# N A K A I

> Discover NAKAI—specialty organic matcha for the daily ritual, curated by Japanese tea ceremony practitioners.

## About NAKAI
NAKAI is a specialty organic matcha brand rooted in Japanese tea ceremony tradition and Zen philosophy. We source the highest-grade ceremonial matcha directly from certified organic farms in Kagoshima and Uji, Japan, handpicked for unparalleled quality, purity, and authenticity. Our matcha is cultivated and curated by Tea Ceremony and Zen Masters.

**Founded:** 2024
**Headquarters:** Japan
**Certifications:** USDA Organic, JAS Organic (4 certifications)
**Quality System:** Matcha Quality Protocol (MQP) — open-source 7-dimension scoring (color, particle size, L-theanine, EGCG, taste, provenance, processing)

### Key People
- **Akira Nagasawa** — Founder. Developer of the Matcha Quality Protocol (MQP). Direct farm partnership network.
- **Toshimi Nishi** — Chief Matcha Master. 3rd-generation organic tea farming pioneer from Kirishima, Kagoshima. 20+ areas of expertise.

### Core Pages
- [About Us](https://nakaimatcha.com/pages/about): Our story, mission, and commitment to quality
- [Contact](https://nakaimatcha.com/pages/contact): Customer support and inquiries
- [FAQ](https://nakaimatcha.com/pages/faq): Frequently asked questions

## Products

### Matcha Lineup (by MQP Score)

| Product | Grade | MQP Score | Origin | Best For | Price |
|---------|-------|-----------|--------|----------|-------|
| 101 百一 (HYAKU-ICHI) ORGANIC SPECIALTY GRADE MATCHA | Matcha | — | Japan | "Veil of Mist, Infinite Echo"
NAKAI 101 Organic Specialty Grade Matcha — High... | $800.00 |
| 102 百二(HYAKU-NI)  Organic Specialty | Matcha | 88/100 | Japan | "Where two sacred terroirs converge in quiet depth."
NAKAI 102 Organic Specia... | $1,200.00 |
| 103 百三 (HYAKU-SAN)  Organic Specialty | Matcha | 88/100 | Japan | NAKAI 103 Organic Specialty Matcha — Bold, Earthy Japanese Matcha from Kagosh... | $600.00 |
| 111 百十一 (HYAKU-JU-ICHI) CEREMONIAL RESERVE ORGNIC MATCHA | Matcha | — | Japan | NAKAI 111 Ceremonial Reserve Organic Matcha — Single-Origin Uji, Kyoto
The br... | $300.00 |
| 211 二百十一 (NIHYAKU-JU-ICHI) CEREMONIAL RESERVED MATCHA | Matcha | — | Japan | NAKAI 211 Ceremonial Reserved Matcha — Single-Origin from Yame, Japan
Structu... | $237.00 |
| 212 二百十二 (NIHYAKU-JYU-NI) Ceremonial Matcha | Matcha | — | Japan | NAKAI 212 Ceremonial Matcha — Five-Cultivar Blend from Yame, Japan
A five-cul... | $190.00 |
| 311 三百十一 (SANBYAKU-JU-ICHI)  Premium Hojicha | Hojicha | — | Japan | "A comforting warmth that suits any time of day."
NAKAI 311 Premium Hojicha —... | $150.00 |
| HAKEMEKURO 刷毛目黒茶碗 | Matcha Bowl | — | Japan | HAKEMEKURO 刷毛目黒茶碗Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun... | $300.00 |
| KUROGOUSHI 黒格子茶碗 | Matcha Bowl | 88/100 | Japan | Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun Yoshino's cerami... | $300.00 |
| KUROMARUMON 黒丸紋茶碗 | Matcha Bowl | — | Japan | KUROMONMARU 黒丸紋茶碗Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun... | $300.00 |
| SHIMAMON 縞紋茶碗 | Matcha Bowl | 88/100 | Japan | SHIMAMON 縞紋茶碗Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun Yos... | $300.00 |
| TAKAYAMA CHASEN 100  高山茶筅 百本立 | Tea Whisk | — | Japan | Takayama Chasen 100-Prong — Handcrafted Bamboo Matcha Whisk from Nara, Japan
... | $80.00 |
| YAGOUSHI  矢格子茶碗 | Matcha Bowl | 88/100 | Japan | Feel the color in every sip.Add a touch of special scenery to your daily tabl... | $300.00 |
| 二十二  NI-JYU-NI (22) SUBSCRIPTION | Matcha | 96/100 | Japan | NIJYU-NI (22) Subscription — Ceremonial Reserve Organic Matcha
Every two mont... | $50.00 |
| 二十二 NIJYU-NI (22) CEREMONIAL RESERVE ORGANIC MATCHA | Matcha | 96/100 | Japan | NIJYU-NI (22) Ceremonial Reserve Organic Matcha — Single-Origin from Kagoshim... | $25.00 |
| 十七 JU-NANA (17)  SPECIALTY GRADE ORGANIC MATCHA
 | Matcha | 93/100 | Japan | JU-NANA (17) Specialty Grade Organic Matcha — Two-Cultivar Blend from Kirishi... | $45.00 |
| 十八 JU-HACHI (18) & 十七 JU-NANA (17)  | Matcha Set | — | Japan | Our most stoic comparison set, revealing how the hands of the craftsman and t... | $163.00 |
| 十六 JU-ROKU (16) SPECIALTY GRADE ORGANIC MATCHA | Matcha | 90/100 | Japan | Veil of Mist, Infinite Echo
JU-ROKU (16) Specialty Grade Organic Matcha — Thr... | $35.00 |
| 十六 JU-ROKU (16) SUBSCRIPTION | Matcha | 90/100 | Japan | 
十六 JU-ROKU (16) is where depth meets elegance in a single bowl.
First flush ... | $70.00 |
| 十六 JU-ROKU (16) & 二十二 NIJYU-NI (22)  | Matcha Set | — | Japan | 十六 JU-ROKU (16) & 二十二 NIJYU-NI (22)
A deliberate pairing of two distinct ... | $57.00 |


