“I’ve always had a deep love for matcha,” says chef Anastacia Watson. It’s about 10 a.m. — the opening time at her latest matcha pop-up at Paiko in Kakaʻako — and there’s already a small crowd forming a line for her aesthetically pleasing matcha drinks.
A chef with more than a decade of experience — including creating meals for celebrity clients — Watson launched her culinary brand, Haus of Fusion, in 2020.
“I’ve made it my mission to craft unique, health-forward creations,” she says.
After one of her handcrafted matcha drinks recently went viral thanks to an influencer, Watson created Haus of Aloha about a month ago.
“It’s an extension of my culinary journey, dedicated to intentional, handcrafted matcha drinks and healthy elixirs, highlighting the best of local and organic ingredients and premium, ceremonial-grade matcha,” she says. “I’ve been interested in matcha for a long time; it has so many health benefits and you don’t get the crashes like you do with coffee.
“Making matcha is such a therapeutic thing to me; it’s so relaxing,” she adds.
Watson currently accepts matcha preorders for pickup in Kaimukī, or you can find Haus of Aloha at various pop-ups across O‘ahu. Her next one is at Paiko in Kaka‘ako on June 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The pop-up’s theme is Matcha and Bloom, with three main floral-themed beverages. Choose from Full Bloom ($12) — ceremonial matcha with organic coconut water or choice of milk, rose craft syrup and strawberry rose cream top — Lavender Dreams ($12) with lavender craft syrup and a matcha cream cloud top, or Passion Fantasy ($12). The latter features organic white jasmine tea, organic coconut water, lilikoʻi honey craft syrup and a lilikoʻi honey yuzu cream cloud top.
All drinks are 18 ounces and served cold, and feature craft syrups that are made from scratch in small batches. Each includes 2 to 5 grams of matcha.
“Every drink is made with love,” Watson says. “They’re hand-whisked or cold-whisked ceremonial matcha with craft syrups and infused cloud tops.”
If you want something more traditional, opt for a custom matcha latte with ceremonial matcha and a choice of syrup, ranging from haupia and chai to lychee and lilikoʻi. Matcha sodas ($11) — “a super healthy twist on soda with sparkling mineral water,” according to Watson — are also available.
“They’re always evolving and always artfully made,” she says. “At Haus of Aloha, we don’t just serve drinks — we serve connection, presence and the essence of aloha.”
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CONTACT
Haus of Aloha
Instagram: @haus_of_aloha
Direct message on Instagram to preorder for pickup in Kaimukī
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
