Matcha made in heaven

How 22-year-old student Caitlin Lee built a matcha brand from scratch

- JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

At 22, most students are busy juggling thesis deadlines, group projects, and the occasional weekend breather. For Caitlin Lee, a fourth-year student at De La Salle University, those responsibilities come with an additional layer—running a fast-growing matcha business.

She is the founder of Maison Midori, a premium matcha powder brand that's carving its place in the local matcha community. What began as a passion project, an idea scribbled down in July 2024, has since grown into a full-fledged venture supported by family, friends, customers, and a loyal matcha-obsessed community.

But the story of Maison Midori started long before Caitlin ever thought of running her own brand.

Caitlin's love affair with matcha began when she was 15, during a family trip to Japan. She remembers stumbling upon a tiny stall, ordering matcha without really knowing what it was, and being instantly drawn to its earthy, slightly bitter taste.

"I didn't know anything about matcha back then," she admits. "But I liked the taste. That's where it started. I just kept drinking matcha after that."