ANBAN TEA “REN” Brand Story

To Build A Bridge of Integrity
Between The Artisan And The World.

Kyoto has long been known around the world as the home of Japanese tea.
Especially in Uji, the culture of matcha has been cherished for more than a thousand years, supporting both daily life and peace of mind.

We, as sisters, have always loved matcha as much as we love coffee.
When we first launched ANBAN, we were fortunate to meet the long-established Kyoto tea house Shimizu Ippoen.
We were deeply moved by the richness of their tea when we visited their café, and later they even created a special roasted tea (houjicha) for ANBAN—though it is no longer available today.

Now, in 2025, ANBAN celebrates its 13th anniversary.
As a milestone year, we wanted to offer something that would bring even more joy to our customers.
And so, we returned once again to Kyoto’s tea.
With a new blend created by Shimizu Ippoen, ANBAN TEA “REN” was born.

The Meaning Behind the Name — “REN”

The character “Ren Matcha (煉 (REN)” carries the meaning “Refinement,” symbolizing tea leaves carefully crafted and polished to their purest flavor.
It reflects the very essence of matcha-making: tea leaves carefully stone-ground to draw out their aroma, vibrant color, and depth of flavor.

At the same time, the word REN is simple, memorable, and powerful even for those outside Japan.
For us, it represents matcha that honors tradition while being refined for modern life.

That is the spirit we have infused into ANBAN TEA “REN.”

Earning Trust

Building this company wasn’t easy. Akiko spent years traveling and learning. She had to earn the trust of the tea masters, who were rightfully skeptical of outsiders. She listened, she learned, and she showed her commitment day after day. This hard-won trust is the foundation of our company.

Our Promise Today

Today, we live by that original promise. The lessons from that journey guide us every day. We choose our teas and partners carefully, always remembering our goal: to make sure the effort behind the tea is finally recognized.