If you’ve ever taken a stroll through Pearl’s farmers and makers market, you may have seen visitors sipping on vibrant green drinks. While it’s not an agua fresca or lemonade, it’s handmade matcha concoctions by Mira Matcha.
Founded in 2021 by Marissa Gámez, she and her life and business partner, Alvaro Carriera, were on a mission to bring high-quality matcha experiences to the Alamo City. The start? Sourcing a high-quality matcha product and setting up a booth at the Pearl Makers Market to see if anyone would be interested.
Fast forward four years, and the matcha phenomenon has taken off. Growing from its once-a-week pop-up market days to a regular weekend ritual, a renovated trailer, and a soon-to-be-open brick-and-mortar, Mira Matcha has carved its green mark on San Antonio’s small-business tapestry.
Humble Beginnings
Marrisa and Alvaro noticed “a lack of high-quality matcha in San Antonio” and decided to take on the challenge of bringing it to the Alamo City and giving matcha “the recognition it deserves.”
October 11 marks one year of Mira Matcha serving drinks at Pearl’s weekend markets. When reminiscing on the beginning and the challenges that arose, Marissa mentions, “We used to show up with a little bit of matcha, enough to get us by, but quickly learned that we needed to have more product on hand.”
Alvaro continues, “There was a time when the green drink was so hard to convince people to try it. After educating people and seeing the lines and people wanting it, it became an unforgettable experience.”
In the beginning, you’d often see a sold-out announcement on their Instagram stories because of its popularity.
A Bustling Community
What’s unique about being at the Pearl Markets is the community of local small businesses that help one another. “Viva La Calle has been a great mentor figure, and collaborating with other businesses and their products—like Swiss Chocolate Shoppe—is incredible,” explains Marissa.
“Having that support is neat, and the fact that we can now pass it on to new vendors at the market is an amazing opportunity.”
Matcha to mortar
They started their tent at the Pearl Markets, opened a trailer at Broadway News, and now they’ve opened their own brick-and-mortar in the Government Hill neighborhood!
Weekend warriors, don’t worry – Mira Matcha isn’t going anywhere. You’ll still be able to find their tent at Pearl’s weekend markets.
“It has been such a launchpad for our business, and being part of this fantastic community has been an incredible experience.”
Marissa continues, “Four years ago, Pearl was part of our routine. We would come and get an empanada, a Thai omelet, and that was our Saturday. So to be part of other people’s routines is fulfilling.”
Be sure to try Marissa and Alvaro’s favorite matcha creations at the Pearl Farmers and Makers Market: The Matchata (Marissa’s fave) and a Matcha Americano (Alvaro’s fave).
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