Sorate

What's in the box: Each month brings matcha from Sorate's Uji sourced range, though the site does not say exactly which grade or quantity is included.

Sorate is a Japanese green tea shop with teahouses in Brooklyn, New York. It sells matcha and other teas it describes as coming from Uji, Japan, a region long known for high quality green tea. Its subscription is a six month prepaid matcha plan priced from $226, and the site does not say much more about how it works. It does not clearly explain which matcha arrives each month, how much you get per delivery, or whether you can switch grades. The wider range gives some idea of the style. Hekisho, the house matcha, is a first harvest, shade grown everyday tea described as savory and nutty. Soku is a step up, with a mellower, sweeter profile. Both come in 40 gram tins. The shop also sells hojicha powder, sencha, sobacha, a matcha tasting flight, and tools such as handmade bowls and a shaker. Beyond retail, Sorate runs matcha workshops, tea courses, and tastings led by tea master Keiko Kitazawa, which suggests real expertise behind the product. The subscription only makes sense if you already drink matcha regularly and are comfortable paying for six months upfront. If you want flexibility, buying single tins as you need them may suit you better.