For Sanya Malhotra it was love at first sip when she tried matcha. It all started when she wanted to cut back on caffeine and tried this as an alternative. Slowly she converted her friends and family to it. Today that love has translated into her foraying into entrepreneurship, with own brand. She has partnered with Essenzaa Nutrition to launch Bree Matcha.

As we get on a video call, the Jawan and Dangal actor is sipping on a tall glass of the beverage. “I used to have coffee every morning. I realised a coffee made me feel jittery and anxious and I used to get caffeine crashes. So, I decided to stay away from caffeine. But I still missed my daily ritual of making a cup of coffee. A couple of years ago, a friend suggested I try matcha. When I made my first matcha, I fell in love with it. I felt energised but I did not feel anxious or jittery. And then as I read more about it, I found out about its other benefits too, such as the antioxidants it contains.”

Sanya could never find the right quality of matcha in India; she used to get matcha from friends who were travelling abroad. So she decided to launch her own brand. Essenzaa has been in the wellness industry for 14 years, and exports products to 23 countries. The Mumbai-based nutraceutical and herbal contract manufacturing company was co-founded by Kunal Shah and Siddharth Shah. It seemed like a good fit.

The brand has three products available, everyday matcha, ceremonial matcha, and a ceremonial matcha kit. Bree sources its matcha from Kagoshima prefecture in Japan, an area known for its active volcanoes. “The region is extremely rich in volcanic soil,” says Siddharth.

Bree Matcha kit
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

What is ceremonial matcha?

Siddharth explains the difference between the ceremonial grade and the everyday grade of matcha. “The difference is the number of harvests. The first harvest of the season is called ceremonial. It is brighter, greener, and more appealing on the taste palate. It can be had with just water. Whereas the everyday is more like the third or fourth harvest. It tastes a little bolder. It is generally used in lattes, in food or for baking.”

He shares numbers of the matcha industry in India. “These are estimated figures. The current Indian matcha market stands at around ₹450 crores. And they are touting it to grow to ₹850 crores by 2030. But in my opinion, the industry is going to be even bigger.” Bree is also doing B2B sales to cafes and restaurants.

Sanya Malhotra with co-founders Kunal Shah and Siddharth Shah

Matcha is an acquired taste and a divisive subject, but both Siddharth and Sanya say they have converted their families to replace their morning chai with matcha. It being trending right now has worked really well for the brand, but Sanya has been a matcha evangelist for many years now.

On the work front, Sanya is busy with projects at hand. She is working on Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, and another movie opposite Bobby Deol, that is directed by Anurag Kashyap.

Prices start at ₹600 upwards. Bree Matcha is available online and on quick commerce platforms