Why We Started Horai & Co.™
Horai & Co.™ was born from a simple observation in Georgetown, Texas: truly authentic, high-quality matcha was hard to find, here and across the country. While matcha's popularity soared, most available options were either overpriced commodity products or lacked transparency about their origins.
We saw an opportunity to do things differently. Build direct relationships with traditional tea farmers in Uji, Kyoto and Shizuoka; two of Japan's most celebrated tea regions, and bring their exceptional matcha to cafés, retailers, and tea lovers across the United States who appreciate quality and authenticity.
"Our mission is to be more than just another matcha supplier. We're building a bridge between two cultures, honoring centuries of Japanese tea tradition while serving the needs of businesses and communities across the country."
The Name "Horai"
In Japanese mythology, Hōrai (蓬莱) refers to a sacred mountain where immortals dwell in utopia. It represents a place of peace, longevity, and natural beauty; values that resonate deeply with traditional tea culture and our mission to bring authentic wellness through exceptional matcha.
The name also reflects our commitment to going beyond matcha. While we start with premium green tea, Horai & Co.™ is designed to evolve into a broader curator of authentic Japanese foods and cultural products, always with the same dedication to quality, transparency, and respectful cultural partnership.
Based in Georgetown, Shipping Nationwide
We chose Georgetown as our home base because this community embodies the perfect blend of traditional values and forward-thinking innovation. From the heart of Central Texas we ship to the entire continental United States within a week, and serve Austin, San Antonio and the broader Texas market with the kind of fast, local service that larger national distributors can't match.
Being a small, owner-run company means we're not just vendors; we're partners. We understand hospitality, small business challenges, and the importance of personal relationships. When you contact us, you communicate with real people who care about your success.
Our Core Values
Authenticity
We source directly from traditional tea farms in Uji, Kyoto and Shizuoka we mutually respect, compensate them fairly and ensure every product represents genuine Japanese tea culture and craftsmanship.
Partnership
We build long-term relationships with our tea farmers and our business partners, creating sustainable value for everyone in our supply chain. No middlemen. No shortcuts.
Education
We're committed to sharing knowledge about matcha, helping our customers and partners understand what makes authentic matcha truly special.
Excellence
We maintain the highest standards in everything we do from sourcing, packaging and customer support. If a batch doesn't match our standards for color, taste, and freshness? It doesn't ship, regardless of the cost.
