Wabi
Wabi is a New Zealand matcha brand founded in 2014 by Sakura, who moved to NZ from Japan in 2009 and grew up around the tea ceremony (her mother is a tea ceremony teacher in Japan). It sells named Japanese matcha lines: first-harvest ceremonial grades from Uji (Eiko, Haru and Tsubaki), a mixing grade for lattes and baking (Café), and 250 g Kagoshima second-harvest bags, plus sencha, hōjicha and accessories, with a wholesale channel for cafes.
What does Wabi say about its sourcing
The company says its founder's Japanese upbringing let her build lasting relationships with matcha farms and makers, so it can bring in matcha that is fresh, authentic and direct from Japan. It states that its first-harvest matcha comes from Uji and its second-harvest matcha from Kagoshima, with certified organic options in both (the Haru ceremonial and Natsu second-harvest lines). The company dates its founding to 2014, before the current matcha boom, and describes itself as having crafted matcha for over 12 years. As throughout this guide, these are the company's own statements.
What does Wabi sell
A named, tiered matcha range in 50 g pouches and 250 g bags, alongside other Japanese teas and wellness products.
- Ceremonial grades from Uji, first harvest: Eiko, Haru (organic) and Tsubaki
- Café: a mixing grade the brand positions for lattes and baking
- Daily and Natsu (organic): 250 g Kagoshima second-harvest bags for high-volume drinkers
- Other lines: powdered sencha, roasted hōjicha, marine collagen and matcha accessories
- Wholesale supply to cafes through a dedicated B2B channel
Where can you buy Wabi
Direct from the brand's own web store, which ships across New Zealand, with the wholesale channel covering cafes. Its site carries the current range, harvest details and organic certifications.
- wabi.co.nz (opens in a new window): the brand's official store, range, sourcing statements and cafe wholesale.
How should you evaluate it for yourself
The same checks apply to every matcha brand, this one included: match the grade to the use (ceremonial for drinking plain, culinary for lattes and baking), look for a stated origin and a harvest or best-before date, prefer airtight opaque packaging, and read the ingredient list: pure matcha has one ingredient, while latte blends add sugar or milk powder and are a different product.
- Ceremonial grade matcha: what the drinking grade should deliver, and how to judge it.
- Culinary grade matcha: the right expectations for lattes and baking powder.
- Where to buy matcha in NZ: every NZ buying option (supermarkets, pharmacies and specialists) side by side.
Products and prices
The Wabi products in our weekly NZ price dataset as at 5 August 2026, with prices read from the seller's own public listing on that date. Prices and stock change without notice; the product link has the current price, and the full NZ price comparison ranks every brand side by side.
| Product | Size | Price | Per gram | Grade | Purity | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily - Kagoshima 2nd Harvest (250g)sold out | 250 g | $75.50 | $0.30/g | Not stated | Pure matcha | wabi.co.nz (opens in a new window) |
| Natsu - Organic Kagoshima 2nd Harvest (250g) | 250 g | $82.50 | $0.33/g | Not stated | Pure matcha | wabi.co.nz (opens in a new window) |
| Café - Bold & Smooth Mixing Uji Matcha (50g) | Perfect for Lattes & Baking | 50 g | $26.50 | $0.53/g | Culinary (as stated) | Pure matcha | wabi.co.nz (opens in a new window) |
| Tsubaki - Refined & Elegant Ceremonial Uji Matcha (50g) | Finest Spring-Harvested Japanese Green Tea | 50 g | $38.50 | $0.77/g | Ceremonial (as stated) | Pure matcha | wabi.co.nz (opens in a new window) |
| Eiko – Ceremonial Reserve Uji Matcha (50g) | Exquisite Usucha Matcha from Uji, Japan | 50 g | $48.50 | $0.97/g | Ceremonial (as stated) | Pure matcha | wabi.co.nz (opens in a new window) |
| Haru - Fresh & Vibrant Organic Ceremonial Uji Matcha (50g) | Premium Japanese Green Tea | 50 g | $49.50 | $0.99/g | Ceremonial (as stated) | Pure matcha | wabi.co.nz (opens in a new window) |
Common questions
- Who founded Wabi?
- Sakura, who moved to New Zealand from Japan in 2009 and founded the brand in 2014. She grew up around the Japanese tea ceremony; the company notes her mother is a tea ceremony teacher in Japan.
- Where does Wabi's matcha come from?
- The company states its first-harvest ceremonial matcha comes from Uji and its second-harvest matcha from Kagoshima, with certified organic options in both lines. These are the brand's own sourcing statements.
- Does Wabi supply cafes?
- Yes, it runs a wholesale channel for cafes alongside its retail store, and its 250 g second-harvest bags are the volume-friendly end of its range.