While green tea has been a very common drink with a centuries-old history in Japan, the brewed beverage has gained popularity in the United States only in the last decade, thanks mainly to several studies noting its many health benefits.
When Taku H. Maeda came to Dallas, Texas in 1984, the Japanese entrepreneur had one mission: to make his country’s beloved green tea popular among Americans.
After moving to Irvine, California five years later, Maeda-en became the first major importer of Japanese green tea in the United States.
Committed to delivering only high quality products, Maeda-en imports only green tea from Japan, widely considered the best in its class.
Thirty years after arriving in the United States, the company has expanded its business to Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.
In 1993, Maeda-en introduced green tea ice cream, and followed that up with “mochi” ice cream (a Japanese-style rice cake filled with ice cream).
Both products have become highly sought after and the company has begun producing them in Australia.
Not content with offering 50 different green tea products, and 30 different green tea ice cream and “mochi” ice cream products, Maeda-en remains focused on its goal of developing more delicious goods to sell around the world.
- Originally prepared by Global Media for The Japan Times Special Report on Los Angeles 2014 (Credit: Conrad Becker)
