Our Story

A new kind of drip.

The promise of Nekohama was a dream of ours long before we had found a name – a cleaner, greener and healthier way to fuel our daily wins. Without the added stress.

Did you know? Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world.

And coffee is America’s most consumed beverage, even over water, by a long shot. 85% of U.S. adults drink coffee every single day despite the reported effects of anxiety, insomnia and latent fatigue. Yet, coffee remains a staple in nearly every household.

Why is that?

For me, finding the answer to that question was deeply personal – my health depended on it.

I met Sanne in 2017 when I was living in New York City – the city that never sleeps. We were both working in fashion, living fast-paced lives and perpetually sleep deprived. We were fully dependent on coffee as our daily fuel; and like everyone else, would overlook the side effects, the anxiety, crash and jitters that always followed. It was a vicious cycle. A caffeinated high, shortly followed by a crashing comedown and headaches, always resulting in a next day coffee fix to get us through the day.

It was an addiction. And we wanted to quit.

Always the wellness tinkerer in personal health, Sanne brought home a familiar greenish powder to try out as part of our morning ritual; a better alternative to coffee. The discovery was something from my past, matcha, the creamy, green powder that I would consume on trips to visit my grandparents in Japan. In seconds (sips), the Japanese superfood that I grew up with came back into my life. The only thing missing was the taste.

Not all matcha is created equal.

Every matcha we brought home was either bitter and chalky or overly sweetened with fake additives and milk alternatives to compensate for poor quality.

So, we began our journey together to find the best matcha in the world.

Trying over 500 different types of matcha to discover the real thing – naturally sweet, smooth enough to drink without adding milk or sugar; the matcha from my childhood.

Sanne and I took a trip to Japan in November 2019. After coming home, we left the trip with one lasting note from my grandmother.

“Kyushu has the best tasting matcha”

I still remember the morning that we first found Nekohama.

From the moment I opened the bag the green color caught my attention followed by the floral notes of what was to become Nekohama’s first offering to the world. Nekohama is grown only on the island of Kyushu, a product of its one-of-a-kind volcanic soil, never before sold to the public.

What we’ve discovered on our journey since is perfection, a green adaptogen packed full of nutrients, bursting with flavor and clean feeling caffeine. From the calming effects of L-Theanine to the increased focus and healing properties, we are so excited to share the Nekohama brand and its incredible benefits to the world.

Better for us. Better for you. Better in every way.

So join us in kicking the coffee addiction and replacing it with clean green energy that won’t give up on you.

We believe everyone deserves a healthier lifestyle without the added stress; and that’s what we’re here to do.

Matcha is the first stop on that journey, but the vision of Nekohama is much larger. We can’t wait for you to join us.

Sincerely, Team Nekohama & Max, Founder & CEO
@nekohama