I don’t drink, but my husband does. It sparked a business idea.
As told to Jianne Soriano
You’re currently following this author! Want to unfollow? SubscribeUnsubscribe from this list via the link in your email.
A natalie chiu saicho business and her husband, Charlie Provided by Natalie Chiu. As-told to essay based on a conversation with Natalie Chiu, 36, cofounder of Saicho. This has been edited for length and clarity.
I enjoy a good meal outside, but didn’t like being treated as second class when wine pairings were involved due to my alcohol intolerance.
Instead of this, I would ask for juice or a glass of water. That felt like a major element of that dining experience I was missing out on.
That all changed the day I met my husband, Charlie natalie chiu saicho business. While our first date, we went to a fancy restaurant in London for both of our birthday. He enjoys a drink or two which made the idea of doing some wine pairings even harder to resist.
By the time I reached my first glass, my face was already bright red and I couldn’t really complete it. I was embarrassed to think about what it meant that I had to force myself to do something I wasn’t comfortable with in order to feel included.
What can I say, something deep inside me just got triggered after that first date. You are based on the events till October 2023, and I thought well there has to be something I can do. This was the start of what became Saicho, our sparkling tea venture!
Her dad told Chiu about becoming a flavorist she came to the UK to study food science at the University of Nottingham. Provided by Natalie Chiu
School, work and Natalie Chiu Saicho Businessall on the Balance
I grew up in Hong Kong. My father worked as a perfumer, and he used to come home with perfume samples for us. From the moment I was quite young, I became fascinated by it. I was excited about to build something that someone will be able to use.
My dad later introduced me to a flavorist. Our discussions interested me in making flavors and understanding how we engage with them.
2008, at 18 years old, I headed to the UK to study food science. Staying there for a long time was never on my mind. I was supposed to finish studying and return home. However, four years later I was presented with the chance to embark on a Ph. D. in flavour chemistry and chose to undertake it.
I met Charlie as I was wrapping up my studies and together we started to build what would turn into our company.
Following graduation, I accepted a postdoctoral research position but spent evenings and weekends coming up with drink concepts for our company. Our natalie chiu saicho business idea won £5,000 in an entrepreneurial competition at university back in 2018.
In the same year, Charlie and I finally got married, and I joined a food company in an open innovation lead role on a full-time basis. Meanwhile I was still working on the natalie chiu saicho business with Charlie in my spare hours (unpaid) invested around £25,000 of our savings plus the competition prize funds into Saicho natalie chiu saicho business.
We began trading in 2019, hitting £45,000 in our first year. My partner is much further along than I am when compared to the natalie chiu saicho business. It got to the stage where it consumed my mind and I had to dedicate myself fully.
I quit my job last year. Having the way to focus 100% on a project felt great. It was simultaneously terrifying, because there were fewer safeguards in place.
I could see something was building in the natalie chiu saicho business so I knew it was time to take a risk. The transition was relatively smooth as we had already started phasing in gradually.
The pair sampled different teas from all over the world. Provided by Natalie Chiu
In partnership at work and in life
On some levels, my husband and I are very compatible. However, we are both scientists, and so we value alternative perspectives. It worked great for the two of us as partners and eventually, co-owners because we know each others strengths and weaknesses.
With running the company together we have bonded очень вrosa tougar. Through our common experience, we can more easily understand the pressures we all face. It is extremely hard not to discuss natalie chiu saicho business, but as long as both of us are game for the talk, I think that really contributes towards a productive relationship. That allows us to solve things much faster.
This will always intertwine with our private and professional lives, which we both love.
The couple went globetrotting—Taiwan (pictured) included—for tea tastings. Provided by Natlie Chiu
Building a different dream
From the beginning my husband and I had a lot of limiting beliefs about the company. Sparkling tea is still relatively new in the world of food and drink. At first, we spent time on awareness driving. And there was a lot of kicking down doors.
We would go into restaurants, hand samples out not really knowing how people would react. I had to accept that we were going to get turned down. I also said to myself that there is a possibility it will be yes, awesome.
Five years after we started, our small original team of just the two of us has now grown to 24 employees. Drinks available in Michelin-starred restaurants
Life had something else planned for me. I did not pursue a flavourist career, instead i was able to produce products where people and system could use it in practice! And that has been one of the most fulfilling things to see.
theurbanmatter.com