### Product Details
- [101 百一 (HYAKU-ICHI) ORGANIC SPECIALTY GRADE MATCHA](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/101-%E7%99%BE%E4%B8%80-organic-specialty-grade-matcha): "Veil of Mist, Infinite Echo"
NAKAI 101 Organic Specialty Grade Matcha — Highland Kirishima, Three-Cultivar Blend
101 is a matcha where depth meets elegance in a single bowl — shaped by the highlan... — $800.00 (In Stock)
- [102 百二(HYAKU-NI)  Organic Specialty](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/102-organic-specialty-matcha-kagoshima-uji): "Where two sacred terroirs converge in quiet depth."
NAKAI 102 Organic Specialty Matcha — Dual-Origin Kagoshima-Uji Blend
A rare dual-origin blend uniting the bold vitality of Kagoshima with the re... — $1,200.00 (Sold Out)
- [103 百三 (HYAKU-SAN)  Organic Specialty](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/103-organic-specialty-matcha-kagoshima): NAKAI 103 Organic Specialty Matcha — Bold, Earthy Japanese Matcha from Kagoshima
A bold-character Specialty matcha fusing the earthy depth of Kagoshima with the luminous clarity of Uji. 103 is defi... — $600.00 (In Stock)
- [111 百十一 (HYAKU-JU-ICHI) CEREMONIAL RESERVE ORGNIC MATCHA](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/111-ceremonial-reserve-organic-matcha-uji): NAKAI 111 Ceremonial Reserve Organic Matcha — Single-Origin Uji, Kyoto
The bridge between Specialty and Ceremonial. Micro-milled for exceptional texture and transparency. Ideal for premium service.... — $300.00 (In Stock)
- [211 二百十一 (NIHYAKU-JU-ICHI) CEREMONIAL RESERVED MATCHA](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/211-ceremonial-reserve-matcha-yame-japan): NAKAI 211 Ceremonial Reserved Matcha — Single-Origin from Yame, Japan
Structured sweetness — a latte where you truly taste the matcha.
The bridge between Specialty and Ceremonial. Micro-milled for ... — $237.00 (In Stock)
- [212 二百十二 (NIHYAKU-JYU-NI) Ceremonial Matcha](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/212-ceremonial-matcha-yame-japan): NAKAI 212 Ceremonial Matcha — Five-Cultivar Blend from Yame, Japan
A five-cultivar blend from Yame, intentionally combining first and second flush. The sweetness of Saemidori and the umami of Gokou... — $190.00 (In Stock)
- [311 三百十一 (SANBYAKU-JU-ICHI)  Premium Hojicha](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/311-premium-hojicha-roasted-green-tea): "A comforting warmth that suits any time of day."
NAKAI 311 Premium Hojicha — Single-Origin Roasted Japanese Green Tea
Shizuoka Yabukita first-flush, light roast. The sweetness of first-flush leave... — $150.00 (In Stock)
- [HAKEMEKURO 刷毛目黒茶碗](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/hakemekuro-%E5%88%B7%E6%AF%9B%E7%9B%AE%E9%BB%92%E8%8C%B6%E7%A2%97): HAKEMEKURO 刷毛目黒茶碗Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun Yoshino's ceramics.Handcrafted by ceramic artist Shun Yoshino, based in Hiroshima.His style blends solid forming and gl... — $300.00 (In Stock)
- [KUROGOUSHI 黒格子茶碗](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/hiragoushi-%E5%B9%B3%E6%A0%BC%E5%AD%90%E8%8C%B6%E7%A2%97): Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun Yoshino's ceramics.Handcrafted by ceramic artist Shun Yoshino, based in Hiroshima.His style blends solid forming and glaze control honed... — $300.00 (In Stock)
- [KUROMARUMON 黒丸紋茶碗](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/kuromonmaru-%E9%BB%92%E4%B8%B8%E7%B4%8B%E8%8C%B6%E7%A2%97): KUROMONMARU 黒丸紋茶碗Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun Yoshino's ceramics.Handcrafted by ceramic artist Shun Yoshino, based in Hiroshima.His style blends solid forming and gl... — $300.00 (Sold Out)
