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Estonian Youth Build Matcha Empire in Marbella, Bringing Japanese Tea Rituals to Tallinn Streets
🇪🇪 Estonia /Economy & Trade

Estonian Youth Build Matcha Empire in Marbella, Bringing Japanese Tea Rituals to Tallinn Streets

From Postimees · (4d ago) Estonian Positive tone

Translated from Estonian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Estonian entrepreneurs Maria Krjutškova and Rasmus Veskimäe have established a successful matcha tea business called Matcha Marbella in Spain.
  • The young couple identified a market gap for quality matcha in Marbella and began sourcing from Japan, with their business gaining international recognition, including features in Vogue.
  • Despite facing challenges like global matcha shortages, the family-run business, supported by their parents in Tallinn, is currently managed by the couple while they pursue higher education.

Matcha Marbella, an Estonian enterprise, is making waves from the sunny shores of Marbella, Spain. Founded by young entrepreneurs Maria Krjutškova and Rasmus Veskimäe, this family venture has blossomed into an international success story, even gracing the pages of Vogue. Their journey began with a simple observation: a lack of quality matcha in Marbella, a stark contrast to the availability back in Tallinn.

If a couple of years ago you could get more or less quality matcha in Tallinn, it wasn't the case in Marbella.

— MariaExplaining the market opportunity that led to the creation of Matcha Marbella.

Driven by a passion for this Japanese delicacy, Maria and Rasmus embarked on a quest to find the finest matcha producers in Japan. Their families played a crucial role, participating in blind taste tests to select the perfect suppliers. This meticulous approach has paid off, establishing Matcha Marbella as a go-to source for discerning matcha enthusiasts.

Even if they were beautiful and well-known cafes, it didn't mean you could get quality matcha there.

— MariaDescribing the lack of quality matcha options in Marbella's existing establishments.

Running a business together has proven to be a rewarding experience for the couple. Maria shares that their collaboration is "incredibly successful," allowing them to manage the workload effectively, even while Rasmus juggles university exams in business management and Maria studies law. Their parents in Tallinn provide invaluable support, acting as a strong foundation for their ambitious venture.

Doing business together is very nice! I know that it is not recommended to do business with friends, for example, but our cooperation is going very well.

— MariaReflecting on the positive experience of running a business with her partner.

While the global demand for matcha has led to some shortages, Matcha Marbella is navigating these challenges with resilience. The young couple's dedication and entrepreneurial spirit are evident in every aspect of their business, proving that with quality products and a clear vision, even a niche market can yield remarkable international success. This story highlights the innovative drive of Estonian youth on the global stage.

I wouldn't have believed it, but we manage to bounce this load so that everything goes smoothly.

— MariaExpressing surprise and satisfaction at their successful business partnership.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Postimees in Estonian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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