Matcha Masterclass is an immersive group experience rooted in authentic Japanese tea culture, presented in an engaging modern way.
It is a participatory guided education into the culture, history, philosophy, preparation, and integrity of true Japanese matcha. Designed for those who want cultivate and understand the mental and spiritual benefits of Japanese matcha, and not just drink a latte.
Inside the Matcha MasterclasS YOU WILL LEARN
Foundations: Culture & History
• The Zen Buddhist origins of matcha
• The agricultural history of matcha in regions like Kyushu and Shiga
• Why protecting origin and supporting Japanese farmers matters
Technique: How to Prepare Matcha Properly
• How to properly sift, measure, and whisk matcha
• Correct water temperature and ratios
• Understanding ceremonial vs culinary grade
• How to evaluate color, aroma, texture, and taste
• Common preparation mistakes and how to avoid them
Students leave knowing how to make matcha correctly - not just aesthetically.
Health & Longevity
• The science behind L-theanine and calm focus
• Antioxidant density and EGCG
• Clean energy without cortisol spikes
• How matcha supports longevity, metabolism, and mental clarity
• How to incorporate matcha into a daily wellness routine
This bridges tradition with modern nutritional science.
Ritual & Meditation
• How to turn matcha into a daily ritual
• A guided matcha meditation practice
• Using matcha as a grounding tool
• The role of presence and intention in tea preparation
This is where matcha becomes more than a drink — it becomes practice.
Stewardship & Supporting Japan
• Understanding authentic Japanese sourcing
• Why origin matters
• How to purchase responsibly
• The importance of supporting traditional tea farmers and producers
• Protecting matcha from dilution and mislabeling in global markets
This reinforces that buying matcha is also an act of cultural preservation.
Why LEARN WITH Candice Kumai?
Candice Kumai carries forward three generations of Japanese tea education.
She was trained on matcha by her great aunt Tea Master Takuko Kumai, a graduate of the Omotesenke School of Tea: one of Japan’s most respected tea ceremony traditions. Takuko is a certified tea master instructor who personally taught Candice the foundations of matcha ritual and discipline back in the 1990s.
Candice’s grandmother, Fusako of Kyushu, came from one of Japan’s most revered tea-growing regions, and her mother is a lifelong Japanese educator with over 40 years dedicated to cultural teaching.
Candice has worked with Ito En tea for almost 20 years. She is a trained chef from Le Cordon Bleu, debuted on television on the first season of Top Chef, and was a Judge on Iron Chef America and Beat Bobby Flay for years.
Candice has spent over two decades in Western media as a classically trained chef, journalist, bestselling author, and 17-year TODAY Show contributor — and was among the first to introduce matcha to mainstream Western audiences before it became a global trend.
Candice teaches matcha courses with the depth and cultural integrity it deserves.
Matcha Masterclass educates brands and outlets like: Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, SoHo House Malibu, Ito En, SK II, Shiseido, NBC News, 2020 TOKYO Olympics, TODAY Show, Universal Studios, NHK World Japan and more to come in Q1 2026!
Candice Kumai is a professionally trained chef, New York Times best-selling author, and one of the foremost authorities on Japanese wellness, food, and culture. A proud Japanese-American, Candice has spent the past two decades deeply immersed in the study and celebration of matcha—the sacred Japanese green tea that has become a global wellness phenomenon.
In Japan, Candice’s reverence for matcha began at home. She was first introduced to ceremonial tea by her Baachan (grandmother), Great Aunt Takuko, and her Japanese mother, who lovingly passed down matcha tools, family recipes, and the art of preparation. In the 1950s, her Great Aunt Takuko became a certified tea master and tea master instructor of the Omotesenke (表千家) tea school in Japan, studying within the senke-ryū (千家流) lineage under a revered tea master in Kyūshū for decades. She continued her studies until his passing and later mentored Candice from a young age, teaching her the philosophy, discipline, and precision of matcha in its most authentic ceremonial form. Candice’s matcha education was therefore rooted not in trend, but in family lineage, cultural reverence, and lived tradition.
For over 30 years, Candice has traveled extensively to Japan—particularly to the tea fields of Shiga—and in the island of Kyushu working directly with organic matcha farmers and purveyors. Her hands-on experience and deep cultural ties have made her one of the most respected voices in the matcha space. Today, she sits on the advisory board of the largest Japanese green tea purveyor in the world, helping guide the global conversation around quality and tradition.
Candice was one of the first to introduce matcha to American audiences in a meaningful, culturally respectful way. She has spoken on matcha’s benefits and heritage at major wellness and culinary events across the U.S. for decades, and her bestselling book Kintsugi Wellness: The Japanese Art of Nourishing Mind, Body, and Spirited (2018) is published in nine countries and languages.
Candice Kumai is not just an expert—she is Japanese, the original pioneer of matcha in America, and a bridge between Japanese tradition and modern wellness.
Book Matcha Masterclass today: Claudia: Info@CandiceKumai.com
Matcha Masterclass has been a part of: The Japan Society, NYC, The Japan Society Houston, The US Japan Council in Honolulu, The Morikami Museum in Florida and SXSW Austin, Texas. Don't miss your opportunity to learn from the authority on matcha at The Matcha Masterclass.
Candice’s Grandmother
Where we come from is who we are. And Candice Kumai’s Japanese heritage has guided her journey back to health at every turn. Now, in Kintsugi Wellness, Candice shares what she’s learned and guides us through her favorite Japanese traditions and practices for cultivating inner strength and living a gracious life, interwoven with dozens of recipes for healthy, Japanese-inspired cuisine. Kintsugi Wellness provides the tools we all need to reclaim the art of living well.
