BATHED in the soft, golden glow of the late afternoon sun, Hin Bus Depot, located along Jalan Gurdwara in George Town, Penang, emanates a tranquil charm; its former identity as a bustling bus depot now transformed into a vibrant community hub.
From my perch on a weathered wooden bench, indulgently sipping on a cup of ice-cold chrysanthemum tea, I survey my surroundings, noting vendors busily setting up their stalls in every nook and cranny as the air fills with anticipation.
Amid this scene, a young couple, moving with synchronised efficiency, stands out, their energy infectious and easy laughter echoing through the space as they adorn their table with whimsical touches, adding a sprinkle of playfulness to the set-up.
The eye-catching pastel hues of the whimsical flower-shaped signage with the word "Matcha.lah" teases passersby with the promise of something delightful within. Adjacent to the charming display, a simple board perched against the table and occasionally surrendering to gravity, serves as a humble menu, unveiling the array of beverages on offer.
Mohammad Hafiz Mohd Ali, known affectionately as Hafiz, and his partner Nurul Shazwina Nasharuddin Sulong, or Wina, are the creative young minds behind this venture. Flashing a grin in my direction, Hafiz, who exudes a playful charm, settles onto the bench across me before proceeding to deftly assemble some pieces of wood.
It's not long before Wina ambles over to join us, with boxes of potted plants in her hands. Eyes dancing with mischief, the 27-year-old Penangite shares about her latest passion for gardening. "I ordered these from Shopee," she whispers delightedly before proceeding to line them up one by one on the table.
"Macam mana nak buat ni? Semua dalam Bahasa Cina (How to do this? The instructions are all in Chinese)!" Hafiz's sudden exclamation of despair as he gestures to the instruction manual in his hand catches us by surprise, triggering raucous laughter to ensue.
JOURNEY OF PASSION
"It all began in July 2022," reminisces Wina, eyes alight at the memory when asked about how the business started. "I used to be a coffee lover, but during the confines of the Covid-19 era, I realised that drinking coffee sometimes made me jittery and anxious. That's when I decided to explore the world of matcha."
Ignited by a sense of curiosity and a desire to seek alternatives, Wina, who has a background in English linguistics and a degree in English for Professionals from Universiti Sains Malaysia, embarked on a journey of discovery, delving deep into the world of matcha. "I learnt about the different grades, the nuances of flavour, and the many benefits it offered," she elaborates.
Meanwhile, for the 24-year-old Kedah-born Hafiz, the decision to pursue entrepreneurship with Wina marked a departure from his family's expectations. "My family has been involved in the bicycle business for years," he explains, before confiding that the expectation was for him to carry on the legacy, taking over one of the shops and forging ahead with the business along with his two other siblings.
"But my heart wasn't in it," he says simply, elaborating: "In the beginning, I had a pop-up shop here at the depot with my bicycle business. Our goal was simple: to promote a healthy lifestyle and educate people on proper bicycle maintenance."
Pausing for a moment, the genial Sagittarius reflects: "But over time, I found myself being burnt out. I was the salesman, I did the accounts and the marketing. Every time I had to go to work, I felt heavy. I remember I'd look forward to Sundays because it meant I could come to the depot and help Wina with her matcha."
Gaze drifting across the bustling depot, memories of the early days mingling with the present, Hafiz, the youngest of three siblings, says softly: "I found solace in the sense of community that this depot fosters. Here, we're all more than just vendors. We're artists, creators united by our shared passion. I remember even if we only made RM100/200 on a single day, we'd be happy."
Nodding solemnly, Hafiz recalls that it was in December 2022 that he made the decision to dive into the matcha business full-time with Wina. "It wasn't an easy choice, especially with my parents' expectations weighing heavily on me. Mum, in particular, was the one who wanted me to take over, especially with dad not getting any younger," he confides, smiling wryly.
Despite the doubts and disapproval from his family, Hafiz, who has a background in electrical engineering, remained steadfast in his decision. "For me, Matcha.lah isn't just about making money," he asserts, adding: "It's about pursuing a passion and about finding joy in the journey itself. My dad (formerly a chargeman at a factory before his retirement) views it as a waste of talent and that what I'm doing isn't a proper job. To me, it's a labour of love, a testament to our shared dreams and aspirations."
Nodding, Wina, who also juggles between the business and teaching English online at a tuition centre, chips in: "I initially started Matcha.lah on a whim. But I was determined to do it. I guess my vision was to share with people the goodness of matcha. As days went by, we realised we were onto something special."
Fast forward to today, and as the couple navigate the challenging world of entrepreneurship, Wina and Hafiz continue to remain steadfast in their commitment to quality and innovation. "Our matcha is ceremonial grade and imported from Japan," Wina emphasises proudly.
Continuing, the bubbly Cancerian shares: "Usually in cafes they might only be using food-grade matcha. The taste is chalky and bitter. Our matcha is ceremonial grade, so it's very special, pure, and yes, expensive. We only have five matcha items at the moment but it's enough. We prefer to emphasise on quality rather than quantity. To do more doesn't necessarily mean it's good. We make it compact and we really care about our products."
