Matcha is having a serious moment in Dublin right now—but it’s far more than just a fad.

Matcha has been a key part of Japanese culture since it was first brought from China in the 12th century. It’s used in ceremonial practices and is something to be respected and appreciated. What’s more, it’s fabulously delicious when prepared properly and with the right ingredients. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy during a meditative moment.

If you haven’t tried matcha before—or you are an absolute matcha fanatic—you should get yourself to OMMA’s Japan-inspired pop-up café, coming to Brown Thomas’ Planet Beauty this Wednesday. They’ll have a unique lineup of matcha-based drinks and other traditional Japanese flavours like hojicha (charcoal roasted green tea) and sobacha (buckwheat tea). In the spirit of japanese hospitality each drink is prepared with the utmost care and mindful intention

They’ll also have a lineup of indulgent and authentic treats, like the famous Japanese-style fruit sandos, mochi, yuzu buns, and matcha genmai chocolates. The atmosphere will feel like a little corner of Japan. They’ve gone above and beyond in replicating the feel of a traditional Kyoto tea house—but with a contemporary twist.

Meet Nastya 

Nastya Kharytonova is the founder of the OMMA brand. You may have tried her product before if you’ve grabbed a matcha at Indigo & Cloth before. Nastya has a deep reverence for the art of matcha, and no one understands more than her the calming and healing properties of a good cup. Her passion for it emerged during the pandemic—a time we all know felt out of control.

“I found myself longing for grounding rituals and a sense of stillness. I’ve never been a coffee drinker—it makes me anxious—so I was searching for something calming and meditative.”

She reached out to matcha producers in Japan for samples so she could experience the real deal—and she was instantly hooked, not just on the taste but on the sensory ritual.

From there, Nastya began to research all things Japanese tea, and in time, this cultural curiosity became a business. As soon as the borders reopened post-COVID, she travelled to Japan to start building connections with her suppliers. She didn’t want to launch the brand until she had met them personally. She travelled from Uji and Shizuoka to Kirishima and Yame, and even stayed for a month with the family who now supplies her matcha, undergoing an apprenticeship where she learned every aspect of the production process, as well as the science behind the flavour and, of course, the traditional ceremonial way of preparing and enjoying the tea. She considers them family a bond that she sees as the heart of her business.

“Seeing how much heart they put into every leaf they cultivate makes me feel really responsible to make sure I transmit the tradition in the right way here in Dublin. That experience shaped not only the way I source tea, but the spirit of OMMA itself.”

It’s clearly much more than just tea to Nastya. It’s become part of her meditative practice—a source of peace in her life. Originally from Ukraine, the past few years have been tremendously stressful, as she has had to witness her home country ravaged by war. Her boyfriend is fighting on the frontlines, and her family is scattered throughout Europe and Ukraine. Her tea practice and the meditative practice that it is connected to has helped bring some comfort and healing and she wants to share the power with her customers at the pop-up.

“I realised that tea is not just a drink—it’s a practice. A way to hold space within. A moment of clarity amidst the repetition of silence. Observing this deep, mindful relationship with tea revealed something profound to me: tea can be both a physical and spiritual nourishment, a doorway to presence, and a way to connect more deeply with oneself and the world around.”

The Drinks

If you’re curious to try it out for yourself, the OMMA Café will be popping up in Brown Thomas’ Planet Beauty on Clarendon Street on Wednesday. It’s takeaway only, but the stunning zen setup they’ve created will give you a quiet little moment. On the menu, they’ll have your classic hot (and iced) matcha latte, alongside other unique offerings like matcha blood orange and matcha yuzu tonics. All made with OMMA’s extremely high quality ceremonial grade matcha powder. There will also be hojicha and socbacha if you fancy something a little different.

The Treats 

You can indulge in some seriously delicious Japanese sweet treats too. Kasuteira, a Ukrainian brand, will be supplying all sorts of delights from matcha brownies and matcha sakura cheesecake to matcha genmai chocolates. Offcuts Bakery will be supplying perfectly paired pastry treats, and Gopan, an authentic Japanese bakery, will be making traditional mochi. You’re sure to find something you haven’t tried before—so check it out and have a beautiful moment of calm (and something incredibly tasty).

“I hope to build a bridge between cultures—bringing a taste of Japan and its beautiful tea rituals to Dublin in a modern, thoughtful way. More than anything, I want to help shape a tea culture here, where tea isn’t just a drink, but a sought-after experience.”

The pop-up will be running for a few months, so you’ll have plenty of time to swing by and say hello to Nastya and the team.