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
Something BIG is coming, gorgeous! Introducing my Matcha Master Class, a cross-nation tour of world-class cooking workshops + your daily dose of wellness.
Candice, raised by a Japanese mother, has been studying matcha as a culinary professional throughout Japan for decades. Both her Japanese Grandma and Great Aunt Takuko studied matcha/green tea and shared their love of matcha with Candice since her childhood. Candice's thoughtful research and matcha studies have brought her to speak on matcha at 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.
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.