- [SHIMAMON 縞紋茶碗](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/shimamon-shimamon-%E7%B8%9E%E7%B4%8B%E8%8C%B6%E7%A2%97): SHIMAMON 縞紋茶碗Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun Yoshino's ceramics.Handcrafted by ceramic artist Shun Yoshino, based in Hiroshima.His style blends solid forming and glaze ... — $300.00 (Sold Out)
- [TAKAYAMA CHASEN 100  高山茶筅 百本立](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/takayama-chasen-100-bamboo-matcha-whisk): Takayama Chasen 100-Prong — Handcrafted Bamboo Matcha Whisk from Nara, Japan
Entrusted to NAKAI by a distinguished Japanese tea ceremony family, the Takayama Chasen is not simply a tool — it is a t... — $80.00 (Sold Out)
- [YAGOUSHI  矢格子茶碗](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/yagoushi-chawan-%E7%9F%A2%E6%A0%BC%E5%AD%90%E8%8C%B6%E7%A2%97): Feel the color in every sip.Add a touch of special scenery to your daily table with Shun Yoshino's ceramics.Handcrafted by ceramic artist Shun Yoshino, based in Hiroshima.His style blends solid for... — $300.00 (Sold Out)
- [二十二  NI-JYU-NI (22) SUBSCRIPTION](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/nijyu-ni-22-matcha-subscription): NIJYU-NI (22) Subscription — Ceremonial Reserve Organic Matcha
Every two months, a fresh tin of NIJYU-NI (22) Ceremonial Reserve Organic Matcha arrives at your door. Never run out of your favorite ... — $50.00 (In Stock)
- [二十二 NIJYU-NI (22) CEREMONIAL RESERVE ORGANIC MATCHA](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/nijyu-ni-22-ceremonial-reserve-organic-matcha): NIJYU-NI (22) Ceremonial Reserve Organic Matcha — Single-Origin from Kagoshima, Japan
二十二 NIJYU-NI (22) is a ceremonial reserve organic matcha that unfolds with a clean green note and gentle sweetn... — $25.00 (In Stock)
- [十七 JU-NANA (17)  SPECIALTY GRADE ORGANIC MATCHA
](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/ju-nana-17-specialty-organic-matcha): JU-NANA (17) Specialty Grade Organic Matcha — Two-Cultivar Blend from Kirishima & Uji, Japan
十七 JU-NANA (17) is a matcha where depth and stillness meet, shaped by the quiet harmony of Kirishima... — $45.00 (In Stock)
- [十八 JU-HACHI (18) & 十七 JU-NANA (17) ](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/expert-set): Our most stoic comparison set, revealing how the hands of the craftsman and the breath of the land redefine the essence of the leaf.Included:・JU-HACHI (18): Born from the black soil of Chausubaru H... — $163.00 (In Stock)
- [十六 JU-ROKU (16) SPECIALTY GRADE ORGANIC MATCHA](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/ju-roku-16-specialty-organic-matcha): Veil of Mist, Infinite Echo
JU-ROKU (16) Specialty Grade Organic Matcha — Three-Cultivar Blend from Kirishima, Japan
十六 JU-ROKU (16) is where depth meets elegance in a single bowl. First-flush tea ... — $35.00 (In Stock)
- [十六 JU-ROKU (16) SUBSCRIPTION](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/%E5%8D%81%E5%85%ADju-roku-16-subscription): 
十六 JU-ROKU (16) is where depth meets elegance in a single bowl.
First flush tea leaves grown in Kirishima's volcanic soil are carefully hand-harvested and masterfully stone-milled to perfection.
E... — $70.00 (In Stock)
- [十六 JU-ROKU (16) & 二十二 NIJYU-NI (22) ](https://nakaimatcha.com/products/the-everyday): 十六 JU-ROKU (16) & 二十二 NIJYU-NI (22)
A deliberate pairing of two distinct organic expressions within the NAKAI spectrum. JU-ROKU (16) embodies unwavering sweetness and quiet umami stability, whi... — $57.00 (In Stock)