Adding, Wina, the eldest of three siblings, elaborates: "The flavours we offer are the results of my own research and development. I like to experiment with combinations and learning about the benefits. Basically, I do all the behind-the-scene work while Hafiz handles operations and logistics, besides talking to suppliers, organisers, vendors etc. He loves being the frontman."
STAYING THE COURSE
Suffice to say, there's been plenty of challenges for the young couple, who are currently counting down the days to their wedding scheduled this December.
Recalls the affable Hafiz, who juggles a week-day job as an assistant trainer for teambuilding: "In the early days, we had a lot of energy spike. We were enjoying everything about the business. But over time, that spike has slowly started to go down. Maybe we're just tired."
Expression earnest, he muses: "It's also not easy to entice customers if they don't fancy matcha anyway. No matter how much you wave them over, they'd just walk pass. I don't think it's our fault or the venue's fault. It's the people. If they don't want, we can't force them."
Continuing, Hafiz points out: "But it's different when we go to Kuala Lumpur. People would flock to our stall. But we don't go often because the cost is too high. The rental for three days — RM1,800 — is sometimes the same as renting a shop for a month. And of course, there's expenses to be incurred for travel, accommodation etc. Now we just need to focus growing the business in Penang."
Despite the hurdles they face, the duo's passion for matcha remains undimmed. "The matcha scene in Penang may still be in its infancy, but we're determined to change that," Wina declares, eyes alight, adding: "For us, Matcha.lah isn't just a business venture, but it's also a mission to educate and inspire."
Their biggest plan right now, agrees the couple, is their upcoming nuptials. "We need to save up for that," says Wina, chuckling happily, continuing: "After that, we'd love to have our own cafe selling matcha and coffee somewhere in Burmah Road."
"We have mini plans too," chips in Hafiz. "In the next few months, we'll have gaming nights here at the depot. And during Ramadan, we'll organise moreh nights. After terawih, we'll get that crowd to come here and chill. We can open until late and call more vendors to join us, and maybe bring in special food. For Matcha.lah, we do have a few events that we've signed up for."
What's your idea of a dream cafe, I couldn't help asking the ever-smiling Hafiz, whose musical taste ranges from techno to house music. I note his eyes lighting up at the question.
Without pausing, he replies: "I dream of a cafe with a deejay space. I want to learn deejaying actually. If you go to YouTube, you'll see My Analog Journal in the United Kingdom (YouTube channel which curates vinyl-only mixes on a weekly basis, founded by Zag Erlat) and they have a cafe. But they also have a studio inside the cafe all covered by plants. And there's a deejay in the middle. That's my dream cafe!"
FATE INTERTWINED
Their journey began in the unlikeliest of places: a digital realm where connections are made with a swipe. "Yes, we met on Tinder," Wina reminisces with a grin, eyes sparkling at the recollection.
A playful smirk on his face, Hafiz interjects: "But it wasn't all smooth sailing. She actually ghosted me!"
Shaking her head in mock horror, Wina retorts: "No, it wasn't really ghosting because you only sent me one text. He said, 'Hey, follow me on Twitch (an interactive livestreaming service for content spanning gaming, entertainment, sports, and music).' He was streaming games at that time. I was like, 'ewww, no', so I ignored him. But I guess fate had other plans!"
Continuing, Wina, whose creativity extends to jewellery-making says: "It was a chance encounter at this very depot. I was here for a photoshoot for a university assignment. I was completely unaware that Hafiz was also here."
Nodding, her partner shares: "I was sat over there just chilling, and somehow our eyes met. We just stared at each other and smiled. And I remember when I got home, I texted her on Tinder to ask whether it was really her that I saw!"
Their relationship blossomed, but not without its challenges. "I was battling mental health issues and diagnosed as bipolar," Wina confides, tone more sombre now. "I had depression, anxiety… dark clouds that seemed impossible to escape."
Eyes forlorn, she shares: "I do have a family history of it — from my dad's side. Also, I'd been through a lot. I'd been in and out of a very long, toxic six-year relationship. I didn't know what was real, what wasn't. I was really messed up."
But Hafiz's unwavering support proved to be her guiding light during those tumultuous times. "He was there for me, every step of the way," says Wina softly, adding: "His love and understanding gave me the strength to keep fighting, to believe that brighter days were ahead."
"I knew she could get better," continues Hafiz, adding: "And the better side of her far outweighs her downside. Back then, we'd be scared to even leave her alone at home for fear of her doing something dangerous. She's much better now."
Voice low, Hafiz confides: "I love everything about her. I'd been searching for a partner for so long, and been in and out of very toxic friendship groups as well. I came out of that group and she happened to come into my life. We talked a lot at the beginning. I told her all of my secrets and she was okay with them. She's a person who doesn't judge."
Together, they've been weathering the storms, emerging stronger and more resilient. "Now we're stronger than ever," Wina declares, adding: "Sure, we have many challenges as a young couple finding our way in this world, but we're doing it together. We're looking forward to whatever the future may hold…"
Check out @matcha.lah on IG.