We drink a lot of matcha. Over the years we’ve built up the full setup - whisks, bowls, scoops, frothers, a rotation of milks and sweeteners. It makes a great cup, but it’s a lot of stuff, and most people aren’t going to do all that.
Every time we’d share matcha with friends, they’d like it but never make it on their own. Too many steps, too many things to buy. The gap between wanting matcha and actually drinking it was too wide.
Ascent Tea is our attempt to close that gap. Ceremonial-grade matcha in a stick, a sweetener on the side, and nothing else to think about.
We’re a married couple based in San Francisco and Seattle, flying between the two often. Between us, we speak fluent Japanese and spend several weeks in Japan every year. Matcha has been part of our daily routine for years, and Ascent Tea grew out of wanting to make that routine easier to share.
Matcha, Simplified
It’s great that matcha has gone mainstream - there are so many amazing options now. But high-quality matcha often comes with a learning curve: special tools, precise ratios, a bit of practice to get right. We wanted to change that.
You shouldn’t have to choose between quality and convenience. A great cup of matcha shouldn’t require a ceremony - it should be two minutes and a whisk, or just hot water and a spoon if that’s all you have.
Why Stick Packs
Once a tin of matcha is opened, it naturally starts to oxidize - the color fades and the flavor changes over time. That’s just how matcha works. Our sticks solve this by keeping each 2g portion individually sealed until the moment you use it, so day twenty tastes just as fresh as day one.
Our Black Sesame blend works the same way - roasted black sesame is milled directly into the matcha stick, so every serving stays fresh and balanced. Sticks are portable too - toss a few in your bag and you have ceremonial-grade matcha wherever you go.
More Than Matcha
We pair our matcha with ingredients that are both delicious and genuinely good for you.
Black sesame brings nutty depth plus calcium, iron, and healthy fats - one of the most classic pairings for matcha. Our sweetener sticks add clean sweetness with no aftertaste, and you use as much or as little as you want. Over time we’ll add more flavors like sakura, hojicha, and kinako.
Everything in One Box
Every Ascent kit comes with ten matcha sticks and ten sweetener sticks. Pour, whisk, sweeten to taste, and that’s it.
No measuring, no guesswork, no stale powder. Just tear, pour, and enjoy.
Small Batches, On Purpose
We keep the selection tight on purpose - small production runs, close relationships with our suppliers, and a high bar for every kit that ships.
As we grow, we’ll add new flavors, but only when they’re right. What we have stays stocked; new ones join when they meet our standard.
We’d rather get it right than rush to scale before we’re ready.
Where It Comes From
Our matcha is sourced directly from Japan. We travel there often, speak the language, and are building direct relationships with producers who share our focus on quality.
Sourcing is something we take seriously. As we grow, we’ll share more about the people and workshops behind each ingredient.
First-harvest, shade-grown, stone-ground. The same quality served in Japanese tea ceremonies.
Every ingredient sourced directly from producers we trust.
No measuring, no waste. Each stick is exactly one perfect serving.
No artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or preservatives. Just the ingredient, sealed fresh.