【Asia's Highest GOLD Award】Nihonbashi "IPPUKU&MATCHA" Achieves Four Wins at International Chocolate Awards, Advancing to 2026 World Final
Nihonbashi's Japanese tea brand "IPPUKU&MATCHA" has achieved a remarkable feat, winning four awards at the International Chocolate Awards Asia-Pacific 2026, including the highest GOLD award for "UJI HOJICHA SEASALT." The brand is now set to advance to the 2026 World Final.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:11
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 20:28 (8h 56m after Collected)
IPPUKU&MATCHA, a Japanese tea brand operated by Tawashita Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Takuya Sato), is pleased to announce that it has received a total of four awards at the International Chocolate Awards Asia-Pacific 2026, a global chocolate competition.
Among them, the popular product "UJI HOJICHA SEASALT" received the highest GOLD award in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, three products using Uji matcha also won two SILVER awards and one BRONZE award, demonstrating the global potential of Japanese tea ingredients.
Four products, including "Uji Hojicha Salt," which won the highest award in Asia at the International Chocolate Awards 2026.
◾️Award Details
GOLD *Highest in Asia
"UJI HOJICHA SEASALT"
SILVER
"UJI MATCHA"
"UJI MATCHA MILK"
BRONZE
"UJI MATCHA SEASALT&PINKPEPPER"
◾️Uji Matcha and Hojicha from Japan, recognized globally
IPPUKU&MATCHA carefully selects high-quality Uji tea with excellent aroma, umami, and lingering finish. This award is not merely an evaluation of flavor, but a testament to the global recognition of:
・The rich aroma inherent in the tea leaves
・The harmonious balance of elegant bitterness and sweetness
・Innovation through delicate pairings
・The uniqueness of Japanese tea culture
Matcha has evolved from being "something to drink" to "an ingredient valued globally." IPPUKU&MATCHA expresses this new potential in the form of chocolate. The source of this globally recognized quality comes from tea leaves carefully cultivated by contract tea farmers in Uji, Kyoto.
◾️Next Stage: The World Final
The award-winning products will be eligible for entry into the upcoming International Chocolate Awards World Final 2026. From Asia to the world, IPPUKU&MATCHA continues to communicate the new value of Japanese tea.
◾️Comment from Representative Director Takuya Sato
"Japan has a wonderful culture of matcha and hojicha that we can be proud of globally. We have always aimed to express its value not just by 'preserving tradition as it is,' but by reinterpreting it with modern sensibilities and within the context of global food culture. To be recognized on the global stage of the International Chocolate Awards is a great encouragement for us, and at the same time, it is proof that the potential of Japanese tea ingredients has reached the world. This award is not solely due to our efforts, but also thanks to the producers who consistently create high-quality tea every day, and our customers who support the brand. I express my heartfelt gratitude. IPPUKU&MATCHA will continue to convey the appeal of matcha and hojicha in new forms, delivering value originating from Japan to the world."
◾️Brand Overview
IPPUKU&MATCHA is a Japanese tea brand that re-edits the experience of Japanese tea for modern times. It communicates the aroma, umami, and beauty of traditional ingredients like matcha and hojicha, both domestically and internationally, through sweets, chocolates, drinks, and lifestyle products. The brand name "Ippuku" (一服) embodies the desire to calm the mind and reclaim rich moments in a busy daily life. It aims to propose the ancient Japanese culture of "tea time" in a way that resonates with modern sensibilities. The tea leaves used are carefully selected high-quality domestic tea leaves from Uji, Kyoto. To maximize the inherent appeal of the ingredients, product development focuses on aroma, melt-in-your-mouth texture, lingering finish, and design. IPPUKU&MATCHA continues to challenge itself to create new value for Japanese tea, redefining matcha not merely as a Japanese ingredient, but as a luxury and cultural ingredient that is globally recognized.
◾️Store Locations
⚫︎IPPUKU&MATCHA Nihonbashi Store
〒103-0022 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower 1F
TEL 03-6262-3224
⚫︎IPPUKU&MATCHA National Stadium Store
〒160-0013 10-1 Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo MUFG Stadium 4F
◾️Official Website
Official HP: https://ippukuandmatcha.jp/
Keywords:
Among them, the popular product "UJI HOJICHA SEASALT" received the highest GOLD award in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, three products using Uji matcha also won two SILVER awards and one BRONZE award, demonstrating the global potential of Japanese tea ingredients.
Four products, including "Uji Hojicha Salt," which won the highest award in Asia at the International Chocolate Awards 2026.
◾️Award Details
GOLD *Highest in Asia
"UJI HOJICHA SEASALT"
SILVER
"UJI MATCHA"
"UJI MATCHA MILK"
BRONZE
"UJI MATCHA SEASALT&PINKPEPPER"
◾️Uji Matcha and Hojicha from Japan, recognized globally
IPPUKU&MATCHA carefully selects high-quality Uji tea with excellent aroma, umami, and lingering finish. This award is not merely an evaluation of flavor, but a testament to the global recognition of:
・The rich aroma inherent in the tea leaves
・The harmonious balance of elegant bitterness and sweetness
・Innovation through delicate pairings
・The uniqueness of Japanese tea culture
Matcha has evolved from being "something to drink" to "an ingredient valued globally." IPPUKU&MATCHA expresses this new potential in the form of chocolate. The source of this globally recognized quality comes from tea leaves carefully cultivated by contract tea farmers in Uji, Kyoto.
◾️Next Stage: The World Final
The award-winning products will be eligible for entry into the upcoming International Chocolate Awards World Final 2026. From Asia to the world, IPPUKU&MATCHA continues to communicate the new value of Japanese tea.
◾️Comment from Representative Director Takuya Sato
"Japan has a wonderful culture of matcha and hojicha that we can be proud of globally. We have always aimed to express its value not just by 'preserving tradition as it is,' but by reinterpreting it with modern sensibilities and within the context of global food culture. To be recognized on the global stage of the International Chocolate Awards is a great encouragement for us, and at the same time, it is proof that the potential of Japanese tea ingredients has reached the world. This award is not solely due to our efforts, but also thanks to the producers who consistently create high-quality tea every day, and our customers who support the brand. I express my heartfelt gratitude. IPPUKU&MATCHA will continue to convey the appeal of matcha and hojicha in new forms, delivering value originating from Japan to the world."
◾️Brand Overview
IPPUKU&MATCHA is a Japanese tea brand that re-edits the experience of Japanese tea for modern times. It communicates the aroma, umami, and beauty of traditional ingredients like matcha and hojicha, both domestically and internationally, through sweets, chocolates, drinks, and lifestyle products. The brand name "Ippuku" (一服) embodies the desire to calm the mind and reclaim rich moments in a busy daily life. It aims to propose the ancient Japanese culture of "tea time" in a way that resonates with modern sensibilities. The tea leaves used are carefully selected high-quality domestic tea leaves from Uji, Kyoto. To maximize the inherent appeal of the ingredients, product development focuses on aroma, melt-in-your-mouth texture, lingering finish, and design. IPPUKU&MATCHA continues to challenge itself to create new value for Japanese tea, redefining matcha not merely as a Japanese ingredient, but as a luxury and cultural ingredient that is globally recognized.
◾️Store Locations
⚫︎IPPUKU&MATCHA Nihonbashi Store
〒103-0022 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower 1F
TEL 03-6262-3224
⚫︎IPPUKU&MATCHA National Stadium Store
〒160-0013 10-1 Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo MUFG Stadium 4F
◾️Official Website
Official HP: https://ippukuandmatcha.jp/
Keywords: