Kettl

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Overview

Kettl specializes in Japanese teas sourced directly from producers, offering green, black, oolong, matcha, and caffeine-free options through direct sales, subscriptions, and wholesale to restaurants. It operates offices in Brooklyn, Fukuoka, and Los Angeles, with cafes in New York City and Los Angeles, positioning itself as a curator of the most diverse catalog of Japanese tea available outside Japan. The company emphasizes a short supply chain, fresh teas packed in oxygen-free packaging, and relationships with notable producers.¹²⁴

History

Kettl was founded in 2010 by Zach Mangan, after working for Japan's largest green tea company and a trip to Japan that highlighted the freshness of domestic teas, with his wife Minami joining to build relationships with producers over two years.²⁴ It established an office in Fukuoka, Japan, to source teas weekly and ship them to Brooklyn headquarters.² Key milestones include launching cafes in New York City and Los Angeles (one opening Spring 2024), supporting restaurants with 50 combined Michelin stars, and introducing Kettl Studio in January 2024 as a space for community and education.²⁷

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Japanese Green Teas	Rare and fresh varieties	$20 - $100
Japanese Black Teas	High-quality wakoucha	$25 - $120
Oolong Teas	Exotic profiles from Sashima	$30 - $150
Matcha	Direct from producers	$40 - $200
Caffeine-Free Teas	Herbal Japanese options	$20 - $80

Manufacturing

Teas are sourced weekly from Japanese producers, processed and packed into date-stamped, oxygen-free packaging at the Fukuoka office, then cold-stored and air-shipped to Brooklyn headquarters.²

Notable Products

Kimura Family Oolong - Oolong from Sashima showcasing exotic profiles.
Wakoucha Black Teas - Japanese black tea expressions from select producers.
Rare Green Teas - Fresh, high-demand greens from rural Japanese areas.
Matcha - Premium matcha sourced directly from growers.
Seasonal Japanese Teas - Limited fresh teas from domestic market producers.

Reputation

Kettl is regarded by tea enthusiasts and professionals for its dedication to fresh, high-quality Japanese teas sourced directly from top producers, shortening the supply chain.³ It has built a community through stores, wholesale to Michelin-starred restaurants, and educational spaces like Kettl Studio.²⁷ No significant criticisms noted in available sources.

Sources (7)