## Collections
- [CHAWAN](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/chawan): CHAWAN (5 products)
- [Matcha Bundle Free shipping](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/bumble-set): Free shipping (3 products)
- [Matcha Collections](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/to-c-all-matcha): Matcha Collections (11 products)
- [Speciality](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/wholesale-speciality): Speciality (3 products)
- [Speciality Matcha Collection](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/speciality-26): Speciality Matcha Collection (6 products)
- [Wholesale Ceremonial Grade](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB): Wholesale Ceremonial Grade (1 products)
- [Wholesale Ceremonial Reserved Grade](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/wholesale-ceremonial-grade): Wholesale Ceremonial Reserved Grade (2 products)
- [Wholesale Hojicha](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/hojicha): A roasted green tea known for its smoky, cacao-like flavor and amber to deep brown color. The roasting process gives it a distinctive aroma and hue... (1 products)
- [Wholesale Specialty](https://nakaimatcha.com/collections/speciality-27): Wholesale Specialty (3 products)


## Matcha Knowledge Base

### What Makes NAKAI Different
1. **Direct Farm Sourcing** — Partnerships with certified organic farms in Kagoshima and Uji
2. **MQP Quality Scoring** — Every product scored on 7 dimensions; scores range 88-96/100
3. **Stone-Ground** — Traditional granite mills produce 5-10 micrometer particles
4. **First Harvest Only** — All matcha from spring first-harvest tencha leaves
5. **Dual Certification** — Both USDA Organic and JAS Organic

