Let me ask you a question – would you go to any dentist in any town for your routine check-up? Are you happy to go to any hairdresser who has an appointment? The answer will be no! – we do business with those we like, know, and trust!
As customers we want to know if we can ‘like, know, and trust’ the companies we buy from, so in this series we ask the person behind some of my favourite natural and organic companies to step out into the spotlight.
It’s the turn of Katherine Swift from OMGTea
Tell us about yourself and your company…
As matcha specialists (we don’t do any other teas) OMGTea have developed a range of matcha to cater for different budgets and styles.
OMGTea is a trademarked brand across the UK and Europe established to provide premium grade Organic Matcha Green Tea to the general public and to wholesale distributors. We source OMGTea from the most respected and reputable matcha supplier in Japan who have won many awards for their high standards of organic matcha farming and production. I have visited Japan to meet OMGTea’s tea farmers, seen the tea harvested and processed – leaf to tin and immersed myself in all that is matcha.
OMGTea is working with UK leading medical professionals conducting scientific trials which leave no doubt as to its superior health benefits for ageing and age related diseases. There are scientific trials with breast cancer, to highlight its potential effect on breast cancer stem cells, and clinical trials in relation to fat oxidation to show how OMGTea enhances healthy weight loss. This research is underpinned by the quality of our matcha, again highlighting how important this is to us.
We are a small ethical specialist company with a very big heart (as well as the research, a percentage of OMGTea’s profits have been pledged to The Healthy Life Foundation, a charity that has been founded by me that funds research into age related diseases). We are doing what we can to bring our wonderful tea to the forefront of the consumer’s mind.
How did you get started?
In 2010 my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Watching her fight the disease made me 
realise that the most important thing in life is family, friends and health, so I decided that I wanted to do something positive to help and became involved in supporting the ground breaking research of one of the World’s leading genetic & cell biologists. This research highlighted the benefits of antioxidants in our diets. Green tea is renowned for its healing properties due to an abundance of antioxidants, so I wanted my mum to drink the green tea with the most antioxidants. With its amazing health and healing properties and an astonishing level of antioxidants, Organic Matcha Green Tea was that tea. My mum and I started drinking it immediately. I felt so passionate about its health benefits and how it made us feel that I founded OMGTea to help spread the word about this miracle green powder. Mum and I drink OMGTea daily and have never looked back!”
Matcha tea has many potential health benefits and OMGTea is validating these health claims with research. My personal story and this research makes OMGTea unique.
What were you doing in a previous life?
Fundraising for medical research (Breakthrough Breast Cancer), I also have extensive experience in media sales, sponsorship & promotions, and event management having worked for The Guardian Media Group, The Independent, The Capital Radio Group and BT. I am also the Founder of The Healthy Life Foundation – a charity that funds research into age related decline.
Why natural / organic / sustainable?
Because our focus is on providing the end consumer with the best natural quality products for their health.
What’s your USP? What sets you apart from your competitors?
The back story, how OMGTea came about.
OMGTea is not a tea company it’s a specialist Matcha company that has commissioned its own 3 pieces of research into the health benefits of Matcha. Further research is planned.
Research is soon to be published by Professor Lisanti – Scientific advisor to OMGTea and non-exec board member. An active research scientist for more than three decades with a broad background in cell biology and genetics.
Ambassador – Alec Stewart. He is the second most capped English cricketer of all time in Test matches and 3rd most capped in One Day Internationals (ODIs), having played in 133 Tests and 170 ODIs.
What kind of feedback you have received from clients?
Alex Hales England & Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Cricketer: “OMGTea really makes a difference to my focus and energy, I’m hooked! Great matcha company”
Nick Lee – Strength and Conditioning Coach – Sussex County Cricket Club: “OMGTea is a great product. It is used by a number of our professionals here at Sussex CCC to help with concentration and is rich in anti-oxidants to aid recovery after intense competition”
Debbie Dowie – Founder of Boot Out Breast Cancer: “I love OMGTea’s Organic Japanese Matcha, it’s definitely the best tasting green tea I have ever had, a clean refreshing taste and amazing in the morning to blow away the cobwebs, it gives me a real spring in my step and it’s a great way to start the day. I drink it for its amazing health benefits rather than weight loss but it’s great for that too, who could ask for more!”
What’s the next big launch / project coming up for you?
A Ready To Drink OMGTea in 2017 product will combine OMGTea with a pure water and sugar free flavourings making it a genuinely healthy drink and the scientific and clinical research that the company has commissioned will support the launch of the new product range.
What’s your big dream?
To become the authority on matcha green tea whilst validating the health claims of matcha with research. To fund ground-breaking medical research. To make a genuine and big difference to people’s health.
Where can we find your products?
Fulfilled by Amazon – Part of Amazon Launchpad
Distributed by Marigold and The Health Store
Sold in store at Planet Organic, Revital, Victoria Health, Infinity Foods, Hisbe, The Eighth Day, Nisbets of Scotland and very soon in As Nature Intended.
www.omgteas.co.uk