Specialty Matcha Podcast

In this episode, cohosts Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) speak with Billy from BHD Consulting who shares his two-decade journey in the tea industry, focusing on matcha, branding, sourcing, and industry trends. Discover insights on building a tea brand, navigating traditional and modern markets, and the future of matcha and specialty tea.

IG: @sirwillotleaf
https://www.bdhconsultants.com/about
https://steepinsights.substack.com/

Contact: https://www.instagram.com/julesreyes_/
More Info: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWUiO-YgcpW/?igsh=MXI3a2tmY3M2Z3drZg==

From Jules' Post:
We have reason to believe that Ben made it to Bangkok, Thailand.

Up until now, we've been focusing our efforts on his last known location in Galicia, Spain and his direction of travel (Madrid). THANK YOU to everyone who helped us trace his movements there.

With this new information, we're shifting our focus to the next leg of his journey: Thailand (specifically Bangkok to Railay Beach).

Ben is an experienced and methodical world traveler of over 18 years. He's completed multiple Iron Mans, the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and cycled the Continental Divide Route. This is someone who knows how to navigate the world.

Our family has filed a missing persons report in the
U.S. and has contacted the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.
We believe he took a flight from Madrid to Bangkok and are trying to verify his passport activity in Spain while working to escalate his case internationally.

O If you (or anyone you know) may have seen or been in contact with Ben in Bangkok or en route to Railay Beach between Oct 27 - Nov 4, 2025, please reach out.

Even small details could help.

Again, THANK YOU everyone helping share Ben's story.
We couldn't have gotten this far without you. We are eternally grateful for your support, prayers, and resources you are sharing with us.

If you happen to be based in Thailand, please consider sharing and reposting this post to reach more people local Bangkok

Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) in conversation in Kyoto alongside khun Pop and Yusuke-san of Koto Tea Space in Bangkok after visiting Tsuji-san, one of Japan's most decorated matcha producers. The conversation goes deep on fertilization science, soil mineral dynamics, and why Tsuji-san sends individual tea leaves to a lab at enormous cost. His words sum it up well: you cannot make great matcha without science.
The second half covers how Koto Tea Space built a Bangkok audience for high-grade matcha by never serving a latte, and how Yusuke-san trains his staff well beyond what they share with customers.
A huge thank you to khun Pop and Yusuke-san for the invitation! We are incredibly grateful for the learning opportunity.

https://kototeaspace.com/
IG: @kototeaspace
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pQLYXNuffxTa8HP98

In this episode, Khun Gan from TeaismExplorer shares his journey with tea, from working in Uji to becoming the first Thai-national Nihoncha Instructor. We explore the nuances of matcha production, regional labeling, and the evolving tea industry in Japan and Thailand.

IG: @teaism.explorer

In this episode of the Specialty Matcha Podcast, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) share their experiences and learnings from their recent trip to Kyoto, where they met renowned matcha farmer Tsuji-san, toured Marukyu Koyamaen, and visited Baisa Nakamura. They deep dive into insights from Tsuji-san on matcha fertilization, innovations happening in the world of matcha, and cross-cultural exchanges happening in contemporary tea culture.