Moya Sencha Organic Japanese Green Tea Bags x15

Moya Matcha was founded by Hitomi Saito, a Japanese chef and tea specialist who grew up in Kanazawa prefecture. Though her family hoped she would enter their construction business, Hitomi followed her own path, studying business administration before enrolling at Tokyo Seika Gakko cooking school. Alongside her culinary training, she immersed herself in the art of the Japanese tea ceremony and deepened her understanding of food as a tool for wellbeing through macrobiotic studies at the renowned Kushi Institute.

Her early career reflected this blend of tradition and innovation. After three years teaching at ABC Cooking Studio in Tokyo, Hitomi moved to Paris to explore international cuisines. There she trained at Le Cordon Bleu, graduating in 2010, and worked under Chef William Ledeuil at Ze Kitchen Galerie in Saint-Germain des Prés. This period shaped her culinary philosophy—merging centuries-old traditions with new flavours and techniques.

Hitomi went on to cook for high-profile clients, including the American diplomatic corps in Paris and fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. These experiences, combined with her roots in Japanese food culture, reinforced her desire to share the qualities of Japanese tea with a wider audience. She became particularly passionate about organic matcha, not only for its ceremonial beauty but also for its health benefits and versatility in modern cooking.

By 2013, she was actively promoting matcha in Europe, introducing chefs and consumers to its uses beyond the traditional tea bowl. In 2015, she co-founded Moya Tea—today best known as Moya Matcha—dedicated to high-quality, organically grown Japanese green teas sourced from small family farms, especially in the famed Uji region of Kyoto.

Moya Matcha stands out for its respect for tradition combined with a spirit of innovation. The brand prioritises pesticide-free cultivation, small-batch processing, and fast shipping to preserve freshness. At the same time, it embraces creative uses of matcha that echo Hitomi’s own training.