Thirty-five years ago, before “no sugar” was ever a trend, a simple idea took shape: tea should taste like tea.

Bold. Smooth. Uncomplicated.

That belief is what built Tejava, and it’s what continues to define every bottle today.

Where It All Began

The story starts with a single moment.

While visiting the United States, our founder was served iced tea at dinner. It paired seamlessly with the meal, complementing every bite, and was enjoyed by everyone at the table.

That moment stuck with our founder.

When he returned to Japan, he set out to recreate that experience—but with one key difference: no sugar, no sweeteners, no shortcuts. Just real tea, crafted to stand on its own and pair well with food.

A Journey to Find the Perfect Tea

But creating an unsweetened tea that still delivered on flavor? That wasn’t easy.

It meant years of searching—traveling the world, tasting countless varieties, refining what “perfect” could be. The goal was always the same: a tea bold enough, smooth enough, and balanced enough to need nothing else.

That journey led to the island of Java, Indonesia.

There, he found black tea leaves with a rich, full-bodied character that brought the vision to life. Brewed in small batches with water and carefully selected leaves, the result was exactly what he had imagined:

An unsweetened tea that never compromises on taste.

Tejava—Tea from Java—was born!

Moments That Shaped Tejava

From that first idea to where we are today, Tejava has grown, but never strayed from what matters most.

• 1988 – The idea is sparked: real tea, crafted to pair well with food
• 1989 – Java Tea launches in Japan
• 1990 – Tejava enters the U.S. market
• 1991 – Tejava Original Black launches in California
• 2010 – Flavor expands with Peach, Lemon, Raspberry, and Pineapple Mango black tea
• 2019 – Origins line debuts with globally inspired teas
• 2024 – A refreshed look for a timeless favorite

Each step forward, grounded in the same ideals: authentic tea taste, always.

Crafted with Care, Sourced with Purpose

From the very beginning, quality has never been a question; it’s a commitment.

Every leaf used in Tejava is sourced from the island of Java and grown on Rainforest Alliance Certified‡ farms, where care for the environment and the people behind the leaves matters just as much as the tea itself.

Because great tea doesn’t just happen, it’s grown, crafted, and perfected over time.

35 Years—and Still Brewing!

This anniversary isn’t just about looking back; it’s about everything that’s made Tejava what it is today and how we became the unsweetened tea experts.

The founder who believed tea didn’t need anything extra.
The farmers who brought each tea leaf to life.
The teams who’ve carried that vision forward.

And the people who choose Tejava as their beverage of choice each day.

You’re part of this story, too.

35 years in, we’re just getting started.

 

‡ Find out more at ra.org