Meet Kezia.
Doctor, dancer, cat mom, K-pop fangirl—Kezia wears many hats. Matcha devotee is one of them. Entering her apartment, you immediately feel her luminous, vibrant spirit: a space alive with color, personality, and intention. From the cat-painted cushion on the couch to artwork of food behind the table and a tiny figurine atop her matcha station, everything is chosen with care. Her cat, Natto, watches quietly from his house with curious eyes.
Medicine has been the axis of Kezia's life, demanding dedication, empathy, and resilience. Days stretch, marked by unpredictability, urgency, and responsibility. Yet, on some afternoons, she finds a moment of stillness. Preparing matcha becomes her pause—a rare moment untouched by the world. “The process of preparing the matcha is a moment of stillness,” she says. Here, she lets herself slow down and savor a peace that’s hers alone.
Honoring The Moment
Her bond with matcha deepened in 2017 while on a journey to Japan. While travelling through Tsukiji Fish Market with her friend, she encountered a shopkeeper who gifted them a tin of high-grade matcha. That unexpected and thoughtful gesture stayed with her and sparked her approach to the world of matcha. “Since then, I wanted to be more intentional and honor that act of kindness.”
Back in her kitchen, she warms her chasen in a small cup, softening the bamboo tines as she prepares her matcha bowl. Quiet, calm, punctuated by a hint of amusement as she whisks the Peach Matcha. Nothing here feels rushed.
From carefully choosing the matcha bowl to lingering to inhale the aroma of matcha, her movements flow and ground her. There is no doubt she cherishes this quiet moment. Her favorite chacha maimai recipe is simple: HAYATE with oat milk, and a touch of maple syrup. It’s a harmony she has refined over time.
The Sacred Ritual
When asked to describe her thoughts on matcha, she pauses briefly before answering. “Sacred.”
Her days, after all, are anything but slow. She carries the weight of the world as she moves from her apartment to the clinic, from one patient to the next, bearing stories, worries, and responsibilities. “When I do have the time, I really want to savor the moment and try to be as intentional,” she explains. “I want to give it the respect that it deserves.”
This sense of intention and love shapes everything she does. At home, it shines through in how she curates the space she shares with Natto. As a dancer, it fuels her discipline and pursuit of the art. In work, it shows up as care and dedication for her patients, who might otherwise go unseen and untreated.
For Kezia, matcha helps her find the balance in life. It supports her as a reminder to be present and to treat people and things around her with greater care, attention, and intention. Taking the time to prepare matcha in the middle of the day offers a quiet moment to check in with herself. This balance between the fast-paced career and personal alignment fuels her creativity and creates space to focus on her well-being as she pursues her many passions.
With a knowing smile, she gives advice to first-time matcha drinkers: once you step into the matcha world, there is no turning back. You’re in.