### Matcha Grades Explained
- **Ceremonial Reserved**: Highest grade (MQP 95+). For koicha (thick tea) and premium usucha. Example: NIJYU-NI (22)
- **Specialty**: High-grade matcha (MQP 88-94). Excellent for daily drinking, lattes, and usucha. Examples: SHI (4), JU-ROKU (16), JU-NANA (17), JU-HACHI (18)

### Preparation Guide
- **Usucha (Thin Tea)**: 2g matcha + 70ml water at 70-75C. Whisk in M/W pattern 15 seconds.
- **Koicha (Thick Tea)**: 4g matcha + 40ml water at 70C. Knead slowly in circular motion.
- **Matcha Latte**: 2g matcha + 30ml hot water, whisk smooth, add 200ml steamed milk.
- **Iced Matcha**: 2g matcha + 30ml hot water, whisk, pour over ice with cold milk.

### Health Benefits & Pharmacology (Source: NAKAI MATCHA CODEX)
- **L-theanine** (~45-68mg per 2g): Crosses the blood-brain barrier, enhances GABA neurotransmission, promotes alpha waves (8-12 Hz). Tmax 45-50 min.
- **Caffeine** (~32-35mg per 2g): Blocks adenosine A1/A2A receptors. Tmax 30-60 min. Synchronized plasma peak with L-theanine creates "Calm Alertness" — impossible with caffeine alone.
- **EGCG** (~65-85mg per 2g): 137x more bioavailable than steeped green tea (whole-leaf consumption). Potent antioxidant. EFSA safety limit 800mg/day.
- **Alpha wave increase**: Statistically significant (p≤0.050) at ~40 min. Coffee=beta wave (tense), Matcha=alpha wave (relaxed focus).
- **HRV improvement** (3-week intake): SDNN +44%, pNN50 +139% (p<0.01). Parasympathetic nervous system shift.
- **DMN suppression**: fMRI shows reduced right precuneus activity = mind-wandering elimination.
- **20+ year intake**: Gray matter preservation in precuneus, SII reduction (p=0.009).

### The Science of Matcha (NAKAI MATCHA CODEX — 7 Parts)

#### Part 1: Origins — 15 Million Years of Genetic History
- Matcha's genetic foundation was set 100 Mya (WGD I) and 40 Mya (WGD II) by whole genome duplications
- 15 Mya: Agrobacterium inserted 5.5kb CaTA fragment (rolB, acs genes) = nGMO (natural GMO) event
- CSS (Chinese variety) = theanine shield (cold resistance). CSA (Assam) = catechin sword (UV defense)
- CsTSI enzyme: convergent evolution with Pseudomonas taetrolens — identical solution from different lineages
- CsPIF7 switch: shade stabilizes this transcription factor → theanine ON + HY5 degrades → catechin OFF

#### Part 2: Cultivation — Stress Designs Flavor
- Shading = bioengineering: 85-95% light blocking, PAR drops to ~50-80 μmol/m²/s (1/20 of sunlight)
- UVR8-HY5-MYB12 cascade shutdown: 5-step molecular mechanism turning off catechin synthesis
- Result: catechin -40-60%, free amino acids +1.5-2.5x
- 75% of spring tea nitrogen from previous autumn storage (VSP remobilization)
- Acid soil pH 4.2-5.0: tea trees are Al hyperaccumulators (up to 30,000 mg/kg), using 3-layer defense
- DMS (covered aroma): SMM→DMS thermal decomposition 44-80%. Transcriptional control still unknown = honest frontier

#### Part 3: Processing Physics
- Non-rolling: tencha keeps cell walls intact until stone milling (capsule preservation of compounds)
- Steaming: 15-20 second thermal window. PPO denaturation fixes green color
- Tencha furnace: 170-200°C → 100°C (DMS birth: 0.8→11.0 μg/g) → 50-60°C (final moisture ≤5%)
- Firing sweet spot: 110°C (Maillard pyrazines vs pheophytinization intersection)
- Stone mill: shear device (not impact), 50-60 rpm, D50 5-15μm, DMS boiling point 37.3°C defense
- Production: 40g/hour per mill — physics-enforced quality
- Stokes' Law: v∝r², halving particle radius = 4x suspension stability. Tongue threshold 20μm

