Our Story

from family meals to misty mountains

In our Vietnamese American home in Orange County, everything kind of revolves around food.

Birthdays meant big bowls of phở or bún bò Huế. Thanksgiving was turkey and egg rolls. And every meal ended the same way, with tea.

One day, the tea was different. Not the usual box from the pantry, but loose leaves someone had brought back from Vietnam.

That cup just felt… different. It didn’t just spark curiosity, it pulled us back.

Back to the misty Central Highlands of Vietnam, where part of our family still lives. Our aunt grows durian there, and like most places in Vietnam, life revolves around what you grow, what you cook, and who you share it with.

We spent time there, not just visiting, but sitting down for meals, walking through tea fields, hanging out, playing badminton. That’s how we got to know the people behind the tea.

What began as a return became an ongoing partnership.

Image: In Vietnam’s misty volcanic highlands, where our partners live and work the land — this is where Misty Lava begins.

the world’s first oolong matcha

Traditionally, matcha comes from shaded green tea. But in Vietnam’s misty Central Highlands, farmers took a different approach, using creamy oolong cultivars, shading them like matcha, then milling them with the same care to create something new.

The first time we tasted it, we knew it was special. Oolong matcha is smooth, complex, and unlike anything we’d had before.

That’s how Misty Lava started, from curiosity and a belief that great tea brings people together.

our commitment to quality

Today, every tin reflects meticulous craftsmanship and close partnerships with small-scale farmers. Each batch is:

  • Hand-picked “top bud, two leaves” for the sweetest, highest-quality tea

  • Shade-grown for 21 days to boost L-theanine, deepen sweetness, and develop a vibrant green color

  • Cold-stored as tencha at 5 °C (41 °F) to preserve freshness and aroma before stone milling

  • Freshly milled, oxygen-sealed, and independently tested for antioxidants, L-theanine, and catechins, with no detectable pesticides, heavy metals, or toxins

  • Certified to Vietnam’s national organic standard (TCVN 11041), meaning it’s grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and under regulated farming practices. Not (yet) USDA Organic.

This approach preserves matcha’s natural purity, bright green color, and smooth, creamy taste, honoring Japan’s monozukuri spirit while celebrating Vietnam’s terroir and creativity.

We’re honored to share this journey — and this tea — with you.