We’ve both always loved coffee culture and have visited hundreds of coffee shops, but due to health reasons, we began to look for alternatives. Once we discovered organic high-quality matcha, it became more than just a drink – it became a ritual and a part of our health journey. We fell in love with its calm energy, versatility, and the way it makes you feel good without the crash. It started as a personal obsession and turned into a passion we wanted to share with all our friends and family.

There weren’t many places in the desert and throughout Southern California offering quality organic matcha, so we thought—why not us? We started small, doing pop-ups at local markets, and quickly saw there was a real demand for quality matcha and fun, elevated drinks. The pop-ups allowed us to connect directly with our community and refine our vision. In fact, our first official pop-up was at a pumpkin patch at All Color Growers nursery in Bermuda Dunes. There, we discovered that we may have created something the valley really wanted and appreciated. Soon after, we continued popping up at the Indio Farmers Market on Saturdays and from there expanded to pop-ups at Blonde Alibi hair salon in La Quinta, Kaylie Nicole boutique on El Paseo, and Hagit Taylor Design on El Paseo. We are so grateful for the partnerships we developed with all these amazing businesses that allowed us to grow as a business and share our matcha with the valley.

Lots of trial and error! We definitely dove into tutorials online, read everything we could, reached out to farms in Japan, and experimented nonstop. But honestly, most of it came from hands-on experience, trying things out, listening to feedback, and learning what people loved. We still treat it like a craft we’re always perfecting.

We value quality and organic ingredients. We wanted full control over flavor and quality. A lot of store-bought syrups are packed with artificial ingredients, and that didn’t feel aligned with the purity of matcha and our personal health standards. Creating our own syrups allows us to get creative and seasonal, and we think it really sets our drinks apart. We also have several friends and customers who overcame cancer through holistic methods such as consuming organic products. It became important to us to offer drinks that would align with people’s health standards

The community. 100%. We’ve met so many incredible people, from loyal customers to fellow small business owners who have now become our friends – many like family. Watching people light up over a drink we crafted is honestly the best feeling.

We create matcha moments for people to connect, feel loved, and enjoy life.

We always had our eyes on El Paseo. It’s a vibrant, walkable area that felt ready for something fresh and modern. We are grateful to Michelle Davidson from The Firm Brokerage, who helped us find a space on El Paseo that had the outside look we were going for. Design-wise, we wanted it to feel like an escape—minimal, calming, organic, and a little unexpected. Hagit Taylor and her amazing team—Thea and Salome— took our vision and made it a reality! Even though our space is small, it is mighty: beautiful and inspiring!

Tough call, but right now we’re loving our coconut matcha—it’s perfectly soothing and refreshing for the summer. Ask us next week, though, and we might have a new fave! We do love our secret flavors that we change often with seasonal and surprise creations.

Editor’s note: I’ve never been a coconut person (like at all!), but tried their coconut matcha on a whim and am hooked. It’s that good!

How supportive the majority of people are! It’s a smaller community, but people show up and rally behind local businesses. Also, we’re constantly surprised by how many people are craving new, wellness-forward options like our organic matcha

Start before you’re ready and work really hard. Seriously! You’ll never have it all figured out, but if you wait for perfect, you’ll miss your shot. Stay flexible, stay humble, and build a brand that feels true to you. Choose to celebrate others and don’t forget to prioritize your family in the midst of all the hard work.

Be consistent, be authentic, and engage. Care more about people than just your business. Show your face, tell your story, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. People connect with people, not just products.

The pace. There’s something grounding about life in our valley. There’s a reason why so many individuals choose to vacation and retire out here. There is peace and tranquility with lots of luxury available, as well as nature and simplicity. Such a beautiful combination – great for raising a family or simply finding rest and relaxation.

We have so many great spots throughout our desert. We are big fans of Gabino’s Creperie (pictured). We also enjoy taco trucks and the amazing restaurants on El Paseo!

We love local spots like Kaylie Nicole boutique (pictured), Hagit Taylor Design, Piero’s PizzaVino restaurant, Mole, Tommy Bahama, and, of course, La Dolce Piccola Gelateria for some great ice cream. We also love Food Truck Fridays in Indio and the Indio Farmers Market on Saturdays hosted by CV Harvest Box! We love our community!

Be sure to swing by Buena Matcha for what is certain to be the best matcha of your life! I recommend the coconut, lavender, strawberry and vanilla versions—though you really can’t go wrong with any flavor! In the meantime, follow Kayla and Nahum here to keep up with all of their matcha adventures!

(PS: If your dream home is also on the menu—please reach out! From matcha to move-ins, I’ve got you covered!)