Les thés Ochaya

What Les thés Ochaya does

Les thés Ochaya is a Franco-Japanese online tea boutique founded in 2009 by Nicolas Espinasse and Harumi Sugiura as a SASU registered in Chambéry (RCS 839 034 493). The company specializes in direct-sourced Japanese teas — including sencha, matcha, gyokuro, hojicha, and genmaicha — alongside rare origin teas from China, Laos, Taiwan, and Australia, and a curated line of traditional Japanese tea ceremony accessories (kyusu teapots, chawan bowls, chasen whisks, washi tea boxes). Its core technology is a WooCommerce/WordPress e-commerce storefront at ochaya.fr with bilingual French-Japanese customer service and no proprietary technology stack. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer online retail (standard 100g pouches priced €7.60-€31.90, gift sets up to €95, volume discounts above 500g), a dedicated B2B wholesale section (Espace Pro), and event-driven sales at Swiss markets. The current operating team of 1-10 employees is led by Stéphanie and William, who manage the business across its French headquarters in Drumettaz-Clarafond, legal seat in Lauris, and Swiss event presence, while orders are fulfilled in partnership with a local ESAT sheltered workshop. The company holds no external funding and derives competitive positioning from exclusive producer relationships, JETRO listing, and 2024 Shizuoka Tea Award recognition for its Sencha Haruno Isagawa Bio.

Name

Les thés Ochaya

Legal name

SASU les thés OCHAYA

Website

https://ochaya.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Les thés Ochaya is a Franco-Japanese online tea boutique founded in 2009 that sells directly-sourced Japanese teas, rare international teas, and traditional tea accessories to French and Swiss consumers via DTC e-commerce, B2B wholesale, and Swiss market events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Tea Retail

NAICS

Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tea Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAG), Ethnic & International Online Food Marketplaces (AFAIAMAH), Coffee, Tea & Cacao Experiences (Roastery Tours, Tastings) (THAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Japanese tea retail
• Loose leaf tea
• Matcha products
• Tea ceremony accessories
• Specialty tea shop

Headquarters

HQ city

Lauris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Tea Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales of Japanese teas, rare teas from around the world, and tea accessories/objects. One-time purchase model with standard 100g pouch unit. Volume discount of 5% for 500g+ orders.
2. Wholesale/Professional: B2B wholesale section for professionals (restaurants, hotels, tea shops) with dedicated pricing and terms through the Espace Pro section.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Les thés Ochaya is an online specialty tea retailer that curates and sells Japanese teas (matcha, sencha, gyokuro, genmaicha, hojicha), rare and single-origin teas from Asia and Africa, and Japanese tea ceremony accessories. Products are sourced directly from producers, presented with detailed origin and tasting notes, and sold in single-unit, gift-pack, and subscription formats to individual consumers and to a smaller B2B/professional clientele.

