The Matcha Yaad, an online business based in 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.
Founder, Monique Farquharson (Mo), moved to Birmingham from Jamaica, after receiving Aston University’s first-ever Enterprise Scholarship. The brand’s story begins with an unlikely confession, as Mo hated Matcha the first time she tried it. It was only after suffering from heart palpitations that Mo quit coffee and gave Matcha a second chance, which resulted in her spending two years in Japan to learn under a tea sensei. Mo then started experimenting with pairing it with the Caribbean spices she grew up with and developed The Matcha Yaad.
Four products are available on the Holland & Barrett website, including the Gokou Matcha, and three delicately flavoured Matchas – Chocolate, Strawberry and Peach, each crafted without any artificial flavourings.
What started as a one-woman company has now grown to a team of three. Mo has also recently won International Alum of the Year 2026 at the PIEoneer Awards, which recognises outstanding international graduates who have made a significant contribution to their institution, profession, industry or wider community.
Mo commented: “2026 is proving to be our best year yet in terms of sales, as well as our most exciting year. I’m so pleased to have secured 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 based in Birmingham. It has been quite a journey from Jamaica to Japan to Birmingham.
“I am also extremely grateful to have won the PIEoneer Award – what a fantastic accolade!”
Mo can be found at markets and events around the region, sampling and selling the Matcha Yaad products, including The Cotswold Life Home & Gift Show, Festive Gift Show at the NEC and Free From in Manchester. In addition, The Matcha Yaad is also stocked in Rough Hill Farmshop in Redditch, Forage at Coppice in Tamworth and The Black Farmer in White City & Brixton.
The plan for the rest of the year is to focus on launching new products and expanding into additional grocers, farm shops, and independents. For further information visit https://thematchayaad.com