About us
Bringing Light Through Matcha
In Japanese, Hikari (光) means light—not only physical light, but also illumination, clarity, inspiration, and inner radiance. At Hikari Matcha, our mission is simple: to bring light into people's lives through the timeless tradition of premium Japanese matcha, sourced in Japan from the historic tea fields that started it all.
Born from our love for mindful living, we felt a desire to create something that is not only beautiful and high-quality but also adds something meaningful to life—a moment of mindfulness, tranquility, and ritual.
As true matcha lovers, our search for exceptional, high-quality, and delicious ceremonial-grade matcha led us to Hikari Matcha. Our sourcing is managed by Megumi. Born and raised in Japan and driven by the essence of matcha, she found her way to Uji—one of Japan’s oldest and most renowned tea regions. Her journey led her to open her own Japanese matcha café, "Atelier Giri," in Arnhem, and served as the inspiration for Arjuna and Ellemarie to share this ceremonial matcha with a wider audience.
That is how Hikari came to be: born of our desire to share something we find beautiful and valuable—premium Japanese matcha and the quiet moment of mindfulness that comes with it.
The Ancient Origins of Matcha
The roots of matcha stretch back more than a thousand years. The earliest form of powdered tea originated in China, where tea leaves were steamed, dried, ground into a fine powder, and whisked with hot water. This method of tea preparation was highly valued by Buddhist monks for its ability to support long hours of meditation.
In the late 12th century, the Japanese Zen monk Eisai traveled to China to study Buddhism. Upon returning to Japan in 1191, he brought tea seeds and the tradition of powdered tea with him. What began as a practice within Zen monasteries would eventually become one of Japan's most treasured cultural traditions—and laid the foundation for regions like Uji to emerge as the heartland of Japanese matcha cultivation.
The Birth of the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Over the centuries, the appreciation of matcha spread from monasteries to samurai, aristocrats, and eventually the wider Japanese culture. Tea masters such as Sen no Rikyu refined the practice into what is now known as Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. The tea ceremony is built upon values that continue to inspire people around the world:
- Harmony
- Respect
- Purity
- Tranquility
More than simply drinking tea, ceremonial matcha became a path of mindfulness and human connection.
From Ancient Ritual to Modern Wellness
Today, matcha tea has found a new audience around the world. People are discovering what Japanese tea masters have known for centuries: matcha offers a unique combination of calm focus, rich flavour, and natural vitality.
Unlike ordinary green tea, where the leaves are steeped and discarded, matcha allows you to consume the entire tea leaf in powdered form. This is one reason why premium matcha is valued for both its flavour and nutritional profile.
Whether enjoyed as a traditional tea, a matcha latte, or as part of a daily wellness ritual, matcha continues to bridge ancient wisdom and modern living.