Product overview

Les thés Ochaya is an online tea boutique specializing in Japanese teas and rare origin teas, operating as an e-commerce platform with direct-to-consumer sales. The product portfolio centers on Japanese green teas including sencha varieties (Sencha Haruno, Sencha Sakura, Sencha du Soleil), premium matcha products (Matcha Super Premium, Matcha Pâtissier), gyokuro, hojicha, and genmaicha. The company also offers flavored teas with Japanese inspiration (Ikebana, Yuzu), rooibos and herbal infusions, and a dedicated line of traditional Japanese tea accessories including kyusu teapots, chawan matcha bowls, chasen whisks, and artisanal tea storage boxes (Iconic and Washi series). Ochaya positions itself as a Franco-Japanese house sourcing directly from Japanese artisan producers since 2009, with proprietary tea blends and exclusive creations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Japanese green teas (matcha, sencha, gyokuro, genmaicha, hojicha) Loose-leaf Japanese green teas sold by grade and origin (e.g., Uji, Kagoshima, Shizuoka), targeted at individual tea drinkers and gifting occasions.
• Rare and single-origin teas (Oolong, Pu-erh, Darjeeling, Rooibos) Single-origin and rare teas from Asia and Africa sold loose-leaf, targeted at tea enthusiasts seeking SKUs beyond mainstream Japanese green tea.
• La Sélection Ochaya (exclusive private-label teas) Proprietary, co-developed blends exclusive to Les thés Ochaya, positioned as the brand's premium signature offering.
• Tea club / subscription box Recurring curated box of Japanese and rare teas delivered on a periodic cadence to subscribing consumers.
• Japanese tea ceremony accessories (chawan, chasen, kama, yunomi) Traditional Japanese tea-ceremony equipment and utensils sold alongside teas for home preparation and gifting.
• Espace Pro (professional / wholesale tea supply) Wholesale and professional supply of Japanese and rare teas for cafés, restaurants, hotels, tea rooms, and small resellers, accessible via a dedicated pro section.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Haruno Cooperative (Isagawa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Haruno village cooperative in Shizuoka's mountainous region at 650m altitude. About 30 residents collectively produce teas without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, protecting the village water supply. Producer of award-winning Sencha Haruno Isagawa bio.
• Japanese Artisan WorkshopscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with Japanese artisan workshops for tea ceremony objects (ceramics, washi paper boxes, metal tea canisters). Objects crafted by small Japanese artisans combining tradition and refinement for tea preparation and service.
• ESAT (Établissement et Service d'Aide par le Travail)minorOthersLocal sheltered workshop (ESAT) that prepares customer orders. Ochaya supports this social enterprise model where each order contributes to a more humane, responsible, and solidarity-based economic approach.
• Various International Tea ProducersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSourcing partnerships extending beyond Japan to China (Yunnan white tea, jasmine tea), Laos, Taiwan, and Australia for rare teas with unique vibrations and exceptional leaf quality.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dammann Frères: Established French tea brand with broad flavored and origin tea range, retail stores, and wholesale network. Comparable in geography, customer base (French tea drinkers), and product breadth.
• Adagio Teas: Online-first specialty tea retailer with broad origin and flavored tea catalog plus accessories. Comparable as a DTC e-commerce specialty tea retailer serving enthusiast consumers.
• Harney & Sons: American specialty tea company with strong DTC e-commerce and wholesale channels, offering single-origin and flavored teas. Comparable in DTC/wholesale hybrid model and premium loose-leaf assortment.
• Ippodo Tea Co. Long-established Kyoto-based Japanese tea house selling premium matcha, sencha, and gyokuro direct to consumers worldwide. Comparable product range, premium positioning, and direct-from-Japan supply model.
• Palais des Thés: Leading French specialty tea retailer with broad assortment of origin teas, signature blends, and physical boutiques. Directly comparable to Ochaya as a French-based DTC and B2B purveyor of premium loose-leaf teas.
• Mariage Frères: Iconic French tea house with global retail footprint and signature flavored blends. Comparable to Ochaya in its DTC/retail model, premium positioning, and curated single-origin assortment including Japanese teas.
• Lupicia: Japanese tea company with global DTC presence and broad assortment of Japanese green teas, matcha, and flavored blends. Highly comparable in focus on Japanese origin teas and e-commerce distribution.
• Thé de la Pagode: French specialty tea brand focusing on Asian-inspired teas with DTC e-commerce and retail presence. Comparable in French market focus, premium positioning, and curated Asian-origin assortment.

Regional players

• Yogitea: European-based organic tea and infusion brand with retail and wholesale presence in Germany and broader Europe. Comparable as a European specialty tea retailer with organic positioning and B2B distribution.

Broad incumbents

• La Maison du Thé (Kusmi Tea): Major French/European tea brand with broad flavored tea range, supermarket distribution, and brand stores. Comparable product category (premium and flavored teas) but much larger scale and broader market positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LesThesOchaya
• Instagraminstagram.com/ochaya_maison_des_thes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ochaya-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Les thés Ochaya