What does Umi mean?
Umi was born from the ebb and flow of life itself. The name Umi (海), meaning ocean, carries the essence of calm and chaos coexisting, a reflection of how matcha has grounded me through every tide of life.
The idea began long before the name existed. I remember sitting in a corner of a Starbucks one afternoon, scribbling down name after name in my notebook, pages filled with ideas that never felt quite right. Each one was missing something - the emotion, the depth, the stillness that matcha represented for me.
And that was when I looked at my wallpaper which was the famous painting of the Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai and then Umi appeared - Simple, vast, and fluid. It just felt like it belonged. The inspiration for everything else pretty much followed from there. That wave, fierce yet beautiful, mirrors life’s rhythm, how every calm moment is followed by another challenge waiting to be met.
Matcha has been a constant in my life through its highest highs and lowest lows and just like that, the great wave depicts life's journey. It’s a never-ending process where once we conquer our fear and meet our goal, we'll be met again with other vicious waves, other bigger problems & difficulties. However, our tiredness towards the journey will also have its sweetness when we reach a calm sea, where the wave is gentle, and we can feel the summer breeze soothe our mind, body, and soul. But, with the knowledge that another wave is waiting to be conquered. We aim to represent a symbolic shift in the matcha community.
Umi is a brand built on the philosophy of movement, resilience, and renewal. Just as the ocean never stops, our stories too are always unfolding. Through Umi, I wanted to share that quiet magic, a daily reminder that even amidst the biggest waves, there’s beauty, calm, and a cup of matcha to keep you grounded.
I'm thrilled to have Umi become a part of your daily routine because it's truly the most magical part of mine.
A new wave of sea-riously good matcha
With all my love,
Adviti, Founder
