About Us

Our Story

A ritual that traveled with her

Isshiki began with founder Angel Zheng.

Raised by her grandparents in a home centered around tea, Angel grew up seeing it as more than a drink. It was how her family slowed down, showed love, and stayed connected.

Years later, while building a life and businesses in New York City, tea remained a grounding constant. Amid the speed and demands of the city, making matcha offered a small moment to pause and return to herself.

Rolling green tea fields in Japan with black shade canopies covering rows of matcha bushes

From Uji to New York

On Jan 1, 2024, Angel decided to create a matcha café that could offer others that same sense of calm.

Soon afterward, Angel traveled to Japan, where a chance dinner introduced her to a representative from a matcha farm. Isshiki sources matcha from a multigenerational family farm in Uji, Kyoto. The craft and care behind Uji matcha are central to the brand Angel built in New York.

On Apr 20, 2024, Isshiki opened its first café inside Moko in New York’s East Village. What began as a quiet morning destination has grown into a wider community built through cafés, matcha products, workshops, events, and collaborations.

Angel Zheng holding an Isshiki matcha drink in New York's East Village

The meaning of Isshiki

Isshiki means “one color,” a reference to matcha’s vivid green and the beauty of simplicity.

For Angel, the name also represents the idea of one pillar: a steady ritual that grounds your day. “One color” is the name’s literal meaning. “One pillar” is the promise behind it.

Our Mission

Isshiki brings together Angel’s personal tea story, the craft of its Uji producers, and the energy of New York City.

Our mission is simple: to serve exceptional matcha while creating moments of calm, connection, and intention. Whether you visit one of our cafés or whisk a bowl at home, we hope Isshiki becomes one small ritual you can return to every day.