Before Obubu
Hello, I’m Cara! I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, USA. I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Food Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. My love for food can be credited to my big family of food lovers. My dad worked in the restaurant industry nearly my whole life and every family gathering is centered around a meal or two and sweet treats. This passion has led me to unimaginable opportunities and experiences within food – from professional career growth to personal exploration and travel. Through food I’ve gained a strong interest in agriculture and farming. In 2023 I WWOOFed in Japan and unsurprisingly fell in love with the country and knew I’d be back someday.
Why Obubu
My earliest and fondest memories of tea growing up would be from Sunday morning dim sum with my family. Dim sum is a traditional Cantonese breakfast consisting of small plates of baos, meats, and dumplings usually served with tea. Tea has grown to be a personal symbol of family, quality time, and comfort. In combination with my love for food processing and farming – it made sense to learn more about tea. A simple Google search of “tea farming opportunities” led to an unforgettable experience at Obubu.
During Obubu
Eat natto, drink tea, and dance in the factory!!
This was really the mantra. During the short three months I learned the ways of grocery shopping at Plant, learned so so much about tea, and let loose with my fellow co-interns in the best and most wholesome ways possible. There’s an endless amount of adventures to be had in Wazuka and beyond!
Through all the tea tours, farming, city adventures, and day trips, we always had time to stop for a cup of tea. The simple act of taking a break to brew tea and enjoy the space and company was extremely rejuvenating. Some tea cups are only 2-sips large, which would allow myself to savor the yummy tea and precious moments even more.
After Obubu
This was the question before even arriving in Japan, and now days away from leaving Japan – I honestly still don’t know the answer! I just know I look forward to being with my loved ones again and sharing Japanese tea with the world.
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