At Nio Teas, every matcha is graded Latte, Entry, Premium or Superior. Premium Grade is our refined ceremonial tier: first-harvest leaf (ichibancha), shaded for an extended period before picking, with only the finest young leaves selected. It brings very high umami, very low bitterness and minimal astringency, and it is smooth enough for koicha, the thick preparation, as well as usucha.
The Kagoshima Matcha Sae Sakamoto sits in Premium Grade because of how it drinks. The Saemidori cultivar is highly prized for premium teas and takes extra skill and labour to grow, and here a mellow sweetness leads into a strong savoury core, finished by a light acidity and a subtle grassy hint without dryness.
Cultivar: SaemidoriTea variety
The Kagoshima Matcha Sae Sakamoto gets its name because it is made using the saemidori cultivar, one of the most sought after tea plant varieties for Japanese green tea.
Saemidori is a tea plant variety that is highly prized and often used in premium Japanese green teas such as gyokuro and matcha. Mr. Sakamoto utilizes this cultivar in his Kagoshima Matcha Sae Sakamoto to create a uniquely rich and sweet gyokuro tea. Saemidori is known for its delicate nature, which requires extra skill and labor to cultivate, making the resulting gyokuro teas even more special.
Preparation & Servings30 g = 15 servings · 60 g = 30 servings
Whisked thin as usucha, 2 g of matcha makes one bowl.
Soak the bamboo whisk — 2–3 minutes before first use, 30–60 seconds for daily use.
Sift 2 g (1 tsp) of matcha, about 2 chashaku scoops, into your bowl.
Heat water to 70°C / 160°F.
Add 10 ml (1 tbsp) of water and work it into a smooth paste with no clumps.
Add the rest of the water — 80 ml / ⅓ cup in total.
Whisk in quick W motions for 15–30 seconds.
Enjoy your matcha, then rinse the whisk, let it air-dry and store it on its holder.
Tea Artisan: SakamotoさんKagoshima
The Kagoshima Matcha Sae Sakamoto is produced by Mr. Sakamoto, the legendary Organic green tea farmer in Southern Japan. Mr. Sakamoto has been working in the tea industry for decades, and during that time he has discovered a sustainable way to make super flavorful gyokuro and matcha tea without using pesticides or chemicals.
Every time we meet Mr. Sakamoto, we are consistently impressed by his unwavering dedication to his tea field. Rather than taking shortcuts, he has invested time in developing his own organic fertilizer, using a blend of natural compounds, including organic compost and a sedimentary rock mulch.
By utilizing his own fertilizer, Mr. Sakamoto provides essential nutrients to his tea plants' soil, resulting in the production of robust and healthy tea leaves while simultaneously preserving the natural ecosystem. While Mr. Sakamoto is most well-known for the production of gyokuro tea, he can use these long shaded tea plants to produce a delicious matcha as well.
Origin: ShibushiJapan
As the name would suggest, the Kagoshima Matcha Sae Sakamoto is grown in Kagoshima Japan, in the far south of the island of Kyushu. More specifically, the tea is grown in the town of Shibushi, in an area that benefits from warm, subtropical climates, seasonal rainfall and rich, volcanic soils.
Why choose Nio Teas?
For us, tea is more than a beverage—it’s a way of life. We’ve spent years visiting tea farms across Japan, tasting teas with the people who grow them and building lasting, direct relationships. We believe this is the most sustainable way to source tea: fewer intermediaries, greater traceability and a closer connection between farmer and drinker.
Every tea is 100% pesticide-free and carefully selected for its taste, origin and craftsmanship. Whether you’re discovering Japanese tea or comparing cultivars and terroirs, you’ll find honest tasting notes, precise brewing guidance and real support to help you get the best from every cup.
Rich in catechins and other naturally occurring antioxidants.
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Chlorophyll
Naturally rich in chlorophyll, the pigment behind matcha’s vibrant green colour.
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Potassium & Calcium
Naturally occurring minerals that contribute to matcha’s nutritional profile.
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L-theanine
An amino acid naturally found in tea, associated with a calm, focused feeling.
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Vitamins A, C, E & K
Contains a range of vitamins naturally present in the whole tea leaf.
Why Buy Your Matcha from Nio Teas
No middlemen, no pesticides, no risk.
30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Try it with confidence. If it isn’t right for you, contact us within 30 days.
11 Japanese Matcha Farmers
Our matcha brings together the craft and regional expertise of 11 partner farmers across Japan.