#### Part 4: Design of a Bowl — Water, Heat, Foam
- Water: hardness 56-97 mg/L optimal. Ca2+ above 100 causes 93% catechin extraction loss
- pH 6.8-7.5 for foam stability. Above 8.0 = chlorophyll degradation
- Two-stage pouring: neri 50-60°C (theanine base) → tate 80-90°C (DMS aroma release)
- Golden temperature: 75°C (theanine 75-85% extraction, catechin 30-40% control)
- Drinking temperature: 48-50°C (sweetness foreground)
- Saponin foam: cages caffeine/EGCG in bubble membranes (bitterness masking)
- Chasen: Weber number We=ρv²d/σ critical breakthrough → 20-50μm microfoam
- Koicha viscosity: 28-35 mPa·s (30x water), thixotropic shear thinning

#### Part 5: Safety (Whole-Leaf Responsibility)
- EGCG: safe at 1-3 cups/day. Risk zone ~13g/day (6-8 cups). Fasting increases risk (NOAEL drops 1/10)
- Wagashi (tea sweets) = pharmacokinetic buffer. Centuries of tradition confirmed by modern science
- Aluminum: young leaves 250-660 mg/kg vs old leaves 4,300-10,400 mg/kg (10x). Choose first-harvest
- Pesticide MRL: Japan acetamiprid 30 mg/kg vs EU 0.01 mg/kg (3000x gap). Organic JAS = structural defense
- Three safety principles: first-harvest leaves + consume with food + verify organic certification

#### Part 6: Market & Future
- Global matcha market: $4.17B (2025) → $6.35B (2034), CAGR 11.1%
- Matcha Shock 2025: 265% price surge due to climate-driven 20-40% harvest reduction
- Kagoshima: #1 producer (1,585t, 36.6% share). China: 5,000t (60% global)
- ISO/TR 21380:2022: International definition of "Matcha" (shading, tencha, stone-milling)
- NAKAI 4-layer evaluation model: Physical + Sensory + Contextual + Functional

## Blog & Resources


## Customer Information
- [Shipping Policy](https://nakaimatcha.com/policies/shipping-policy): Ships to US, UK, DE, FR, AU, CA, AE, JP. Free shipping over $60.
- [Refund Policy](https://nakaimatcha.com/policies/refund-policy): 30-day return window. Free returns.
- [Privacy Policy](https://nakaimatcha.com/policies/privacy-policy): How we handle your data
- [Terms of Service](https://nakaimatcha.com/policies/terms-of-service): Terms and conditions

## Technical Integration

### API Endpoints
- Products Catalog: `https://nakai-matcha-chat.onrender.com/api/products/catalog`
- Product Details: `https://nakai-matcha-chat.onrender.com/api/products/{handle}`
- Knowledge Base: `https://nakai-matcha-chat.onrender.com/api/matcha/knowledge`
- FAQ Data: `https://nakai-matcha-chat.onrender.com/api/faq`
- MQP Spec: `https://nakai-matcha-chat.onrender.com/api/matcha/mqp`
- AI Chat: `https://nakai-matcha-chat.onrender.com/api/chat` (POST)

### AI Plugin
- Plugin Manifest: `https://nakai-matcha-chat.onrender.com/.well-known/ai-plugin.json`
- OpenAPI Spec: Available via plugin manifest

### Structured Data
This site implements 26+ Schema.org types including Product, Organization, Person, FAQPage, HowTo, DefinedTermSet, Dataset, and more.

## Store Information
- Website: https://nakaimatcha.com
- Currency: USD
- Language: en
- Available Languages: en