Frequently Asked Questions

All orders are shipped directly from Japan. Orders are typically processed within 1–3 business days, and a tracking number is sent by email after dispatch.

Shipping methods, rates, and delivery times vary by destination. Please see the current Shipping page; the exact options available for your address are confirmed at checkout.

They are not included in the item price or shipping charge. Depending on the destination, local taxes, import duties, or carrier handling fees may be collected on delivery. The Shipping page has the current destination-specific guidance.

Orders can be canceled before shipment. Please contact us as soon as possible. Once an order has shipped, the return policy applies.

Please contact us within 30 days of delivery with your order number and photos of the item and outer packaging. You may choose a full refund or a free replacement, and ShiZen Tea covers the return shipping for an eligible quality issue.

Unopened tea in its original factory-sealed packaging and unused tea ware in original condition may be returned within 14 days of delivery. Opened tea cannot be returned for food-safety reasons. Please read the full Returns & Refunds Policy before sending anything back.

No. Organic products are identified on their product pages. Each tea is presented for its own origin, cultivar, processing, and taste; organic certification is shown only when it applies to that product.

ShiZen Tea’s organic teas are certified under Japan’s JAS Organic standard. Eligible JAS-certified teas can be sold and represented as organic in the United States under the U.S.–Japan organic equivalence arrangement. This is not the same as holding a separate USDA Organic certification.

Yes. The amount in a cup varies with the tea type, the amount of tea used, water temperature, and steeping time. Hojicha, genmaicha, sencha, gyokuro, and matcha are not caffeine-free unless a product is specifically labeled that way. For a fuller comparison, see Caffeine in Japanese Green Tea.

Keep tea tightly sealed and away from light, heat, moisture, and strong aromas. After opening, refrigeration is the default for matcha. Loose-leaf tea can stay in a genuinely cool, dry, dark cupboard; if your home is warm, refrigeration is the safer option.

When tea has been refrigerated, let the closed container return toward room temperature before opening it so condensation does not settle on the tea.

Start with the Brewing Guide, then follow the product page when it gives more specific instructions for your tea. Slightly cooler water or a shorter first infusion can make a sharp or bitter cup taste gentler.

Most loose-leaf Japanese teas can be steeped again. For a second infusion, add fresh hot water and pour promptly rather than repeating the full first-infusion time. Matcha is different: the powdered leaf is whisked into the water and enjoyed in one serving.