The Matcha Yaad, an independent business from Birmingham, and the UK’s first Caribbean Japanese ceremonial Matcha brand, has secured listings on Holland & Barrett, bringing a fusion of Caribbean spice and Japanese ritual to a nationwide audience.

The brand’s story begins with an unlikely confession. Founder Monique (Mo) Farquharson hated matcha the first time she tried it. It was only after a bout of heart palpitations caused her to quit coffee that she gave it a real second chance and started experimenting with pairing it against the Caribbean spices she grew up with followed by two years in Japan to learn under a tea sensei.

Four products are available on Holland & Barrett, including the Gokou Matcha, which is prized in Japan and through a process of infusion rather than blending, three flavoured Matcha’s – Chocolate, Strawberry and Peach. Every product is free from all 14 major allergens and gluten free, with the powders formulated to be zero sugar, additive free and vegan.

Mo, who moved to the UK after receiving Aston University’s first ever Enterprise Scholarship, commented: “We are so pleased to have these listings on Holland & Barrett, one of the UK’s most trusted health and wellness retailers, and it is a significant milestone for me as a female founder of a passion project. It has been quite a journey from Jamaica to Japan to Birmingham and since launching the first dedicated Matcha brand in Jamaica, it was important to me that I developed the category in the UK. 

“Pairing flavour with function isn’t just a tagline, it’s the whole reason I built this brand. I know what it’s like to dismiss something before you’ve really tasted it. My job is to make sure that when someone finally gives Matcha a real chance, with us, that first sip is worth it. Going live on Holland & Barrett means that moment is now available to so many more people across the UK.”  

As well as launching further products, Mo is also keen to expand into further grocers, farm shops, and independents. For further information about the products and the wholesale offering visit https://thematchayaad.com/pages/wholesale-purchase