Japanese matcha for Washington, DC.
Japanese matcha for cafes, tea shops, and food businesses across Washington, DC, including Washington, Georgetown. Start with free samples of up to two grades, then plan your wholesale order with us.
Who we supply in Washington, DC
DC's cafe scene serves a customer base with money and international exposure, and matcha is well established on menus across Shaw, Georgetown, and the Navy Yard. Hotels and event catering buy at a different scale entirely, and the diplomatic community — including a substantial Japanese presence — supports demand for genuinely good product rather than serviceable product.
- Independent cafes across Shaw, Logan Circle, Georgetown, and the Navy Yard.
- Hotels and catering operations buying to a fixed specification at volume.
- Restaurants and dessert programs, including a well-developed Japanese dining scene.
- Embassy and institutional buyers with specific quality expectations.
Shipping to Washington, DC
The District has no port and very little industrial land, so imported goods arrive through Baltimore, the Port of Virginia, or New York/New Jersey and are warehoused in suburban Maryland or Northern Virginia before the final delivery in. Dulles and BWI handle air cargo.
- Ocean: Baltimore or Norfolk, then held in the Maryland or Virginia suburbs.
- Air: Dulles or BWI.
- Onward: the final leg into the District is short but constrained — delivery windows and loading access matter more here than distance.
Licensing in Washington, DC
Federal import requirements apply as anywhere in the US. Within the District, DC Health licenses food establishments, and the District's rules are its own rather than an extension of Maryland's or Virginia's. Confirm your category with DC Health before ordering.
- If your stock is warehoused in Maryland or Virginia, that jurisdiction's wholesale requirements apply to the warehouse.
- Serving in the District is licensed by DC Health regardless of where the product was stored.
Buying without a store room
Most DC food businesses have almost no back-of-house storage — space is expensive and premises are small. That rules out the usual advice of buying a larger lot for a better unit price, and it makes delivery rhythm the thing to get right instead.
There are two workable shapes. Either buy modest quantities more frequently, accepting a slightly higher unit cost in exchange for never storing much, or arrange for a regional distributor holding stock in Maryland or Virginia to break it down for you. We are happy to supply either way, and for multi-site operators the second is usually cheaper once you count the space you are not renting. Tell us your storage reality when you ask for a quote — it changes what we would recommend more than your volume does.
Your first order, step by step
Start with up to two grades of your choice. Free sample kits are available for US businesses. Test them in your own recipes before choosing your first wholesale order.
- Tell us what you serve. Share your menu, milk, cup size, and expected volume.
- Taste with your team. Compare the samples in the drinks your customers order.
- Get a delivery quote. Confirm grade, quantity, and shipping to Washington. Wholesale orders ship from Japan.
Washington, DC matcha wholesale FAQ
We have no storage space. Can we still buy direct?
Yes, in smaller and more frequent shipments, or through a distributor holding stock in Maryland or Virginia who breaks it down for you. For multi-site operators the second is usually cheaper once you count the space you are not renting.
Who licenses food businesses in Washington DC?
DC Health licenses food establishments in the District under its own rules, which are not an extension of Maryland's or Virginia's. If your stock is warehoused across the line, that jurisdiction's wholesale requirements apply to the warehouse.
How does matcha reach the District?
Through Baltimore, Norfolk, or New York/New Jersey, then warehoused in the Maryland or Virginia suburbs before the final delivery in. Air cargo comes through Dulles or BWI.
Can you supply hotels and catering at specification?
Yes. Volume accounts are better served by reserving from a specific harvest lot than by reordering from current stock, so the product stays consistent across outlets and events. Tell us the annual quantity early.
Supplying matcha to Washington, DC
Tell us what you serve, your expected volume, and your delivery address in Washington, DC. We’ll help you choose a grade and plan your first order.