Blend tea is made by combining different teas and a variety of ingredients. Depending on the types of tea leaves and the combinations of ingredients, the aromas and flavors are endless.
What comes to mind when you hear “blend tea”? Perhaps something slightly brownish and fragrant?
The blend teas I encountered at JAZZ & TEA in Kamihigashi, Kurashiki City, overturned that image.
JAZZ & TEA creates one-of-a-kind blend teas.
They listen to jazz and imagine the music as they blend tea leaves and other ingredients to create each blend. The finished teas are beautiful to look at, in shades of red, yellow, purple, blue, and more. Just like their colors, their flavors are inspired by jazz, ranging from dazzlingly vibrant to slightly astringent.
We visited JAZZ & TEA, where you can discover a new world of blend tea.
The information presented is current as of the article’s publication in September 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Purchasing blend tea and taking lessons are both by appointment only
JAZZ & TEA is in a residential neighborhood in Kamihigashi, Kurashiki City, between Kurashiki City and Okayama City.
From the parking lot, the building looks like a home, but the atmosphere changes completely as you follow the path to the showroom. The English garden, overflowing with flowers and greenery, makes you forget you are in a residential neighborhood in Kurashiki City, drawing you straight into the world of JAZZ & TEA.
After walking halfway around the building, a glass-fronted showroom comes into view.
At the showroom, you can purchase from more than 100 kinds of blend tea or take tea lessons. Both are by appointment only. We were told this arrangement allows them to give each customer their full attention.
Sunlight streams into the bright interior, which is unified by chic black decor.
There is a comfortable sofa, and the shelves are lined with blend teas. As of August 2026, they reportedly offer 110 varieties. Each of the 110 blend teas expresses a different musical world. New blending ideas keep coming to mind, so the selection will likely continue to grow.
Expressing jazz through blend tea
Before visiting for this article, I thought the “TEA” in JAZZ & TEA referred to black tea, but it is not limited to black tea. A variety of ingredients are blended, including green tea and Chinese tea as well as black tea. Apparently, “TEA” refers to blend tea in general, not just black tea.
What makes JAZZ & TEA special is that its teas are more than simple blends.
JAZZ & TEA tea blender Miyazono Misuzu draws inspiration from jazz pieces to create each blend. The 110 blend teas each have their own distinctive aroma, color, and flavor.
In addition, all ingredients are naturally derived, and no flavorings or colorings are used.
Savoring blend tea with all five senses
You may wonder, “Why are purchases by appointment only, too?”
At JAZZ & TEA, rather than simply choosing a product from the shelf, you can discuss your preferences in detail and find a blend tea you like while sampling different teas.
For our visit, they prepared some of their popular blends. Some had astonishingly vivid colors that stood out beautifully against the black interior.
They prepared six varieties. Each product is named after a jazz piece.
Since this was a reporting visit, they selected the varieties for us, but when shopping, you can sample whichever ones you like.
’S Wonderful
“’S Wonderful” is the black tea that inspired the creation of JAZZ & TEA.
Like the song, its flavor is light and lively. It starts out bright, then leaves a lingering black tea finish. It seems like it would pair well with anything and is perfect alongside a snack.
True Blue
It is a beautiful piece featuring a trumpet and saxophone duet.
As its name suggests, the blend tea is a beautiful blue. I was surprised to notice the flavor of Job’s tears in the aftertaste. It is a refreshing cup.
Velvet Moon
It sounds like the kind of song you might hear playing in a stylish bar.
A flowing melody is occasionally punctuated by a light, lilting tune.
They say they expressed this song, which evokes scenes from dusk into the night, with a reddish-purple color. The blend includes olive leaves grown in Kurashiki City by Kanabe Olive Farm. A subtle astringency sets the mood for an evening for grown-ups.
Misty
“Misty” is a sweet, romantic song.
The blend tea tastes astonishingly sweet, as if it had captured sweet feelings of love. After the startling sweetness, a clean, lemon-like tartness comes through. It must be a bittersweet romance.
Stella by Starlight
“Stella by Starlight,” with its strikingly clear singing voice, is a beautiful, poignant song.
Its color is a clear purple, as if reflecting the night. They say they use lavender and other ingredients to create the hue. The apple flavor expresses the way the song’s mellow melody gently fades away.
C'est si bon
“C'est si bon” is a lighthearted, cheerful-sounding song.
Green tea forms the base, with subtle aromas of refreshing lemon verbena and fragrant rose. This approachable blend has a simple yet floral flavor.
International Award Wins
JAZZ & TEA has won international awards.
At AVPA Teas of the World 2025, it received a Bronze Award, with the flavor of the blended tea itself earning recognition. This, they say, confirmed that they were on the right track with the flavor profile.
By contrast, they entered the London Design Awards 2026 to see where the brand stood.
Rather than selling a large number of blended teas, JAZZ & TEA aims to share the “experience” as a culture. They invite customers to sample blended teas while listening to music and enjoy their colors and aromas with all five senses.
Customers choose tea leaves while thinking of the person they will give them to, or as a treat for themselves. The experience JAZZ & TEA envisions is the time spent buying blended tea in its showroom.
Enjoying the aroma and flavor of the blended tea at home after taking it back is also part of the experience. What they sell is the experience itself. At the London Design Awards 2026, JAZZ & TEA received a Silver Winner award in recognition not of an individual product, but of its brand, design, and approach to the experience.
These two awards brought international recognition from two different perspectives: “flavor” and “brand/experience.”
Inspired by jazz, JAZZ & TEA designs blends by translating music into aroma, color, and flavor, creating blended teas that have earned international recognition. We spoke with tea blender Miyazono Misuzu.
JAZZ & TEA Information
| Name | JAZZ & TEA |
|---|---|
| Address | 309-1 Kamihigashi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 070-3782-1238 |
| Parking | Available 4 spaces |
| Hours | [Monday–Wednesday, Friday] 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. [Thursday, Saturday] 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Sundays and public holidays |
| Payment methods |
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| Website | JAZZ & TEA |
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