Snacky Hour Episode 2 Recap: ITO EN Japanese Tea and Matcha

Welcome back to Snacky Hour, Crafty's taste-test series where real-life best friends and coworkers Becca and Dana try the snacks and drinks, share the employee perspective, and tell you exactly what they think. Missed Episode 1? Catch the recap here.

For Episode 2, they’re swapping snacks for sips with a lineup of ITO EN Japanese teas and ready-to-drink matcha. Some were already office favorites. Others were completely new. Since Dana doesn’t do matcha, Becca called in backup: her boss, VP of Marketing Sarah Berger.

A dozen drinks later, one tea came out on top. Here's how it went.

Meet ITO EN

ITO EN is a Japanese tea company that's been at it since 1966, when it started in Shizuoka, one of Japan's biggest tea-growing regions. Today, it's the largest green tea distributor in Japan.

A few things to know about how it got here:

• 1966: Founded as Frontier Tea Corporation in Shizuoka, Japan.
• 1969: Officially became ITO EN.
• 1980s: Developed the world's first canned oolong tea, then canned green tea.
• 2001: Launched ITO EN North America to bring authentic Japanese green tea to the U.S.
• Today: Its lineup includes classic Japanese teas, TEAS' TEA, and matcha LOVE.

ITO EN at a Glance

Before we get into the taste test, here’s what you need to know:

• AAPI-owned tea company and a go-to for AAPI Heritage Month snacks and drinks
• Family of brands includes: Oi Ocha, ITO EN, TEAS’ TEA, and matcha LOVE
• Known for Japanese green tea, with options spanning matcha, oolong, jasmine, and more
• Many ready-to-drink teas are unsweetened with zero calories and zero sugar, an easy fit for a low-sugar office pantry
• Available in bottles and cans, plus tea bags, loose leaf, and matcha powder

The ITO EN Lineup

Becca and Dana tasted their way through three lines, from bold Japanese classics to lighter everyday teas. Sarah joined for the matcha round.

OI Ocha

Imported from Japan with a stronger, more authentic tea flavor. Green tea is already one of the most popular drinks across Crafty pantries and a staple in any office tea service.

• Oolong: Delicate and easy to pair. A 10 out of 10 right out of the gate.
• Jasmine: Floral without being overpowering. A great summer tea that pairs well with yogurt, fresh fruit, or fruit jerky.
• Green Tea: The classic. When in doubt, this is the one everyone reaches for.

TEAS' TEA

A lighter, smoother line that's easier to drink for anyone who wants a subtler tea flavor.

• Mint Green Tea: The biggest surprise of the episode. Crisp and refreshing with zero toothpaste vibes.
• Green and White Tea: Smooth with a hint of natural sweetness. The perfect intro tea for anyone new to tea.
• Golden Oolong: Well-rounded and versatile. It works with just about any snack, even a peanut butter bar.
• Jasmine Green Tea: A lighter take on the classic jasmine. Great if you like a hint of floral without going all in.
• Green Tea: Still has that green tea flavor, just less intense than the classic version.

Matcha LOVE

Ready-to-drink matcha for a steadier caffeine boost. Where coffee hits fast and can lead to a crash, matcha keeps you level for hours.

• Milk Tea Matcha: Creamy and milky. A little brown in color, but it tastes like a coffee shop matcha. Great for matcha beginners.
• Matcha (Unsweetened): Pure, straightforward matcha with zero calories. A strong base for a DIY matcha latte.
• Strawberry Matcha: Strawberry yogurt energy. This one split the table.
• Passion Fruit Matcha: Bright and citrusy with a flavor close to a seltzer or NA cocktail. Another divider.

The Snacky Hour Highlights

A few things became clear after tasting our way through the lineup:

• Mint Green Tea was the surprise hit: Becca expected to hate it. She ended up loving it. It’s classic green tea with just enough mint to make it interesting.
• Bottled doesn’t mean stale: Every tea tasted fresh-brewed, without that flat flavor bottled tea can sometimes have. It's an easy upgrade for any office beverage station.
• There’s a tea for every palate: Oi Ocha brings the bolder tea flavor, while TEAS’ TEA keeps things lighter. Stocking both gives employees more office beverage options to choose from.
• Matcha earns its spot next to coffee: It gives employees another way to get their caffeine fix when office coffee isn't calling their name.
• Fruit flavor gets personal: Strawberry or passion fruit? This one comes down to whether you’re a berry person or a citrus person.

The Official ITO EN Rankings

Since each brand brings something a little different to the table, we ranked them separately. Here’s where every sip landed.

ITO EN Oi Ocha Rankings

1. Oolong: A 10 out of 10 from the first sip. Delicate and easy to pair with any snack.
2. Green Tea: The office staple. When in doubt, this is the one to stock.
3. Jasmine: Bold and floral. The floral tea lovers will be into it.

TEAS' TEA Rankings

1. Golden Oolong: Our unanimous favorite. It goes with everything, any time of day.
2. Green and White Tea: The smoothest of the bunch and the perfect intro tea.
3. Mint Green Tea: The sleeper hit. We expected toothpaste and got crisp and refreshing instead.
4. Jasmine Green Tea: Our pick for anyone who wants a hint of floral without going all in.
5. Green Tea: A lighter take on the classic. Good, but we'd reach for the bolder version first.

Matcha LOVE Rankings with Sarah

1. Matcha (Unsweetened): Pure tea flavor and the easiest entry point for anyone getting into matcha.
2. Milk Tea Matcha: Creamier than we usually go, but still a solid matcha latte in a bottle.
3. Strawberry Matcha: For the berry lovers.
4. Passion Fruit Matcha: For the citrus fans. This one depends on who you ask.

Snack Hack: Build Your Own Matcha Latte

The unsweetened matcha was good on its own, but it also gave us an idea. With a few things already hanging around the office kitchen, you can turn it into a DIY matcha latte.

Here’s how we’d do it:

• Pour it over ice
• Add oat, almond, or regular milk and if you want more staying power, try our matcha protein latte
• Finish with a pump of flavored syrup (Becca’s pick: banana)
• Pair it with fresh berries from the pantry

Looking for more ways to mix things up? Check out Snack Hacks Volume II for more pantry combinations worth trying.

That’s the Tea on ITO EN

That's a wrap on Episode 2. ITO EN proved that bottled tea can taste fresh, and that there's a tea or matcha for every kind of drinker. Golden Oolong stole the show, and Mint Green Tea earned itself a few new fans.

Want ITO EN in your office fridge? Crafty stocks it as part of a fully managed office beverage program.

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