Where it all began, a story of Discovery & Dopamine.

Matcha was just the beginning.

I was living my dream job , flying across time zones, waking up in different cities, and exploring the world as cabin crew. It was fast, it was exciting… but it was also exhausting.

Exploring the Great Wall of China

Late nights, erratic meals, and no real rhythm — eventually, my body started to feel the cost of all the chaos I once craved. I didn’t have a strategy back then — I just knew something had to change.

That’s when I found it.

A tucked-away café in China — where time felt slower and everything was done with intention. I watched as matcha was prepared with such care — a soft whisking motion, the subtle scent rising with the steam, the stillness of it all. It was more than just grabbing a tea, it was a moment......I felt… clear. Awake, but grounded. Like my brain had space.

I didn’t know the science back then. I just knew I wanted more of that feeling.

Eventually, that moment led me to study a degree in nutrition. I wanted to understand how food affects the brain, the body, and our ability to feel balanced. Later, I took it further, studying a Masters in Biomedical science. It was then that I came back to matcha with new eyes. New understanding. A new respect and thats when Pink Panda was born.

🧠 How matcha works:

Matcha is rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that increases alpha brain waves — the ones linked to calm focus, creativity, and reduced anxiety. When paired with caffeine, it slows its release, giving you energy without the crash.

It’s also thought to support the production of GABA — a calming neurotransmitter that helps regulate the nervous system and reduce overstimulation. For ADHD brains, which burn through dopamine faster and often run on cortisol, that kind of calm clarity is gold.

Serious face, in the lab.

It gives you just enough space to think. To respond, rather than react. To feel steady — and still show up.

That’s what matcha became for me. A quiet ritual. A daily anchor.

Now, as I build Pink Panda — I’m threading these studies, experiences, and tools into what I create. Subtly. Intentionally.

Not to perform wellness, but to live it and share it, were still discovering!

This post is part of my founder blog series — new reflections every other Tuesday.