At Chiharu Matcha, we respect your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect when you visit our website or place an order, how we use it, and the choices you have. We've tried to keep it clear and free of legal jargon — if anything is confusing, please reach out.

What We Collect

When you visit chiharumatcha.com, we automatically collect basic device and browsing information — like your IP address, browser type, time zone, and which pages you view. This helps us understand how visitors use the site and improve your experience.

When you place an order or sign up for our newsletter, we also collect:

• Your name and email address
• Shipping and billing addresses
• Payment information (processed securely through our payment provider — we never see or store your full card details)
• Phone number (optional, for shipping updates)
• Any messages you send us

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process and ship your orders
• Communicate with you about your order, pre-order timing, or subscription
• Respond to your questions and support requests
• Send you occasional updates or newsletters (only if you've opted in — and you can unsubscribe anytime)
• Detect and prevent fraud
• Improve our website, products, and customer experience

Cookies

Like most websites, we use cookies — small text files stored in your browser — to keep your cart working, remember your preferences, and analyze site traffic. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some parts of the site may not work as expected if you do.

Third-Party Services

To run our shop, we rely on a few trusted partners who handle parts of the experience:

• Shopify — hosts our store and processes orders
• RecurPay — manages our subscription service
• Payment processors (e.g., Shopify Payments, PayPal) — handle secure payment transactions
• Shipping carriers (USPS, UPS, DHL) — deliver your orders
• Email service providers — send order confirmations and newsletters
• Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) — help us understand site performance

Each of these services has its own privacy policy, which we encourage you to review.

Your Rights

Depending on where you live (including the EU, UK, and California), you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we have about you
• Correct any inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your data
• Opt out of marketing communications at any time
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, just email us at chiharumatcha1@gmail.com and we'll take care of it.

Data Retention

We keep your order information for as long as needed to fulfill your purchases, provide customer service, and comply with legal and tax requirements. If you'd like your data removed beyond that, please reach out.

Security

Our site uses SSL encryption to protect data as it travels between your browser and our servers. We work with reputable partners who take security seriously, but no system is 100% secure. If you ever suspect a security issue, please let us know immediately.

Children's Privacy

Our site is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we'll delete it.

International Customers

Chiharu Matcha is based in the United States. If you're ordering from outside the U.S., please note that your information will be transferred to and processed in the U.S., which may have different data protection laws than your country. By placing an order, you consent to this transfer.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be communicated via email or a notice on our website.

Thank you for trusting us with your information.
— Mark