Direct from Farmer to Bowl
We build lasting relationships with our farmers for fewer intermediaries and greater traceability.
100% Pesticide-Free Matcha
Every matcha is grown without pesticides, then personally tasted and selected by our team.
How to Make Matcha Like a Pro
Discover the art of preparing the perfect bowl of matcha, from choosing the right tools to mastering the traditional whisking technique.
Prepare
Soak the bamboo whisk. First use: 2–3 minutes · Daily use: 30–60 seconds. Sift 2 g (1 tsp) of matcha, or 2 chashaku scoops, into the bowl.
Make the Paste
Heat water to 70°C / 160°F. Add 10 ml (1 tbsp) of water and combine into a smooth matcha paste with no clumps.
Whisk
Add the rest of the water, 80 ml / ⅓ cup in total. Whisk in quick W motions for 15–30 seconds.
Enjoy & Care
Enjoy your matcha. Rinse, air-dry and store the whisk on its holder.
Not All Matcha is Created Equal.
Nio Teas Premium Grade compared side by side with the same grade purchased on Amazon.
Legendary organic tea farmer in Shibushi.
Farmer: Sakamotoさん
Mr. Sakamoto is a legendary organic green tea farmer in Shibushi, Kagoshima. Over decades in the tea industry he has found a sustainable way to make flavourful gyokuro and matcha without pesticides or chemicals, using an organic fertiliser he developed himself from organic compost and a sedimentary rock mulch.
Why Organic Matcha Fields Make a Difference
Tea plants absorb everything from the soil, making pesticide-free farming especially important. The farmers we work with have found a way to grow delicious tea without harming the natural ecosystem.
Nio teas has been my favourite place to purchase good quality teas for a while now, and still they never disappoint me. Their teas are excellent quality, however, I’d like to give more attention to customer service - Nio team has been very kind and helpful each time I had any sort of problem. Their customer service never disappoints, they are very attentive and quick in responding to any queries, hence why I’ve been a loyal customer for a while now.
Apr 1, 2026
5 out of 5 stars
5/5
Sean
My favorite vendor for Japanese organic loose leaf green teas. They are sourcing some of the best organic teas out of Japan and supporting family farmers and the growing organic tea industry as a whole.I have ordered from every vendor for years and Nio consistently has the best prices and selection overall. They provide top notch customer service and fast shipping as well. Highly recommended 🍃
Shipping is free once your order passes the threshold for your country — USD 54.99 · EUR 54.99 · GBP 44.99 · CHF 49.99 · CAD 74.99 · DKK 399 · SEK 599 · PLN 229 · CZK 1,290. Everywhere else it's the equivalent of USD 54.99, converted automatically. Below the threshold a flat rate applies, always shown at checkout before you pay.
We ship from warehouses in the US, the EU and Japan — whichever is closest to you. US and EU orders arrive in 4–12 business days; the handful of countries served from Japan take around 10. Business days count from dispatch rather than from when you order, and exclude weekends and public holidays. You'll get a tracking number by email the moment your parcel leaves the warehouse.
We only buy from fields grown without pesticides or chemicals. We ask each farmer directly how they manage their land, visit the plantation and processing facility ourselves, taste every harvest before committing, and check that the biodiversity around the fields is alive. Small family farms don't always carry paperwork — so we verify it in person instead.
Japanese green tea covers an enormous range, and choosing online isn't easy. If you've tried yours and it isn't for you, email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a line on what you didn't enjoy. We'll send a different tea of equal or lower value, free. Nothing to post back — keep it, share it, or try brewing it cooler. Once per order.
Email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a photo. We'll approve it, cover the return postage with a prepaid label or a reimbursement, and refund you — no restocking fee. Refunds go to your original payment method within 2 business days of the return reaching us; your bank may take another 5–20 to show it.
Unopened items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days. Tea is sealed for hygiene, so opened packs can't come back — but the swap above covers exactly that situation. Return postage is yours unless the item arrived damaged, defective or incorrect.
Orders to the US and EU ship domestically from our local warehouse, so there's no customs charge and no duty. A small number of destinations are served from our Japan warehouse, where your own customs authority may apply import duty, VAT or a carrier handling fee on delivery. Those are set by your country, not by us. Ask before you order and we'll help you check.
Upon opening the bag, you're immediately met with a very distinct sencha/gyokuro aroma. It's not the typical matcha smell, and there's very little bitterness to it. Once brewed, it develops a beautiful floral flavour, almost like a blend between a Chinese tea and sencha.
