Our Story

A man and a woman standing together in a lush green tea plantation under a cloudy sky. The woman wears a blue and white patterned dress, and the man wears a light purple button-down shirt and a baseball cap.

Tea has been part of our lives long before After Tea existed.

For Naoko, some of her earliest memories of tea are of her grandfather preparing matcha with an otabe for her on hot summer days in Japan. For SJ, he started his morning with a sugary black or green tea that his mother prepared for him.

Different teas. Different places. Different traditions.

But the feeling was the same: tea meant care, comfort, and time together.

From Washington DC to Kyushu, Japan

Years later, that shared connection to tea became the foundation for After Tea.

Today, our journey has brought us from Washington, DC to Kyushu, Japan, where we visit tea-growing regions, meet producers, and continue learning about the craft and traditions behind Japanese tea.

Much of our sourcing is focused on Kyushu, Japan—from the tea fields of Kagoshima to the mountains of Yame.

After Tea is our way of sharing those discoveries.

Our collection is intentionally considered. We look for teas with a clear sense of place, exceptional quality, and a story worth telling. But we also believe great tea shouldn't feel intimidating or reserved for special occasions.

Tea can be matcha whisked into your morning routine. Sencha shared around a table. Hojicha after dinner. A warm cup prepared for someone you love.

Those are the moments we grew up with, and they're the moments we want After Tea to create for others.

Because for us, tea has never been just about what's in the cup.

It's about what happens around it—and what comes after.

Naoko & SJ
Founders, After Tea