Matcha Incense Tea Warmer Starter Set — Tea Garden

This Matcha Incense Tea Warmer Starter Set captures the quiet composure of a Japanese tea room on a small folding frame, with everything you need to begin: a foldable warmer, five pressed matcha incense pieces, and a tealight candle. Disassembled it folds flat and travels easily; assembled, it stands like a miniature tea house on the corner of a desk.

Each detail draws on the visual language of the traditional Japanese tea room. The two wooden side panels are carved with the asanoha (hemp leaf) lattice, a hexagonal pattern often seen on shoji screens and antique kimonos. Because hemp grows quickly and straight, the motif has long carried a wish for healthy growth and served as a yakuyoke charm to ward off misfortune, a traditional auspicious pattern that has accompanied Japanese homes for centuries. Above the panels sits a small unglazed ceramic plate that holds the incense and suggests a flat stone placed quietly among raked gravel. A brushed stainless-steel frame bridges the panels and supports the plate, completing the tea-house silhouette.

The pressed matcha incense inside is made by INCENSE KITCHEN with fresh Uji matcha that has been rejected for food use but carries the same rich aroma as tea-grade matcha. The brand sources it directly from Uji tea farms, so nothing fragrant goes to waste.

When you run out of incense, refills are available as Pressed Matcha Incense for Tea Warmer. If you prefer a softer, rounder bamboo silhouette, see our sister set, Matcha Incense Tea Warmer Starter Set — Suruga Bamboo Craft.

How to Use

1. Place one or two incense pieces on the ceramic plate at the top, depending on how strong you would like the fragrance.
2. Set a tealight on the cork pad inside the warmer and light it. The cork pad keeps the candle slightly raised; remove it for a stronger heat or leave it in for a gentler one.
3. After about 5–10 minutes the matcha begins to release its aroma. It lasts roughly 20 minutes per side.
4. When the scent fades or the surface darkens, flip the piece over for another 20 minutes. Once both sides are spent, the piece is finished.

Details

• Set contents: 1 foldable warmer, 5 pressed matcha incense pieces, 1 tealight candle
• Size (Tea warmer): 7.3" W × 1.7" D × 2.6" H (18.5 cm W × 4.2 cm D × 6.6 cm H)
• Weight: 4.1 oz (116 g)
• Materials: wood, ceramic, stainless steel, cork, matcha
• Origin: Japan.
• Brand: INCENSE KITCHEN
• Note: Warming incense, not burning. Do not apply direct flame to the incense. Never leave a lit candle unattended.

The Story of INCENSE KITCHEN

INCENSE KITCHEN is a small atelier founded in 2020, with its workshop in Uji, Japan's most celebrated matcha-producing region. The founder grew up in Kyoto, surrounded from childhood by the city's quiet daily rituals of tea ceremony, ikebana, kimono, and incense. Before launching the brand, she studied fragrance and the way of incense at the Izumiyama Goryu school of kodo.

The brand's signature matcha incense is the only one of its kind in Japan, made with matcha as its sole aromatic ingredient. Each piece is hand-pressed in traditional wagashi molds, the same wooden tools used to shape Japanese tea sweets, which is why the incense looks so much like tiny tea-ceremony confections. Since 2021, every batch has been made with "zero-waste matcha" sourced directly from Uji tea farmers and processors. It is the same fine, fragrant Uji matcha used in tea, but cannot be sold for consumption due to food-grade specifications.