Buy Japanese green tea and matcha – from Austrian Zen monks and nuns

Green tea is healthy and tastes unique. That's no longer a secret. Even in Vienna, the coffee capital, you can now find premium green tea in specialty shops and affordable alternatives in drugstores. Tea houses and tastings are also available. Many people appreciate the invigorating effect of Japanese green tea, especially matcha – a finely ground green tea from Japan. Lifestyle blogs show us how it's done: get up early, do yoga, drink a matcha, and then get to work.

That works – but tea is so much more than self-optimization.

Shinkoko: A monk, a nun, and their tea journey with Japanese green tea

“Shinkoko” is Shinko and Koryu, or Andreas and Susanne: two native Austrians and ordained Zen Buddhist priests and priestesses. We see it as our life's work to make Japan's wisdom accessible to our own culture. Japanese green tea and Zen Buddhism have always been intertwined. Did you know that a Zen monk spread tea culture in Japan? Many people are also familiar with the formal tea ceremony. It can last for hours, and every detail has meaning.

The focus on the essentials in Japanese tea

At Shinkoko, you'll find tea for both beginners and connoisseurs. We carry accessories in all quality and price categories. Green tea can be associated with an elitist lifestyle – but it doesn't have to be. We want to make Japanese tea, especially Japanese green tea and matcha, accessible to everyone and return to the true spirit of tea: mindful relaxation, like in Zen meditation.

Direct, personal, fresh: our import promise for Japanese tea

All our teas come from tea farmers in Japan whom we know personally and whose fields we have visited ourselves. We are particularly interested in tea regions in Japan that are relatively unknown outside the country. Most Japanese tea is sold domestically. This also applies to our carefully selected teas. They are uncomplicated, authentic, and fresh – exactly what ends up in the cups of most Japanese people every day. We work closely with small family businesses and rely on trust and mutual respect. Finding the extraordinary in the everyday – that is our approach. And because freshness is paramount for Japanese green tea and matcha, we import directly, without intermediaries.

Japanese green tea tailored just for you

Let's be honest: most of us first experienced matcha – the famous Japanese green tea – as a matcha latte. Thanks to this sweet and creamy drink, matcha became famous practically overnight outside of Japan a few years ago. Some people, driven by curiosity, buy a cheap matcha at the drugstore, prepare it at home, and are initially disappointed. The brew tastes bitter and fishy. Frustrated, many leave it at that one attempt.

From selection to preparation: we accompany you on your tea journey.

We invite you to begin your personal green tea journey with us. In our experience, people in Europe need time to adjust to the taste of green tea, especially matcha. It's a process of discovery and experimentation. We'd love to guide you along the way. During our tastings, we'll find a tea you enjoy and show you how to prepare it to your individual preferences.

You can use our online shop for Japanese green tea and matcha, or visit us in our tea house in Vienna Hietzing, our place for Japanese green tea and matcha, and immerse yourself in the world of tea with all your senses – however suits you best.

Shinkoko combines Japanese tea culture, Zen practice and high-quality Japanese green tea – online and in our tea house in Vienna.