non-alcoholic sparkling teas founded in 2019 by Natalie Chiu and Charlie Winkworth-Smith. The company cold-brews single-origin teas sourced from named estates in Darjeeling (India), Fujian and Putian (China), Shizuoka (Japan), and Hualien County (Taiwan) for 24 hours in English spring water before finishing with gentle effervescence, producing four core expressions (Jasmine, Darjeeling, Hojicha, Osmanthus) plus a limited edition Sixty Stone Mountain SKU. All products are 0.0% ABV, low in calories (18–27kcal per serving) and caffeine, and are positioned as sophisticated alternatives to champagne or prosecco for fine dining, sober-curious, and celebratory occasions.
The core technology is the 24-hour cold brew process combined with single-origin sourcing and terroir storytelling, which the company pairs with sommelier-led food pairing endorsements to differentiate from commodity soft drinks. The product portfolio is complemented by discovery and mini collections, branded cooler bags, and accessories, alongside specialized corporate gifting and wedding service verticals.
Saicho operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model on Shopify, shipping to eight markets (UK, US, Australia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan), and runs a parallel enterprise field sales motion targeting fine dining establishments. Unit pricing ranges from £19.99 to £60 per bottle, with multi-pack bundles at £83.96–£120. The company grew from two founders to 24 employees, secured placement in Michelin-starred restaurants and World's Top 50 Bars, and in June 2025 closed a $2,014,385 funding round led by Future Planet Capital with the West Midlands Combined Authority and West Midlands Pension Fund.
Saicho firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saicho
- Legal name
- Saicho
- Website
- https://saichodrinks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Saicho is a London-based, privately held producer of premium 0.0% ABV single-origin sparkling teas, sold direct-to-consumer worldwide and through Michelin-starred restaurants and fine dining accounts as a sophisticated non-alcoholic alternative to champagne and wine.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saicho industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Tea
- NAICS
- Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- RTD Iced Tea Production (AFAFABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tea Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAG)
Keywords
Where Saicho is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Saicho business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase model for sparkling teas and accessories through e-commerce store. Products include single bottles, multi-packs, bundles, and limited editions. No subscription model mentioned.
- Corporate Gifting: Dedicated corporate gifting service for B2B customers seeking premium non-alcoholic beverage options
- Wedding Services: Specialized wedding beverage service offering sparkling tea as champagne alternative
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Bottles (750ml) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Collection (4x750ml) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mini Collection (24x200ml) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mini Collection Pack (3x200ml) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Green Collection Bundle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blue Collection Bundle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Saicho product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saicho produces and sells premium non-alcoholic (0.0% ABV) single-origin sparkling teas cold-brewed for 24 hours using English spring water. The portfolio includes four core expressions (Jasmine, Darjeeling, Hojicha, Osmanthus), a limited-edition Taiwanese release, and accompanying bundled collections plus accessories, positioned as a sophisticated champagne/prosecco alternative for fine dining and gifting.
Product overview
Saicho is a premium sparkling tea company offering non-alcoholic, 0.0% sparkling teas as sophisticated alternatives to champagne or prosecco. The core product line consists of four single-origin sparkling teas: Jasmine (scented green tea from Fujian, China), Darjeeling (black tea from India), Hojicha (roasted green tea from Shizuoka, Japan), and Osmanthus (scented oolong tea from China). A limited edition Sixty Stone Mountain variant from Taiwan is also offered. These are complemented by bundled collections (Discovery Collection, Mini Collection, Mini Collection Pack) that package multiple flavors together, as well as cooler bags and accessories. The products are positioned for fine dining and premium gifting occasions, with distribution in Michelin-starred restaurants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Jasmine Sparkling Tea Single-origin sparkling tea made from scented green tea sourced from Fuding in Fujian Province, China. Tasting notes of apple sherbet, lychee, and vanilla with gentle dry tannins. Available in 750ml and 200ml bottles.
- Darjeeling Sparkling Tea Single-origin sparkling tea made from black tea grown in the Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling, India. Tasting notes of mandarin, ginger, and wood spice with gentle dry tannins. Available in 750ml and 200ml bottles.
- Hojicha Sparkling Tea Single-origin sparkling tea made from roasted green tea originating in Kyoto, Japan, sourced from Tenryu, Shizuoka at 500m altitude. Tasting notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnut, and delicate smoke. Available in 750ml and 200ml bottles.
- Osmanthus Sparkling Tea Single-origin sparkling tea made from Tie Guan Yin oolong tea scented with osmanthus blossoms, sourced from Xianyou County, China. Tasting notes of apricot, cucumber, and custard apple with creamy undertones. Available in 750ml and 200ml bottles.
- Sixty Stone Mountain Limited Edition Sparkling Tea Limited-edition sparkling tea made from rare black tea sourced from Sixty Stone Mountain in Hualien County, Taiwan. Tasting notes of dark honey, mango, apricot, lemon, ripe pear, grilled pineapple, cedarwood, and smoke. Each bottle is uniquely numbered and presented in a gift box.
- Discovery Collection Collection bundle containing one 750ml bottle each of Jasmine, Hojicha, Darjeeling, and Osmanthus sparkling teas (4 x 750ml). Designed as a curated introduction to the full Saicho range.
- Saicho Mini Collection Collection containing 8 bottles each of Jasmine, Hojicha, and Darjeeling sparkling teas (24 x 200ml total), offering 10% savings compared to single bottle purchases.
- Saicho Mini Collection Pack Sampler pack containing one 200ml bottle each of Jasmine, Hojicha, and Darjeeling sparkling teas, presented in a gift box.
- Green Collection Bundle Bundle pairing three 750ml bottles of customer-chosen sparkling teas with an insulated green cooler bag designed for outdoor use.
- Blue Collection Bundle Limited-time summer bundle pairing the Saicho Mini Collection Pack with an insulated blue cooler bag for chilled storage on the go.
- Corporate Gifting Service Dedicated corporate gifting service for businesses seeking premium non-alcoholic beverage options for client entertaining, conferences, and corporate occasions.
- Wedding Beverage Service Specialized wedding beverage service offering Saicho sparkling tea as a champagne alternative for receptions and toasts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Placed in Michelin-starred restaurants
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Saicho
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Saicho technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Saicho partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ShopifycoreE-commerce platform powering the Saicho online store for direct-to-consumer sales
- KlaviyocoreEmail marketing platform for customer communications and promotional campaigns
- PinterestminorSocial media marketing and advertising partnership
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Saicho competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Töst: Töst is a premium non-alcoholic sparkling beverage brand positioned for celebrations and food pairing, directly mirroring Saicho's RTD sparkling positioning and adult occasion use case.
- Three Spirit Drinks: Three Spirit is a UK-based non-alcoholic functional beverage brand targeting sober-curious adults with premium positioning, sharing Saicho's UK origin, D2C + hospitality channel mix, and adult-occasion occasion.
- Ghia: Ghia is a premium non-alcoholic aperitif positioned as a sophisticated alcohol alternative for food pairing and celebration, directly comparable to Saicho's sommelier-endorsed, fine-dining-oriented positioning.
- De Soi: De Soi is a premium non-alcoholic sparkling aperitif brand with similar adult-occasion and food-pairing positioning, directly competing for the same sober-curious fine-dining consumer.
- Pentire: Pentire is a UK-based premium non-alcoholic botanical 'spirit' brand targeting design-led DTC consumers and bar placements, mirroring Saicho's UK roots, premium pricing, and hospitality channel emphasis.
- Kin Euphorics: Kin Euphorics is a premium non-alcoholic functional beverage brand with strong DTC and hospitality presence, comparable to Saicho's adult-occasion, wellness-adjacent premium positioning.
- Aura Bora: Aura Bora is a premium sparkling water brand infused with herbs and botanicals, sharing Saicho's plant-based ingredient story, sparkling format, and DTC-led premium positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Athletic Brewing Company: Athletic Brewing is the established category-defining non-alcoholic beverage brand in the US with broad retail and on-premise distribution, providing a scaling and brand-build template for Saicho within the broader NA category.
- Lyre's Spirit Co. Lyre's is a global leader in non-alcoholic spirits with wide hospitality distribution, representing the incumbent playbook Saicho is following in pairing fine-dining accounts with NA alternatives.
- Fever-Tree: Fever-Tree is a UK-founded premium sparkling mixer brand that scaled from hospitality channel into global retail, illustrating the trajectory Saicho could follow by leveraging food-service endorsements and premium positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Saicho social profiles
Digital presenceSaicho financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saicho leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Saicho funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saicho M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saicho
What does Saicho do?
Saicho produces and sells premium non-alcoholic (0.0% ABV) single-origin sparkling teas cold-brewed for 24 hours using English spring water. The portfolio includes four core expressions (Jasmine, Darjeeling, Hojicha, Osmanthus), a limited-edition Taiwanese release, and accompanying bundled collections plus accessories, positioned as a sophisticated champagne/prosecco alternative for fine dining and gifting.
Is Saicho a public or private company?
Saicho is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Saicho founded?
Saicho was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Saicho based?
Saicho is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Saicho make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are corporate Gifting and wedding Services.
Who are Saicho's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Töst, Three Spirit Drinks, Ghia, De Soi, Pentire, Kin Euphorics and Aura Bora. Broad incumbents are Athletic Brewing Company, Lyre's Spirit Co. and Fever-Tree.
Does Saicho have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saicho.
What industry is Saicho in?
Saicho's product category is Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Tea. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFABAD, RTD Iced Tea Production, with a secondary code of AFAFADAG, Tea Blending & Flavoring. Its NAICS code is 312111 and its SIC code is 2086.