A functional beverage with a difference: Bree Matcha a smarter alternative for clean, calm, sustained energy

Bree Matcha is a fast-growing premium matcha brand co-founded by Sanya Malhotra. Siddharth Shah, co-Founder of Bree Matcha talks about how Indian consumers are redefining the engagement with functional beverages and mindful consumption.

Bree Matcha has carved a distinct position by combining clean ingredients, modern branding, and a strong community-driven approach resonating particularly with young, urban consumers seeking healthier lifestyle choices.

“Bree stands for energy that feels intentional, joyful, and sustainable, allowing people to show up fully without feeling depleted,” he says in an exclusive interaction with Bizz Buzz

What prompted the start of the company?

Bree Matcha was born from a deeply personal insight rooted in wellness, lived experience, and genuine need for balance in modern life. For Sanya, the journey began with a growing discomfort around conventional caffeine consumption.

Like many professionals navigating long workdays, creative demands, and constant stimulation, coffee became a daily dependency, something that felt necessary to keep pace with an increasingly fast-moving lifestyle. Initially, it seemed effective, but over time the impact became hard to ignore.

What started as a simple energy boost gradually led to crashes, restlessness, jitters, heightened anxiety, and an underlying sense of imbalance.

The cycle of stimulation and burnout felt unsustainable, especially when wellness and mental clarity were becoming just as important as productivity. This prompted a conscious search for an alternative something that could support energy without compromising well-being.

When her friend made her try matcha for the first time, what stood out immediately was that it wasn’t just another beverage, it was an experience, a ritual. Unlike coffee, matcha delivered calm, focused, and sustained energy without the overstimulation or abrupt crashes.

The effect felt cleaner, more grounded, and better aligned with mindful living. It introduced a slower, more intentional relationship with energy, one that complemented both physical health and mental clarity.

Matcha became a turning point. It represented a different philosophy around performance, one rooted in consistency rather than intensity. This shift planted the initial seed for what would eventually become Bree.

Around the same time, we at Essenzaa Nutrition were deeply immersed in researching global superfoods and functional ingredients that could meaningfully enhance everyday nutrition. Our work focused on identifying ingredients that weren’t just trendy, but time-tested, functional, and sustainable in the long run.

When our paths crossed, the alignment felt organic and almost inevitable. We shared a common belief: that energy should support balance, not disrupt it, and that wellness should be integrated into daily life rather than treated as a corrective measure.

We weren’t interested in launching another “energy product” in an already crowded market filled with quick fixes and artificial stimulation. Instead, we wanted to build something more thoughtful that could seamlessly fit into everyday routines.

At its core, the brand is about redefining energy not as something you extract from your body, but something you cultivate mindfully. Bree stands for energy that feels intentional, joyful, and sustainable, allowing people to show up fully without feeling depleted.

What is the evolution of Bree Matcha?

The evolution of Bree Matcha has been guided by authenticity, intention, and deep respect for the product from day one.

What began as a personal gap with us not being able to find a truly high-quality, authentic matcha in India, quickly evolved into a deeper exploration of sourcing, quality, and process. While matcha was becoming increasingly popular, much of what was available lacked transparency, purity, and adherence to traditional methods.

This curiosity led us to Japan, where we invested time in understanding the cultural, agricultural, and technical nuances of matcha cultivation. Today, Bree Matcha is organically sourced from Kagoshima, Japan, one of the country’s most respected matcha-growing regions.

Our matcha is shade-grown to enhance amino acids, handpicked with care, and stone-ground to preserve nutrients, flavour, and its natural vibrant green colour. From sourcing to packaging,

Bree’s evolution has been about maintaining integrity while making authentic matcha accessible to Indian consumers. Every step has been intentional ensuring that what reaches the customer stays true to its origins while fitting effortlessly into modern lifestyles.

Can you give a brief structure of the company?

Bree Matcha is co-founded by actor Sanya Malhotra, Dr. Kunal Shah, and me (Siddharth Shah). Each founder brings a distinct yet complementary strength to the company. Sanya contributes cultural relevance, storytelling, and a strong emotional connection with consumers, helping position Bree as a lifestyle-led wellness brand rather than just a product.

Dr. Kunal and myself, thanks to our work bring the scientific, operational, and formulation expertise via Essenzaa Nutrition, a Mumbai-based nutraceutical company founded over 14 years ago.

Essenzaa has global exports across more than 30 countries and holds multiple international certifications, ensuring high standards of quality, compliance, and scalability.

This structure allows Bree to combine strong consumer storytelling with rigorous quality control, scientific credibility, and operational excellence creating a brand that feels aspirational on the outside and dependable at its core.

What is the rationale behind the business?

The rationale behind Bree Matcha is simple yet deeply relevant: modern lifestyles demand energy, but not at the cost of health.

Coffee and energy drinks often promise productivity but leave people dealing with crashes, anxiety, and dependency. We saw a clear opportunity to offer a smarter alternative one that delivers clean, calm, and sustained energy.

Bree Matcha encourages a daily ritual rather than a quick fix. It supports focus, balance, and intentional living without overwhelming the body. We are not chasing instant stimulation; we are building habits that promote long-term well-being.

At its heart, Bree exists to make wellness feel joyful, approachable, and sustainable which is something people want to return to every day, not something that feels restrictive or intimidating.

How is awareness created for your brand?

Our awareness strategy is community-first and experience-led, with a strong focus on education and on-ground activations. Matcha is best understood through experience, so we prioritise tastings, pop-ups, workshops, and wellness-led collaborations.

Wherever the matcha community flows be it fitness studios, cafés, cultural spaces, or wellness events Bree follows. Digital storytelling and creator-led conversations further amplify this organic, trust-led approach.

What has been the growth story for the company?

Since launching in July last year, Bree Matcha has experienced a strong wave of both brand building and consumer adoption. Customers have deeply resonated with the product quality, philosophy, and ritual-led approach.

We are rapidly expanding our footprint through our website, leading marketplaces, and quick commerce platforms. The next phase of growth is clearly defined: achieving a 25% repeat customer ratio and establishing Bree as the most trusted matcha brand in India.

The love and engagement especially from Gen Z and urban millennials has been incredibly validating and reinforces our belief that the future of wellness lies in balance and intention.

What is the USP of Bree Matcha?

Bree Matcha’s strongest USP is authenticity. Our matcha is 100% organic, high-quality, and sourced directly from Kagoshima, Japan, where it is shade-grown, handpicked, stone-ground, and traditionally processed.

Beyond sourcing, Bree stands out for its philosophy of balanced living, ritual-led wellness, and energy that feels good both physically and mentally. Additionally, Bree is India’s only brand to introduce flavoured matchas in unique variants like strawberry and lemongrass, expanding our audience portfolio as well.

How profitable is the company?

At this stage, our priority is building a strong, trusted brand rather than short-term profitability. We are focused on awareness, community building, and consumer education.

With improving repeat purchase rates and scaling across D2C and marketplaces, we see a clear and sustainable path toward profitability while staying true to our quality-first ethos.

Are your brands/products available pan-India?

Yes, Bree Matcha is available pan-India through our website, Amazon, Flipkart, and Blinkit. We will soon be expanding to Zepto and Instamart to further increase accessibility.

Offline, we are growing through premium wellness events, pop-ups, and curated retail touchpoints. A fun reflection of our growing community, customers have also approached us to set up Bree Matcha bars at weddings and private celebrations, highlighting how the brand has evolved into a lifestyle experience rather than just a product.