Ippodo Tea Co.

Matcha is stone-ground tea powder made from shade-grown tencha green tea leaves. Japan's traditional production centers are Uji (Kyoto), Nishio (Aichi), and Shizuoka. Uji matcha and Nishio matcha are protected geographical indications. Export demand has grown sharply since the 2010s.

Hojicha is a Japanese green tea that has been roasted at high temperature, producing a distinctive toasty, low-astringency, low-caffeine beverage. The powdered form is used in ice cream, baked goods, specialty lattes, and confectionery. Export demand has grown as a caffeine-lower alternative to matcha.

Sencha is the most widely consumed Japanese green tea. The extract form is spray-dried or concentrated for use in beverages, supplements, and functional foods. Catechins, L-theanine, caffeine, and chlorophyll are key actives. Several FFC products cite sencha polyphenol or specific catechin content for metabolism claims.

Mugicha is a Japanese roasted barley tea, naturally caffeine-free and served cold in summer as a household staple. Export applications include children's beverage ranges and caffeine-free functional beverage lines. Note: mugicha contains barley gluten.