Is Kettl matcha in stock in 2026?
Partially. As of June 2026, Kettl has approximately 18 of 26 tracked blends in stock (~69% availability). That's better than most specialty importers — but worse than Ippodo (8/8) and Marukyu Koyamaen (7/7), which maintain full catalogs. The difference is Kettl's sourcing model: they pull from multiple Japanese farms across Uji, Kagoshima, and Yame, and their most constrained blends are single-harvest, named-farm, single-cultivar releases — exactly the tiers bearing the full weight of the 2026 Uji tencha shortage. Uji-origin and farm-specific blends are most frequently OOS; Kagoshima-sourced blends hold more reliably since Kagoshima production stayed steady through 2025–2026. Restocks are announced via Kettl's newsletter with no fixed schedule. High-demand blends (Shirakawa-origin) sell out within hours of restock.
Which Kettl blends are in stock now?
Reliable availability (in stock as of June 2026): Hakusan ($1.00/g, Yame origin, umami 8, bitterness 3) — entry ceremonial and the most consistently stocked Kettl blend. Suiteki ($1.00/g, Nishio, umami 7, body 8) and Seion ($1.22/g, Nishio) have held availability. Kagoshima-origin seasonal blends tend to remain available between harvests; replenished on a predictable annual schedule. Frequently OOS: Shirakawa Asahi ($3.95/g, Asahi cultivar, Uji district) — sells out fastest when it restocks. Any single-cultivar Uji release — Okumidori, Samidori, Gokou from Uji farms — constrained by tencha yield. First-harvest (ichibancha) releases — annual May window, sell out in hours. Price range across the full catalog: entry $0.65–$1.00/g, mid $1.00–$2.50/g, premium $2.50–$4.00/g, ultra-premium $4.00–$7.00/g.
How does Kettl's availability compare to other premium brands?
Kettl's 26-blend catalog is the largest of any single brand in our tracking database. The breadth is the point — they source across Japan to give buyers access to regional and cultivar diversity that direct-producer brands (Ippodo, Marukyu) don't offer. The trade-off in 2026: more sourcing diversity means more single-harvest blends, which is exactly where shortage hits hardest. Ippodo: 8/8 in stock. Marukyu Koyamaen: 7/7 in stock. Kettl: ~18/26 in stock (~69%). Market average May 2026: 82.7% in stock across 133 blends. Horii Shichimeien: ~90% OOS — not a practical retail source for US buyers right now.
What should I order from Kettl right now?
If you want something in stock with certainty: Hakusan ($1.00/g, Yame). Reliable availability, umami 8, bitterness 3 — the best entry Kettl blend that's consistently available. If you want Uji provenance: check kettl.com in real time and sign up for restock alerts — Kettl's email notifications are the only reliable signal when specific blends return. Shirakawa Asahi ($3.95/g) is their most coveted Uji blend; if it appears in stock, order immediately. If Kettl's Uji blends are OOS: Ippodo Kan ($1.10/g) or Marukyu Unkaku ($1.58/g) are the most comparable alternatives at mid-tier — both with full availability and direct Uji sourcing.