Tea from Japan.
Our story in the UAE.

Roots in Shizuoka

Born and raised in Shimizu, Shizuoka — one of Japan's most respected tea-growing regions — our founder developed a deep connection with tea from an early age.

Since 2013, she has been involved in traditional hand-rolling tea craftsmanship through the Shizuoka Hand-Rolled Tea Preservation Society. Through hands-on experience with tea cultivation, hand-picking, processing, steaming, and quality evaluation, she gained an understanding of tea that goes far beyond sourcing and selling.

In 2016, she introduced authentic Japanese tea to the UAE, later expanding into cafés and food service while remaining committed to quality, freshness, and genuine Japanese tea culture.

The First Seed in the Desert

Michiyo Chiba came to Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain in 2001 to practice experimental agriculture. Day after day, she learned what the UAE's soil and water could nurture — and that question quietly grew into a bigger one: what could be made here, from here?

From those early years, she built deep roots in Ras Al Khaimah — relationships of trust and respect that continue across the emirates today.

That spirit — local ingredients, Japanese craft — still defines Sakura today.

The UAE Pioneer of Japanese Tea

In 2016, Michiyo founded Agrak Food and Beverages Trading LLC — opening what she believes was the first Japanese-owned, authentic tea business in the UAE. Not fusion. Not a trend label. Real tea, imported from Japan, sold by someone who knew what it was for.

At the time, almost no one here was doing this. Today, matcha is on every corner — but Sakura was there first, and still runs its own shops.

She began with sweets: matcha roll cake, hojicha cake, delicate flavours baked with care. When friends asked for more, the door opened wider.

Why Our Tea Is Different

We do not select tea by brand name alone.

Every tea is chosen based on an understanding of cultivation, leaf quality, steaming methods, processing techniques, aroma, flavour balance, and suitability for daily enjoyment.

This expertise comes from years of practical experience with tea production and traditional tea craftsmanship in Japan.

• 1. Commitment to Freshness Our tea is air-freighted directly from Japan to preserve its freshness and deliver the best possible flavour.
• 2. Strict Quality Control We maintain carefully controlled storage conditions, protecting our tea from heat, sunlight, and humidity to preserve its original quality.
• 3. Expertise in Tea Selection We carefully evaluate the aroma and flavour created by different roasting techniques and select the finest tea leaves available each season.

Sakura Kitchen in RAK

In November 2018, Sakura established its production kitchen in Ras Al Khaimah — where wagashi, roll cakes and seasonal sweets are still made today for Ocha Cafe Sakura and our online shop.

The kitchen grew by listening to guests and partners — sweet by sweet, order by order. Today it focuses on production, wholesale and B2B supply rather than public dine-in.

Authentic — not fusion

Meals start with green tea in a kyusu — tea from Japan. Family recipes. Real wagashi.

Our tea flies direct from Japan by air — not sea freight, not long warehouse storage. Fresh, aromatic, and true to the source.

Honkaku — 本格. The real thing.

Ocha Cafe Sakura — Our Flagship

In September 2022, Ocha Cafe Sakura opened inside Books Kinokuniya at The Galleria, Abu Dhabi — our flagship Japanese tea café. For Michiyo, it was the natural next step after five years as a Hanaiku instructor and at ADNOC school in the city (2011–2016).

"The reason behind opening Ocha Cafe in Kinokuniya is that the café goal is not only being a place to rest, but also a place where information can be disseminated. The Kinokuniya bookstore is a source of information and also a Japanese company, so it matches my ideals." — Michiyo Chiba

Here, guests experience matcha and high-quality green tea served in teapots and cups imported directly from Japan — alongside wagashi, taiyaki and seasonal sweets from our RAK kitchen.

From Our Café to Your Table

The tea knowledge and recipes we have built at Ocha Cafe Sakura and our RAK kitchen now reach further. Visit us inside Kinokuniya, or order from our online shop — the same story, rooted in Japan, served by people who live both.