Today we’d like to introduce you to Kanokphorn Baldueva.
Hi Kanokphorn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We Best Baldueva and Noon Saparakpanya , owner of Celeste Matcha Haven started from our shared love for matcha and our dream of creating something of our own. We both have full-time careers but have always shared a creative and entrepreneurial side.
Our concept is a DMV-based matcha pop-up focused on balancing great taste, creative matcha flavors, and beautiful presentation. Even our name, **Celeste**, reflects that vision—it means “heavenly” or “of the sky.” We wanted a name that felt beautiful on its own and captured the dreamy, uplifting feeling we want people to experience when they see Celeste and enjoy our matcha.
We started small with weekend pop-ups, creating our own recipes and doing everything ourselves. What began as a passion project has grown through word of mouth and the incredible support of our community, and we’re excited to continue creating new flavors, collaborations, and experiences throughout the DMV.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. In the beginning, we faced rejection when applying to some markets because our price point was considered too high. But lowering our prices would have meant compromising the quality we wanted Celeste to represent.
From the beginning, our goal was never just to make matcha that looks beautiful—we wanted every drink to taste great and be made with quality ingredients. It took time to find the right events and customers who understood that value, but those early rejections actually helped us stay true to our concept and build the brand we wanted.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Celeste Matcha is a DMV-based matcha pop-up built around three things: quality, creative flavors, and beautiful presentation. We specialize in handcrafted matcha drinks that go beyond the classic latte, creating unique flavors inspired by different desserts, cultures, seasons, and ingredients while still making sure the matcha itself shines.
What sets us apart is the full experience. We believe a drink should taste just as beautiful as it looks. From our signature cloud-topped matchas and seasonal menus to our dreamy celestial branding, every detail is thoughtfully created by us.
We’re especially proud that Celeste has developed its own identity and community. People recognize our drinks, our cloud and star aesthetic, and the creativity we bring to each pop-up. We’ve grown from local weekend pop-ups into private and corporate events, hotel and brand collaborations, bridal events, and most recently our DIY Flower Bar.
More than anything, we want people to know that Celeste isn’t just about selling matcha. We want every pop-up to feel like a little experience—something beautiful, delicious, and memorable that people are excited to come back to.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
We truly couldn’t have grown Celeste on our own. We give so much credit to every space owner who welcomed us, every customer who supported us, and every business and brand that trusted us to collaborate with them.
We’re also incredibly grateful for our best friends who have always shown up to help whenever we needed them, and especially our families, who have been our biggest support system. Their encouragement and support have allowed us to keep building Celeste while balancing our full-time careers and personal lives.
Celeste may have started with the two of us, but so many people have been part of the journey.
Pricing:
- Matcha starts at $8-8.50 a cup
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @celeste.matcha.haven
