KIWA

02/27/2026

KIWA X The Bluegrass Witch ( )

Some of you have read about the little card things on the other postings.

When we thought about how to connect this spring menu to the neighborhood, The Bluegrass Witch came to mind naturally.

Located at 2040 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, The Bluegrass Witch is a space for gathering tools and treasures that support spiritual practice, whether you are just beginning or deepening your path. Their shop carries handmade crystal jewelry, ritual bath blends, intentional tea blends, beeswax candles, burn bundles, and other thoughtfully curated goods, made in house or sourced with care, with an emphasis on ethical gemstones and fair trade partnerships.

Beyond the shop, they host circles, classes, workshops, and seasonal gatherings that invite learning, connection, and community.

For this spring menu, each drink at KIWA comes with one illustrated card. Collect all 9 cards, and you can redeem a $10 coupon at The Bluegrass Witch.

This collaboration feels aligned with how we want KIWA to exist. Quiet storytelling. Small objects you keep. Local spaces supporting one another. We hope it gives you one more reason to wander Frankfort Ave slowly this spring.

02/27/2026

Our spring menu is inspired by the many food cultures of Asia.

This season, we are working with ingredients that feel close to many Asians and Asian Americans, but still carry stories worth slowing down for. Filipino ube. Japanese sakura and matcha. Korean first blushing tea. Oolong teas from China and Taiwan. Black sesame, found across many Asian kitchens.
If you were with us when KIWA first opened, you might remember the small menu cards we shared with a few of our signature drinks. Back then, KIWA began as a way to introduce Korean ingredients and places that mattered to us. Quiet, personal, and very specific.

Now, two full cycles of four seasons in, KIWA feels a little more settled. And a little more curious.
This spring, we are gently widening the lens.

There are nine new drinks on the menu, each paired with a small illustrated card designed by our staff member Nikki. Collect all nine, and you will receive a $10 coupon redeemable at our lovely neighbor, The Bluegrass Witch, for yourself or someone you love this spring.

02/16/2026

02/04/2026

Valentine’s Day special at KIWA.

We created our Korean Dubai Mochi Ball box set, our own version of 두쫀쿠 (Dujjonku, Dubai Chewy Mochi Cookie), inspired by the popular Korean trend and made the KIWA way. Soft and chewy marshmallow coating on the outside, with a crispy, crunchy, and sweet center made from kadaif, white chocolate, and nut based pastes inside.

Each box comes with three flavors: strawberry, matcha, and chocolate (flavor selection not available). This is preorder and pickup only, with limited quantities available. Price is $24 plus tax. Pickup at KIWA, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville.

To place your order, please use the link in our bio or scan the QR code. Payment via Venmo to confirm your preorder. A small Valentine’s gift from KIWA, quietly sweet, made to share.

02/03/2026

Same leaf, different paths.
Green tea keeps things fresh by stopping oxidation early.
Black tea goes all in, creating depth and warmth.
It all comes down to process, heat, and time.

Tea is broadly categorized into six types by processing method: white, green, yellow, blue, black, and dark.

Fun fact. Black tea is known as red tea (紅茶) in East Asia, because the brewed liquor in the cup turns a burgundy red, while Western naming comes from the dark color of the dried leaves.

Another fun fact. Blue tea is not actually cobalt blue. Traditionally, it refers to oolong style teas. Butterfly pea is not a true tea, but a herbal infusion.

Come to KIWA and enjoy authentic teas, and see the color in your cup.

01/28/2026

Anyone can make a good cup of tea, even your toddler. At KIWA, we are sharing a few simple tips to help you brew tea without the bitterness.
If your tea tastes too bitter, it is usually not the tea. It is the temperature or the time.
Tea has amino acids that bring soft umami, and polyphenols that add astringency. Amino acids come out first. Polyphenols show up more with higher heat and longer steeping.
So here is an easy way to remember. Gentle teas open easily. Bold teas need more heat and time.
Green tea 150 to 160°F 1 to 2 minutes.
Black tea 195 to 205°F 2 to 3 minutes.
Herbal tea 205°F 5 minutes.
But tea is personal. Brew hotter and shorter, or cooler and longer. What matters most is the total heat and time.
Find your balance, and let the tea open at its own pace

01/27/2026

Looking for a cozy WFH spot? KIWA's got you covered with hot tea and chill vibes

01/26/2026

In Korea, tea was only part of the story. Before modern medicine, Korean medicine shaped how people thought about the body and what they drank.
Ingredients were understood by their nature. Some cooled the body, some warmed it. Warm drinks were often chosen in winter or when the body felt cold, not as a cure but as daily care.
Today feels like a warm drink kind of day, and if it’s hard to come to KIWA today, here are two simple recipes you can easily make at home: honey ginger tea and chai milk tea.
You can find the detailed recipes in slides 3 and 4 of this post.