You know how it’s incredibly hard to start the beginning of an essay? That’s honestly something I’ve struggled with, whether it’s starting a project, a new job, or a new task…I was never really good at turning on that lightbulb. Suzu was brought to life, not because I suddenly had an epiphany. There wasn’t a dramatic pivotal moment where I suddenly realized I wanted to start a matcha business. And I know that’s not exactly the founder story that you’re supposed to tell, but it’s the one that I have. 

Just a series of ordinary, seemingly mundane moments after leaving my 9-5 without a plan. In those extra 8 hours I got back after leaving my corporate job, I gave myself permission to finally pick up random hobbies with no intention in mind. 

Safe to say, I gave up pretty quickly (props to all the ceramicists out there because pottery is too hard). Months went by without a solid plan and there wasn’t a single day where I didn’t question my decision on quitting cold turkey. And as cliché as it sounds, I truly found my will to start Suzu when I wasn’t even looking for it. It started with my husband’s matcha bowl and whisk (I didn’t even own one!), a lot of trial and error in the afternoons when I wanted coffee but didn’t know how to use the espresso machine. 

Fact: when I started whisking matcha, I whisked in circles.

Somewhere between whisking and the curiosity, I began connecting with Japanese farmers about matcha. I’m grateful that I had the chance to visit and connect with the local farmers, where they shared their stories, challenges, and their passion for tea making! Having tea in the mountains was also very cool :)

To me, Suzu is not just matcha and not just a brand. Suzu is something built from my dreams, my hope, and my idea of what freedom and imagination can look like. To me, it embodies the idea of slower, mindful living, and understanding that your path isn’t defined by the traditions of the modern grind. And lastly, Suzu also represents all my fears: the fear of the ordinary, the mundane, the fear of expression, and the fear of unpredictability. 

We're here for the person who's curious about matcha but doesn't know where to start. And a little selfishly, we're here for the younger version of me: the one who spent summers outside without knowing where the day went, and who didn't need a reason to feel content.

I’m glad you stopped by :)