The Green Tea Club is the free email newsletter of Japanese Green Tea Co., written by Kei Nishida — tea stories, recipes, product deep-dives, event news, and favorite finds from Japan, delivered straight to your inbox. Below is an archive of selected past issues so you can see what the club is like. Want the next issue? Join the Green Tea Club here — it's free.
2026
- October 1, 2026 — 5 Rival Katana Schools, Phoenix Japanese Food Expo, Benifuuki Powder & Aki Autumn Blend — A new History of Katana video on the five sword schools, where to find us in Phoenix on October 5, and, just in case you missed them, Benifuuki powder in a 50g pouch and the Aki autumn blend.
- September 21, 2026 — Espresso Bomb, Aki Autumn Blend, Benifuuki Powder 50g, Koshu Half Bottle & Katana — The espresso bomb video, the Aki autumn blend, Benifuuki powder in a new 50g pouch, the Koshu half bottle, a new History of Katana episode, and where to find us in San Diego and Ohio.
- September 11, 2026 — Aki Autumn Blend, What Is Mocha & 1,300 Years of Japanese Wine — The limited-time Aki Autumn Blend from Hokkaido, what “mocha” really means in Japan, the history of Japanese wine (and the Massan connection), Hanbun, Aoi and the BALMUDA 15% code, and a thank-you for our #7 in USA TODAY 10Best.
- August 29, 2026 — Introducing Dream of Japan Rewards — One points balance across tea, coffee, knives and wine, why we replaced Smile.io with something we wrote ourselves, and the new 1-minute summary (ちょい読み) on every article.
- August 25, 2026 — BALMUDA Fan, Muscat Bailey A, Katana Video & Last Week for Natsu — The BALMUDA NatureWind Studio arrives in the USA with a reader code, Japan's own red wine grape and the man who bred it, a new History of Katana video, and the final week for the Natsu summer coffee.
- August 12, 2026 — Ochugen, Maeve & Natsu — Japan's mid-summer gift custom, the miracle grape found in a Fujisawa backyard, and the last of the summer coffee.
- July 22, 2026 — Natsu Summer Blend, Dirty Matcha & Summer Market — Our Hokkaido summer coffee arrives and the kisetsu gentei (季節限定) tradition behind it, how to make a dirty matcha, the Summer Market in San Diego, and our USA TODAY 10Best nomination.
- June 19, 2026 — Kawaii Meets Matcha — Why kawaii culture and matcha keep showing up together everywhere, plus an easy recipe for Totoro-shaped matcha shortbread cookies.
- June 12, 2026 — Yama Sushi — Yama Sushi Marketplace in Los Angeles now carries our products — and the delicious mystery of who really invented the California roll.
- April 29, 2026 — Balmuda & Cuzen Matcha Arrive in Our Shop — We become an official Balmuda and Cuzen Matcha retailer, with the story of how founder Eijiro Tsukada created fresh countertop matcha.
- April 2, 2026 — Mario, OC Japan Fair & the Most Dangerous Katana — Super Mario's surprising Kyoto green tea connection, Yoshi matcha cookies, OC Japan Fair, and History of Katana Season 1 complete.
- March 27, 2026 — Sakura Coffee & the Sumiyaki Machine — Our first-ever spring seasonal Sakura Blend coffee, plus a look inside the charcoal sumiyaki roasting machine that roasts every bean.
- March 5, 2026 — Hojicha Powder & More — Hojicha powder finally lands in the store, Mrs. Donabe's new cookbook, and the legend of the Yamanbagiri Kunihiro katana.
- February 12, 2026 — Valentine Roundup — A recap video from the Okayama Kobo pop-up, Benifuki allergy-relief tea for hay-fever season, and a new History of Katana episode.
- February 4, 2026 — Okayama Kobo — Beloved Japanese bakery Okayama Kobo adds our Yokohama Peach to its regular menu, plus a pop-up and Takumi Alley weekend in Anaheim.
- January 16, 2026 — Hojicha Party — A new Hojicha Banana Daifuku (mochi) video recipe, now much easier to make with our powdered hojicha.
2025
- December 29, 2025 — Wrap of the Year: Osaka Honey — Closing out 2025 with the story of Osaka Honey and a video recipe for tea-poached pears with miso caramel sauce.
- December 2, 2025 — Matcha Design Contest Result — The result of the matcha package design vote, and the five-month journey to package "the best matcha in the world."
- September 3, 2025 — Coffee Fest Recap & Sake Day — A recap of Coffee Fest with Balmuda, plus LB Sake Day and an introduction to Japan's kakuuchi standing-bar culture.
- August 1, 2025 — Tokyo Peppermint & Yokohama Peach — Two brand-new teas debut, an interview with package designer Miki Pon, and a peppermint green tea ice cream video recipe.
- July 18, 2025 — Portland vs Los Angeles — Kiriko in Portland now carries our tea, a visit to Snow Peak Campfield in Long Beach, WA, and a Torrance market weekend.
- June 27, 2025 — OCMA & New Stories — Back at the MAUM Market at OCMA, with a recap video and a roundup of new reader-suggested stories.
- June 12, 2025 — Which Matcha Design Do You Like? — A reader vote on the award-winning ceremonial matcha's new package: washi paper or a tin with gold paint?
- June 10, 2025 — Balmuda MoonKettle — Inside Balmuda's MoonKettle launch event in the USA, and our full review of the moon-like kettle.
- May 31, 2025 — Instagram Live & San Diego Event — Our first San Diego event at Bread & Salt, the recording of Kei's first Instagram Live, and a new listen-to-this-email feature.
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