Tekuno is a San Francisco-based tea company focused on the quiet, expansive breadth of Japanese teas & the exquisite objects inspired by traditional tea ceremony. They source uniquely expressive and rare teas discovered through direct relationships with small-scale Japanese producers — working to represent the nuances of single origin tea while inviting all to cultivate meaningful practices around its preparation, ritual, and enjoyment. We are a curatorial collective devoted to the art of Japanese tea. Founded by Catherine Jue in 2019, they are a community guided by curiosity and connection, inspired by the time-honored lineage, distinct expertise, and beautiful complexity held in a single cup. To us, tea is a medium for a bigger message: a daily reminder that life expands when we slow down, let our senses lead, and take time to connect.
We work closely to source expressive teas from renowned independent producers, whose offerings are either outstanding representations of well-known Japanese teas or are rare varieties that are not often found outside Japan.
Their teas come from small-scale, often family-run farms — many of whom have been operating for decades if not centuries. Founder Catherine Jue's discovery of their offerings is the byproduct of extensive research, time, travel, and forging personal relationships grounded in respect, trust, and humility.
These rare, story-rich teas invite a reconnection with their origin — each variety is the byproduct of terroir and climate, of a moment in time, of tending to their cultivation through attention and reverent care in a time-honored place. They welcome a questioning of what tea “should” taste like, an exploration of nuance and complexity through the lens of palate.
