A LATTE LOVE FOR TEA
Meet Narra, a new range of Asian-inspired ready-to-drink, dairy-free, naturally caffeinated oat milk lattes that use tea as a base rather than coffee.
Here we discuss the story behind the Narra brand, why tea is the perfect ingredient to shake up the RTD latte category, and ourplans for the future.
Words: Victoria and Miggy Reyes
Images: Narra
'MERIENDA’ IS THE FILIPINO TRADITION OF TAKING A MIDDAY BREAK TO SIP, SNACK AND RECHARGE. WITH OUR FILIPINO HERITAGE, IT WAS SOMETHING WE LOOKED FORWARD TO EVERY DAY BUT HAD BECOME THIS DREADED MIDDAY SLUMP WHEN WE BECAME WORKING PROFESSIONALS.
That’s because, in the US market, the RTD latte space is heavily dominated by coffee and we couldn’t find a perfectly balanced product that could get us through the day without having too much sugar or caffeine that comes with all the jitters. Despite the incredible benefits it offers, tea is hugely underused in the RTD latte category.
That’s where the idea for Narra came from. By combining the untapped potential of tea with the flavours of our childhood, we brewed up a unique lineup of oat milk tea lattes that offer a natural caffeine boost. Our aim is to revolutionise the latte category, breathing new life into a beverage that has long been synonymous with coffee. That’s why we embrace tea as the foundation of our innovative creations. Unlike traditional latte brands, Narra's lattes bring a refreshing twist to the market and fill a much-needed gap.
By using tea as a base, Narra offers a smooth and focused energy boost without any jitters or crash. Drawing inspiration from our Asian heritage and assimilation into the US, Narra creates a tapestry of flavors that celebrate a modernised approach to cultural drink traditions with three culturally-driven flavors: Roasted Oolong, Black Tea, and Strawberry Matcha.
For us, Narra is a way to celebrate our cultures and communities, and we hope to instil nostalgic joy for those who grew up with these flavors, and inspire curiosity, conversation, and new cravings for those unfamiliar with them. Through Narra, we hope to provide that joyous merienda feeling, just like having that perfect midday escape to get you recharged and ready to finish the day strong while still getting you to bed on time.
We launched Narra in the summer of 2023 and we’ve had a great reaction from the market so far. Our partnership with Finlays has been a huge advantage in getting Narra to market. Finlays’ long-standing presence in the tea industry allows them to provide unparalleled expertise to their customers.
Looking to the future, the goal is to grow Narra into a household name. We are already looking into new, delicious flavors and although our initial launch was primarily online and throughout our home state of California, we are already getting placement on retail shelves outside of California and continue to work our way towards national distribution within the next few years.
Victoria and Miggy Reyes are the founders of Narra – a line of Asian-inspired ready-to-drink, vegan oat milk lattes that offer a remarkable and focused energy boost without any jitters or crash. For more information visit www.drinknarra.com
