[Tea Gifts] About 57% Responded "Very Happy and Definitely Want to Drink Again!" Scenes for Gifting Include "Ochugen," "Souvenir/Thank You," and "Oseibo"

In What Scenes Are Tea Gifts Received With Joy?

For seasonal greetings or small tokens of appreciation.

Tea has long been a staple gift for Japanese people.

It has an elegant appearance, a familiar taste, and seems likely to please anyone.

So, how do recipients actually feel about it?

Therefore, in collaboration with Kenseien Co., Ltd., a specialty health tea store, we conducted a survey on "Tea Gift Usage and Gifting Culture" targeting 400 men and women nationwide who responded in a preliminary survey that they "have a habit of drinking tea (green tea, roasted green tea, barley tea, gyokuro, etc.) daily."

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Survey Overview: "Survey on Tea Gift Usage and Gifting Culture"

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

Survey Period: June 18, 2026 - June 25, 2026

Target Respondents: Nationwide men and women who responded in a preliminary survey that they "have a habit of drinking tea (green tea, roasted green tea, barley tea, gyokuro, etc.) daily."

Valid Responses: 400 samples

Questions:

Question 1: Have you ever "given" or "received" tea as a gift or present?

Question 2: In what scenes did you give tea as a gift? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 3: What did you prioritize when choosing tea as a gift? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 4: Please tell us what you prioritized most and the reason for it.

Question 5: Have you ever had an experience of "trouble or difficulty" when choosing tea as a gift?

Question 6: In what ways did you hesitate? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 7: When you received a tea gift, did you have an experience of "being happy and wanting to drink it again"?

Question 8: Please tell us the reason for feeling that way and the characteristics of the tea.

*In principle, values are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

51.5% Responded That They Have Experience Receiving Tea Gifts

First, we asked those who answered that they "have a habit of drinking tea (green tea, roasted green tea, barley tea, gyokuro, etc.) daily" if they had ever "given" or "received" tea as a gift or present.

The results were: 26.5% "Received but never given," 25.0% "Both given and received," and 3.8% "Given but never received."

In total, 51.5% have received tea as a gift, and 28.8% have given tea as a gift.

On the other hand, 44.8% had "neither experience."

While tea is often received as a gift, there is a tendency to give it less often.

Although it is familiar in daily life, its use as a gift still seems to have some room for expansion.

Situations where it can be used as a small gift may continue to increase in the future.

50.4% Responded That "Ochugen" Was the Scene for Gifting Tea

Next, we asked those who answered that they had experience giving tea as a gift about the scenes in which they gave tea as a gift.

The most common scene was "Ochugen" at 50.4%.

This was followed by "Souvenir/Thank You/Gratitude to Those Who Have Helped Me" at 47.0%, and "Oseibo" at 46.1%.

The top three scenes, "Ochugen," "Souvenir/Thank You," and "Oseibo," are all occasions for expressing gratitude and greetings.

Tea is unlikely to be disliked and has a long shelf life, making it easy to give to anyone.

Its versatility, fitting even formal occasions, may be why it continues to be chosen as a staple.

49.6% Responded That "Sense of Luxury/Formality as a Gift" Is Prioritized When Choosing Gifts

Next, we asked those who answered that they had experience giving tea as a gift what they prioritized when choosing tea for gifts.

The most common answer was "Sense of luxury/formality as a gift" at 49.6%.

This was followed by "Origin/Brand Recognition (Shizuoka, Uji, Yame, etc.)" at 46.1%, and "Ease of Drinking/Taste Enjoyable by Anyone" at 29.6%.

We also asked about the reasons, and here are some excerpts:

Please tell us what you prioritized most and the reason for it.

- "When it's a gift, I want to give a good quality item." (40s, Male)

- "I wanted it to be something memorable." (50s, Male)

- "I choose something luxurious that I wouldn't normally buy for myself." (50s, Female)

- "Because the recipient will be pleased with something from a well-known brand or origin." (50s, Male)

- "Luxurious brand's stylish and fashionable package design." (40s, Female)

"Luxury" and "Origin/Brand Recognition" were particularly emphasized. This suggests that people consider the impression and sense of security the gift will make.

Looking at the reasons, many comments such as "The recipient will be pleased with a brand they know" and "When it's a gift, I want to give a good quality item" indicate a desire to make a proper impression on the recipient.

In addition, the design and specialness of the packaging are also selection criteria, indicating that the gift's appearance is important.

It's likely that, unlike everyday items, people pay attention to the visual aspect as well as the taste when choosing gifts.

85.2% Responded That They "Had No Trouble" When Choosing Tea Gifts

Next, we asked those who had experience giving tea as a gift if they had ever "had trouble or difficulty" when choosing tea gifts.

The results were: 14.8% answered "Had trouble," and 85.2% answered "Had no trouble."

