Copyright dayakdaily
By Wilfred Pilo For 19-year-old university student Jasmine Leong, the world is her oyster. After lectures, she sets aside her laptop and textbooks to focus on serving her signature matcha tea to fellow enthusiasts of this antioxidant-rich beverage. Four months ago, Leong launched her small business, offering Japanese style Japanese-style online orders and weekend vendor events. She sees the venture as a practical backup plan in case she does not immediately secure employment after graduation. During a weekend vendor event in the city, Leong shared that she loves exploring opportunities at her age and believes in being prepared for the future. “This is the time and opportunity for me to explore all possible avenues for my future. As the local Bahasa Malaysia adage goes—‘sediakan payung sebelum hujan’ (prepare an umbrella before it rains)—I need to be prepared,” she said. Her passion for matcha tea began after observing bubble tea vendors around the city. “I enjoy bubble tea, but matcha has its own complexity. That’s why I decided to focus on matcha and build my own beverage business,” she said. Leong described the careful process of making a matcha latte, which involves combining matcha powder with water, milk, or sweeteners in a small bowl and whisking it with a special brush. She said the process has a unique rhythm and feeling that she truly enjoys, and it was through this that her passion for the beverage developed. Confident in both her preparation and sales skills, Leong is also broadening her abilities to include guitar and singing. She encourages young people to explore opportunities and find a niche where they can grow into valuable members of society. “Planning is essential in personal management. I strive to incorporate this into my life to become more effective and proactively shape my future,” she noted. Leong offers a variety of matcha drinks, with Earl Grey Matcha emerging as her top seller. “Out of ten matcha drinks on the menu, Earl Grey is always the favourite. We pay attention to what customers enjoy and will keep this popular drink in mind for future ventures,” she shared. Assisting her is university colleague and business partner Lincoln Thum, also 19. Thum shared their vision for the business and expressed hope for its long-term potential. “Challenges exist, and we are young, taking things one day at a time. People say you’re only young once. Based on that, we are optimistic about making this venture a success. “We hope to one day open our own café to serve matcha beverages to the city’s growing market. Give the youth the chance to showcase their talent and contribute to the country, and indeed, the world will be our oyster,” he said. Leong and Thum’s matcha tea business, Bobo Land, can be reached at 013-9590639. — DayakDaily
