Ann's Tea Journey

My internship experience at d:matcha was exactly what I needed after years of working in traditional 9-5 corporate jobs that continuously left me feeling unfulfilled in my career. The internship showed me how meaningful each day can feel when you pursue something that aligns with your passions and interests. 

Although I've been drinking matcha for over a decade in Australia, I quickly realised at dmatcha that my matcha knowledge barely scratched the surface. Each day assisting with the tea tours and farming brought new learnings about how the tea was grown, harvested, processed, and the deep culture that surrounds it.

A highlight for me was experiencing the gentler pace of living in Wazuka, which was completely different to city life in Sydney. It felt surreal to wake up everyday with a view of the tea fields in the middle of the forest while sipping on a matcha latte, walk the dog (Gyokuro :) ), and bike through the forest to neighboring towns. Working alongside others passionate about tea and culture made each day feel so special.

What inspired me most was d:matcha’s commitment to community, sustainability, and preserving tradition. Their work to revitalise Wazuka - from repairing local shrines and restoring old buildings, and supporting an ageing tea-farming population to collaborating with potters and artists like Saeki-san - showed me the impact that passionate people can make to an entire community.

As I return to Australia, I leave with fond memories of my time at dmatcha, a deeper appreciation for sustainable and community-driven businesses, and a renewed desire to pursue work that aligns with my values and passions hopefully involving matcha.