This shows that most people do not have significant difficulty choosing tea gifts and can select them relatively smoothly.

The sense of security as a staple and the ease of choosing it as a gift are likely reasons why tea gifts are popular.

52.9% Responded That They "Didn't Know the Recipient's Preferences or What Tea They Usually Drink" When Choosing Tea Gifts

Next, we asked those who had experience "trouble or difficulty" when choosing tea gifts about the points that caused them to hesitate.

The most common reason was "Didn't know the recipient's preferences or what tea they usually drink" at 52.9%.

This was followed by "There were too many choices and I didn't know which one to pick" at 41.2%, and "I didn't know how to judge the quality/grade" at 35.3%.

The desire to please the recipient is precisely why the abundance of choices and differences in preferences can lead to hesitation.

As gifts are something that people tend to be cautious about the more they think about the recipient, clearer criteria and ease of selection will likely be desired in the future.

57.3% Responded That They "Were Very Happy and Definitely Wanted to Drink It Again" When Receiving Tea Gifts

Finally, we asked those who had experience receiving tea gifts if they had ever "been happy and wanted to drink it again."

The results showed that 57.3% responded "Very happy and definitely wanted to drink it again," exceeding half. Additionally, 21.8% said "Was happy, but it was tea I wouldn't choose myself," and 20.9% said "Didn't leave much of an impression."

We also asked for the reasons and characteristics of the tea, and here are some excerpts.

Respondents who answered "Very happy and definitely wanted to drink it again"

- "I got to taste the deliciousness from a specialty store." (20s, Male)

- "I was happy to discover a brand I didn't know." (30s, Male)

- "It was delicious as new tea." (30s, Female)

Respondents who answered "Was happy, but it was tea I wouldn't choose myself"

- "It was a very bitter tea." (30s, Male)

- "It was a brand from a distant place, and I had never tasted it before, so it was an unknown pleasure." (40s, Male)

- "It was shiitake mushroom tea." (50s, Female)

Respondents who answered "Didn't leave much of an impression"

- "It was just ordinary tea." (30s, Female)

- "I feel happier receiving coffee etc. than tea." (40s, Female)

- "There was no one else to drink it with." (40s, Male)

Approximately 60% felt that they "wanted to drink it again" after receiving a tea gift.

This suggests that tea is a gift that is hard to dislike and has a familiar taste for Japanese people.

Among those who answered "Very happy and want to drink again," there were comments like "I got to taste the deliciousness from a specialty store" and "I was happy to discover a brand I didn't know," indicating enjoyment of new tea experiences. Many people also feel a sense of specialness from flavors they wouldn't normally choose for themselves.

On the other hand, among those who answered "Was happy, but wouldn't choose it myself," there were comments like "It was a very bitter tea" and "I had never tasted it before, so it was an unknown pleasure," showing surprise and freshness from encountering a taste different from their usual preferences.

Furthermore, among those who answered "Didn't leave much of an impression," there were opinions such as "It was just ordinary tea" and "I prefer coffee," suggesting that compatibility with daily preferences influences the impression.

The impression received from a tea gift may change depending on how well the giver considers the recipient's preferences.

Summary

In this survey, 57.3% of people responded that they "were very happy and definitely wanted to drink it again" after receiving a tea gift.

The top scenes for gifting tea were "Ochugen," "Souvenir/Thank You," and "Oseibo," indicating that it is chosen for occasions of gratitude and greetings.

When choosing, "luxury" and "origin/brand recognition" are prioritized, while recipients find joy not only in the taste and aroma but also in the fresh discovery of brands they wouldn't normally encounter.

Tea is a staple gift, yet it also offers the enjoyment of anticipation until opening and the discovery when drinking.

A carefully chosen item can become an opportunity to add a little special time to everyday life.

It is likely to continue to be chosen as a gift that allows feelings to be conveyed without burden, for both the giver and the receiver.

<For Use in Articles, etc.>

- State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Group Co., Ltd. and Kenseien Co., Ltd., a specialty health tea store."

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【About Kenseien Co., Ltd.】

Company Name: Kenseien Co., Ltd.

Address: 1-1-13 Arao, Minami-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, 861-4136

Representative: Toshiro Hamada

Tel: 096-358-0115

URL: https://kenseien.com/

Business Activities: A tea manufacturer specializing in health teas and herbal teas. Manufactures and sells products that can be safely consumed, such as rooibos tea, black bean tea, and barley tea, focusing on health teas, all additive-free and caffeine-free. Also operates an online tea shop under the brand "Yaenadeshiko."

【About NEXER Group Co., Ltd.】

Headquarters: Rise Arena Bldg. 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-0013

President and CEO: Yuya Miyata

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

Business Activities: SEO, Web Branding, Web Advertising, Site Production, Media