Hojicha Co.

What Hojicha Co. does

Hojicha Co. (legal entity: HOJICHA TRADING CO. LTD.) is a specialty Japanese roasted green tea company founded in January 2016 by Danielle Geva and Francois Mathieu and headquartered in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. The company operates as the first and only brand specializing exclusively in freshly roasted green tea (hojicha) sourced as single-origin from small independent farms in Kyoto prefecture, Japan. Its core technology is small-batch roasting of Japanese green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) that are steamed, rolled, dried, and then roasted in Kyoto to produce hojicha with cocoa and earthy flavor notes; the flagship product is an ultrafine hojicha powder formulated to dissolve without sifting. The portfolio spans multiple roasts of hojicha tea leaves (Classic, Dark Roast, Light Roast, Genmai, Gold Roast), the flagship powder, a 2023-licensed line of authentic matcha products from Marukyu Koyamaen (Wakatake, Isuzu, Yugen, Wako, Kinrin), and curated Japanese teaware (Raku chawan, Tokoname kyusu, Takayama chasen, Mino ware, Arita ware porcelain) sourced from named Japanese artisans.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer e-commerce, with Shopify-based storefronts serving 8+ localized country sites (US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Singapore) using DDP shipping. A second revenue stream is wholesale and bulk: bulk hojicha powder from 500g to 5kg, wholesale 10-pack 100g units at $195, and bulk matcha for cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and retail shops, with no registration required. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from $1 stickers to $288 premium Raku chawan, with the flagship powder at $25/100g. Customer segments are individual tea enthusiasts (primary), cafes/tea shops, bakeries/restaurants, and retail shops. Distribution is supported by content marketing — a 13+ page recipe blog, social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Tumblr — and email marketing. The company holds U.S. FDA registration, a Safe Food for Canadians licence, and the Hojicha Hanko trademark registered with WIPO, UK, and USPTO. Operations remain lean at 1-10 employees, with no disclosed venture funding beyond a 2022 Business Development Bank of Canada facility.

Name

Hojicha Co.

Legal name

HOJICHA TRADING CO. LTD.

Website

https://hojicha.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hojicha Co. is a Canadian specialty tea company founded in 2016 that sells single-origin, small-batch roasted Japanese green tea (hojicha) and matcha via DTC e-commerce and wholesale to consumers, cafes, and retailers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Japanese Tea

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Tea Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates) (CRADAHAE), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ), Ethnic Beverages Wholesale (Specialty/Import) (AFAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Japanese roasted tea
• Specialty green tea
• Matcha distribution
• Tea accessories retail
• Single-origin tea

Headquarters

HQ city

Ancaster

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales of hojicha products (powder, tea leaves, teaware, merchandise) directly to consumers through company website and localized country stores. One-time purchase model with no subscription requirement.
2. Bulk Hojicha Powder: Wholesale and bulk sales of hojicha powder to businesses (cafes, restaurants, bakeries, retail shops). Volume discounts available starting at 1kg with tiered pricing for larger quantities. Bulk pricing ranges from $123 for 500g to discounted wholesale options.
3. Matcha Distribution: Distribution partnership with Marukyu Koyamaen for matcha products (Matcha Wakatake, Isuzu, Yugen, Kinrin, Wako). Products sold in various sizes at $36-$48 retail, with bulk options available for commercial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hojicha Co. specializes in selling authentic Japanese roasted green tea (hojicha) products, including ultrafine hojicha powder and various grades of tea leaves sourced exclusively from Kyoto, Japan. The company also distributes matcha products through a partnership with Marukyu Koyamaen, and sells handcrafted Japanese teaware and branded merchandise, operating a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business with localized stores across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Product overview

Hojicha Co. is a specialty Japanese roasted green tea company offering a curated portfolio of tea products, teaware, and merchandise. The core offering centers on Hojicha Powder (the original ultrafine roasted green tea powder for lattes) and various grades of hojicha tea leaves (Classic, Dark Roast, Light Roast, Genmai, Gold Roast). Following a 2023 collaboration with Marukyu Koyamaen, the company expanded into authentic matcha products (Wakatake, Isuzu, Yugen, Wako, Kinrin) crafted in Uji, Kyoto. The product lineup also includes Japanese teaware such as Raku tea bowls, kyusu teapots, bamboo whisks, and tea scoops crafted by Japanese artisans, as well as branded merchandise featuring the company's trademarked Hojicha Hanko design. The company operates as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business shipping to North America, Europe, and select international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Hojicha is low in caffeine compared to traditional green tea or coffee, making it suitable for evening consumption
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Marukyu KoyamaencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Hojicha Co. partnered with Marukyu Koyamaen (established 1704, Uji, Kyoto) to distribute authentic matcha products. Marukyu Koyamaen is known for exceptional matcha and focus on preserving the original taste of Japanese tea. Products distributed include Matcha Isuzu, Matcha Yugen, Matcha Kinrin, Matcha Wakatake, and Matcha Wako. This partnership addresses customer demand for trusted, high-quality matcha recommendations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Direct peers

• Ippodo Tea Co. Heritage Japanese tea house (est. 1717, Kyoto/Uji) selling matcha, gyokuro, sencha, and hojicha directly to consumers in Western markets. Closest comparable given Japanese single-origin positioning and DTC focus.
• Jade Leaf Matcha: US-based premium matcha e-commerce brand sourcing from Uji, Kyoto. Directly comparable on DTC Japanese tea positioning, single-origin sourcing, and consumer audience overlap with Hojicha Co.
• Harney & Sons: Family-owned premium loose-leaf tea company with strong DTC e-commerce, broad tea catalog, and tea-adjacent accessories. Comparable on specialty tea retail model and direct-to-consumer distribution.
• Encha: Organic ceremonial-grade matcha brand sourced directly from Uji, Japan, sold via DTC e-commerce. Comparable on premium Japanese green tea positioning and direct-to-consumer model.
• Adagio Teas: Online specialty tea retailer offering loose-leaf tea, teaware, and accessories via direct e-commerce. Comparable on DTC tea retail model, broad SKU catalog, and teaware add-on merchandising.
• Republic of Tea: Specialty tea brand selling premium loose-leaf and packaged teas via DTC and wholesale channels. Comparable on premium tea positioning, multi-channel distribution, and curated catalog approach.

Broad incumbents

• Ito En: Largest Japanese tea company globally with extensive RTD tea and packaged matcha/green tea portfolio. Comparable as a Japanese tea authority; broader CPG scale contrasts with Hojicha Co.'s specialty focus.
• Aiya America: Largest Japanese matcha producer/wholesaler supplying food service and retail brands. Comparable on matcha category leadership; broader B2B focus contrasts with Hojicha Co.'s DTC-led model.
• T2 Tea: Global specialty tea retailer (Unilever-owned) with broad tea catalog, teaware, and branded merchandise via DTC and physical stores. Comparable on premium tea retail with merchandise adjacency.
• Teavana: Specialty tea retailer (now owned by Starbucks) offering premium loose-leaf tea and tea accessories. Comparable on specialty tea retail; broader scale and mass-market positioning differ from Hojicha Co.'s Japanese-origin niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HojichaCo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/hojicha
• Facebookfacebook.com/hojicha.co
• Instagraminstagram.com/hojicha.co
• TikToktiktok.com/@hojicha.co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hojicha Co.