Every brand begins somewhere. A boardroom. A brainstorm. A funding pitch.

But Drink Tori?

It began in a kitchen. No investors. No market analysis. Just two sisters, one kettle, and the quiet clink of a whisk in a ceramic bowl.

There’s something sacred about the way stories begin. And this one, like all good tea stories, starts with warmth, patience, and deep roots.

Picture this: Sunday morning light filtering through gauzy curtains. The clatter of spoons.

That gentle hush right before the kettle clicks off. Two sisters—Julia and Madeline—standing side by side, one measuring vibrant green matcha into a bowl, the other pouring just-hot water over it. No rush. No talking. Just the shared rhythm of whisking, watching the powder swirl into frothy jade velvet.

This was their ritual. And, as it turns out, it was the seed of something much bigger.

Where Sisterhood Meets Ceremony

Julia Dugan-Carr and Madeline Dugan didn’t start Drink Tori because they wanted to cash in on the matcha boom. They started it because they wanted to spend their lives doing something they loved—with someone they loved.

In a world obsessed with hustle culture and unicorn startups, this story stands out like a warm cup in cold hands. Drink Tori wasn’t born from a business plan. It was born from a bond.

Their lives had taken them in very different directions—Madeline into the sensory world of fine dining, Julia into the academic and cultural study of tea. But no matter where they went or what they did, tea kept calling them back. It was their common ground. Their comfort.

Their connection.

So, they did what sisters do best. They turned a shared passion into something beautiful. Something alive. Something you can taste.

They called it Drink Tori.

Why “Tori”?

In Japanese, Tori means bird. But that’s just the surface.

To Madeline, it was more than a word—it was her nickname growing up. To Julia, naming the brand Tori was her way of honoring her little sister and their shared love for Japanese culture. One word, layered with meaning, stitched with memory, and perched gently at the heart of their new creation.

Even the packaging reflects their roots. Every symbol tells a story. Every detail nods to a family member. Drink Tori is personal. Intimate. Nothing is random. Everything is rooted.

And it all starts with their hero product: Organic Ceremonial Matcha.

The Matcha That Launched It All

It’s hard to explain what happens the first time you open a tin of Drink Tori matcha. The scent hits you first—grassy, fresh, and alive. Not bitter. Not dull. This isn’t the dusty green powder you find in forgotten supermarket aisles. This is the good stuff. The kind that smells like spring and tradition and something you should probably sit down for.

Sourced from small, family-run organic farms in Japan, every particle of this matcha has been treated with reverence. The leaves are shade-grown to deepen their chlorophyll, handpicked at peak tenderness, and stone-ground to preserve every nuance of flavor and aroma.

The result? A matcha that’s rich, smooth, almost creamy, with just the right balance of natural sweetness and umami. Whisk it into water and it transforms into a silky, frothy masterpiece—equal parts calming ritual and energetic elixir.

There’s science behind the magic, too. With L-theanine to promote calm focus, and just enough caffeine to lift without the crash, matcha is the introvert’s espresso. A thoughtful, grounding kind of energy that flows instead of spikes.

Madeline says drinking it before meditation changed her life. Julia says understanding its cultural significance changed the way she looks at history. Together, they made sure every sip of Drink Tori matcha carries both of those truths.

Two Roads, One Destination

To understand the full soul of this brand, you have to walk a while in each sister’s shoes.

Start with Madeline. A decade in the world of fine dining turned her palate into a precision instrument. She learned flavor at its highest level—tasting menus in New York, kitchens in LA, a transformative month spent savoring Paris. But what makes Madeline’s story special isn’t just where she’s eaten—it’s what she’s felt.

Food, for her, is about presence. It’s about story. It’s about honor. That’s why she gravitated toward the Japanese Zen tradition, where tea isn’t just a beverage—it’s a moment of awareness. A breath. A bow to the sacred in the everyday.

She spent time in Zen monasteries. She learned the art of drinking matcha before meditation. And somewhere in that quiet space, she found a truth that would eventually guide Drink Tori: The best things are never rushed.

Then there’s Julia. The scholar. The adventurer. Her path was made of books, planes, and teapots.

She studied Japanese language and culture—not just linguistically, but spiritually. She went to India to taste real chai from street vendors and temple kitchens. She journeyed through China to learn how oolong is rolled, how pu-erh is aged, how leaves become legacy. Then she moved to London, tracing the old colonial tea routes, understanding how this simple plant once reshaped empires and economies.

And through it all, she never stopped learning. She earned degrees in health science and public health, connecting ancient tea traditions with modern wellness. For Julia, tea wasn’t just culture—it was healing. It was science. It was connection.

So when the time came to build something with her sister, she didn’t hesitate. She poured everything; every country, classroom, and cup into Drink Tori.

A New Kind of Ritual

Most people today move fast, too fast. Coffee guzzled on the go. Emails answered mid-bite. Rest is something you schedule (if you’re lucky).

But matcha refuses to be rushed.

And Drink Tori knows this. They’re betting on it.

Their Organic Ceremonial Matcha invites you to slow down. Not in a preachy, you-should-meditate-more way. In a gentle, come-sit-with-me kind of way. It’s not about performing wellness. It’s about remembering how to feel good. Really good. From the inside out.

Whisking a bowl of Drink Tori matcha is a tiny act of rebellion in a speed-obsessed world. It says, “This moment matters. I matter.”

And it tastes amazing while you’re doing it.

What Makes Drink Tori Different?

There’s no shortage of matcha brands on the market. But very few are built on the level of integrity, intimacy, and transparency that Drink Tori insists on.

They don’t cut corners. They don’t work with mega-farms. They don’t compromise.

They source directly from family-owned, organic farms in Japan that use sustainable, time-honored methods. Farms that care about the land and the people drinking the tea.

They’re not trying to be the biggest brand. They’re trying to be the most beloved. The most thoughtful. The most genuine.

For Julia and Madeline, this isn’t a side hustle or a wellness trend. This is legacy.

The Road Ahead

Drink Tori is just getting started. Their first offering, this exquisite emerald matcha is the foundation. But the sisters are already sourcing new teas from around the world. Each one chosen with the same care, love, and eye for quality and soul.

They’re building something slow. Something meaningful. Something that honors tradition and welcomes the modern.

And yes, the packaging is beautiful. But what you feel when you hold it? That’s the real magic. You’re not holding a product, you’re holding a piece of a story, a shared dream, a sip of something sacred.

The Real Invitation

Maybe you’ve never tried matcha before. Maybe you’ve only had it iced with almond milk from a coffee chain. Or perhaps you’re already deep into your matcha era, with whisks, bowls, and a sifter.

Wherever you are, Drink Tori meets you there. Not with judgment. Not with hype. But with an open hand and a warm cup.

Because at its core, this isn’t just about tea. It’s about choosing presence. Choosing care. Choosing to make something ordinary—like a morning beverage—extraordinary.

And isn’t that what we all want? Not just more energy, but better energy. Not just health, but wholeness. Not just a drink, but a ritual that reminds us who we are, and who we love.

That’s what you get in every tin of Drink Tori Organic Ceremonial Matcha.

And once you’ve tasted it—once you’ve felt it—you’ll understand.

This isn’t just matcha.

This is a love story.

A ritual reborn.

A sisterhood in every sip.