After a year and a half without a new flavor release, launching Lavender Matcha felt like more than just a product launch—it felt like a rebirth.
On April 24th, 2025, I had the joy of hosting a deeply personal gathering at Hatsuzukara, a serene Japanese café in San Diego, to celebrate the debut of this new Tea Drop. What made the event so meaningful wasn't just the flavor itself—it was what it represented: a return to creativity, inspiration, and flow after a challenging chapter as a founder.
The past 18 months were some of the hardest I’ve experienced running Tea Drops. Like so many in the CPG world, we were navigating shifting markets, operational stress, and endless decision fatigue. Somewhere along the way, I lost the very thing that brought Tea Drops to life in the first place—my creative spark.
And then, life offered me a new beginning: the birth of my daughter. She became my daily reminder of softness, wonder, and renewal. As she grew, so did a part of me I thought I had lost. I began the year with a quiet promise to myself: to create boldly again.
Lavender Matcha was the first expression of that promise. Floral, grounding, and gently energizing—it’s a cup of calm confidence. Hosting this event was a full-circle moment.
We invited a beautiful mix of longtime customers, friends of the brand, and San Diego foodie influencers to join us. The talented team at Hatsuzukara crafted a signature Lavender Matcha Latte using our Tea Drops, served alongside a thoughtful lunch that brought people together in conversation and connection.
To make the experience even sweeter, guests received curated gift bags filled with goodies from some of our favorite like-minded brands:
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Raaka Chocolate – for their thoughtful, bean-to-bar indulgence
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Olive & June – whose products make self-care beautifully accessible
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Delight Patisserie – whose treats were as lovely as they were delicious
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Ettitude – for reminding us that sustainability can be soft, luxurious, and stylish
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Jessie Monroe Nail Polish – whose bold, non-toxic colors felt like the perfect creative companion to our launch
As I stood in front of the room to share my toast, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude—not just for the turnout, but for the journey it took to get there. This launch wasn’t just a flavor. It was a reclamation.
To everyone who came, supported, or cheered from afar—thank you. Lavender Matcha is available now, and I hope it brings you a small sense of calm renewal, just like it brought me.
With warmth and gratitude,
Sashee
Founder, Tea Drops