I got five different matcha last time. I like this one Sae Sakamoto the most. It smell really nice, flowery and sweet taste. Even this was not the most expensive but the quality is so satisfied.
Yet another Matcha masterpiece—though only, of course, if you enjoy that slightly bitter, grassy flavor that lifts the spirits like a ritual, evoking the dew and the herbal scent of dawn. It is a hymn to starting the day with gratitude and a positive outlook, appreciating the care and passion poured into this energizing elixir by those who worked so hard to create it!🧘♂️🫶🍵
Invigorating and complex flavours reminiscent of gyokuru teas I've tried. A beautiful green colour with vegetal, seaweed and spice aromas becoming prominent as it blends to a smooth paste. The flavours move between umami and sweet with good levels of bitters and acidity to give it a pleasant complexity.
Thick, smooth with a lingering, cleansing almost minty menthol finish; the overall experience is energizing and intriguing. I would happily have this as my go-to morning matcha but its multi-layered depths deserve more space and time for contemplation.
This matcha has a mild taste profile, great for those beginning to drink matcha in usucha style. It has low bitterness, has an earthy taste with rich umami. Can be used in matcha latte for those beginning to drink matcha, but don’t recommend in matcha lattes for seasoned matcha drinkers (because then the matcha taste would be too mild).
I only rate it 4stars not 5 because nio teas is not transparent with their discounts. Be aware that the original prices listed is not true to the teas actual pricing history. They often race prices, make the “orginal” prices higher, but falsely claim there is a discount, when in fact there is none.
But if you can look past that, all nio teas are superb quality, regardless of their inauthentic discounts.
Absolutely love this matcha. It’s so smooth and subtly sweet. It’s also a favorite amongst my guest when I do matcha tastings. You can literally smell the freshness and sweet notes when you open the bag. 11/10 for me.
Honestly I love this matcha and its hard to find a good matcha in store in America, I usually go for the taste brand but this one is nice and green , and taste good , its not bitter , definitely worth the buy!!
I love the taste of the matcha! It's bold and has a flowery note! It has the perfect amount of umami and sweetness for a latte, too. I haven't tried drinking it straight yet, but I will someday.
This has such a creamy texture, 2 grams with 60 mL water at 70 C is just perfection. No bitterness nor astringency is present. It lasts on the palate very long and the subtle sweetness coming from behind is so nice. I can drink this matcha everyday.
I can't stop drinking this matcha! I bought the 80g option, and it was the best decision. The flavor profile of this matcha is my absolute favorite: nutty and earthy. I absolutely love it and will definitely continue repurchasing.
I tried this matcha and absolutely loved it! The flavor was smooth, rich, and not too bitter. It mixed really well and had a beautiful, vibrant green color. I’ve tried a few different brands, and this one is definitely my favorite so far. Great quality—highly recommend!
I like the sweetness and thickness of this matcha. Also I appreciate the low acidity.
I usually drink Masudaen Makinohara but it was out of stock. This is a good substitute.
When I opended the macha, I was a bit disappointed by the colour, which is not as bright green as my other ceremonial matchas. I am trying to show it in the video. I am not sure you can actually see much difference there. Anyway, when I tried it I was so pleasantly surprised! It is trully one of the best matchas I have tried (And I drink a lot of it!). It's so sweet, velvety, and deep in taste. It doesn't have any of the bitterness some teas can have. I wish I had words to describe it better. It feels kind of round and comforting and I will definitely buy this one again.
This special matcha ist clearly one of the best i ever tasted. The sweetness is incredible with a perfectly rounded umami flavor. It wisks up super easy and creates a nice and sick foam. I can highly recommend it.
The matcha has a very strong flavour. I am used to drinking matcha daily and my personal experience with this specific matcha is that 2g is more then enough for 1 portion. The foam is incredible and the flavour is very strong.
I recommend this matcha if you like strong pronounced flavours.
This matcha is indeed extremely creamy with a hint of sweetness. The flavour lingers in the mouth for a really long time and can be made into a very strong koicha tea without showing too much bitterness. Delicate.
The most floral of all that I’ve tried so far. Reminds me of honeysuckle and white chocolate.
Body is thick, creamy, and smooth all the way through; no excessive chalkiness or astringency near the end.
There is some bitterness but it doesn’t overpower the experience.
Pretty good!
