About Chakai

Our story

Chakai was started by us — Kim and Ida Ryen — a married couple from Gjerdrum with a shared passion for Japanese culture.

We've long been fascinated by Japan. Not just the food, the design and the nature, but especially the way the Japanese live. The deep respect for other people. Craft traditions passed down through generations. And 頑張る (gambaru) — the mindset of always doing your best, whatever the task.

Why matcha?

When we were looking for good matcha in Norway ourselves, we found many great cafés and Asian grocery stores — but few Norwegian suppliers who could tell the story behind the product. Where did the matcha actually come from? How was it made? We missed that connection.

So we decided to do it ourselves.

Today we work with producers in Japan's foremost tea regions — Uji, Kagoshima, Aichi and Shizuoka. We choose only authentic matcha of the highest quality, from artisans who pour their soul into their work. It costs more, but you can taste the difference.

A family business

We both have full-time jobs on the side, but Chakai is our great passion. We spend the evenings after the children have gone to bed keeping the shop running — but the matcha itself is always handled according to strict routines to ensure quality and shelf life. Every package is packed with care, and every customer matters to us.

We haven't been to Japan yet — with two children it takes a little extra planning and saving! But the dream is to visit the tea fields we work with and experience the culture up close.

Our vision

We believe quality can be felt. When you drink matcha from Chakai, we want you to feel the connection — to the artisans in Japan, to the tradition, and to us behind it.

Welcome to Chakai. Welcome to the tea gathering.

— Kim & Ida 🍵