NOA

For Dönay and Mete, it all started with one tin of matcha. The couple behind NOA Matcha (and ceramics!) began their journey while travelling the world. Both on a break from their busy engineering lives, they found their calm in Bali while training in yoga and meditation. Somewhere between mindful movement and quiet moments, they discovered a passion for helping others find that same sense of peace.

Today, Dönay and Mete bring that feeling to rooms full of people, combining their love of matcha and the beautiful ceramics that often accompany it to deliver a mindful experience focused on being present. Through pairing the soothing ritual of ceremonial matcha with the peaceful art of ceramic painting, Dönay and Mete’s goal is to help everyone fill their cups in more ways than one.

Join one of their workshops, dotted all around Australia, to learn the art of slowing down and connecting while making something beautiful to be proud of. With a love of bringing people together, the most rewarding part for Dönay and Mete is seeing people relax, connect and surprise themselves with what they can make. Ultimately, that’s what inspires their workshop experiences.

Let’s hear from the makers themselves.

In three words, our matcha and ceramic painting experiences are…

“Relaxed, social and creative.”

The vibes you can expect at our workshops…

“Calm and mindful without feeling too serious—people can chat, take their time and enjoy the process. The workshop usually begins with plenty of conversation and laughter, then the room naturally becomes quieter as everyone gets absorbed in painting.” 

Our advice to “non-creatives” is…

“You don’t need to be “artistic” to enjoy creating something. Start with simple colours and shapes, don’t compare your work with anyone else’s, and allow yourself to enjoy the process.

There are no mistakes here—only personal touches. People are often genuinely surprised by how beautiful their finished pieces look—especially those who arrived believing they weren’t creative.”

The most rewarding part of our job is…

“For me, the most rewarding part isn’t simply creating my own pieces—it’s watching a room full of people relax, connect and surprise themselves with what they can make. That’s what inspired me to turn it into a workshop experience.”

In our workshops, you can expect to create… 

“A piece that feels like your own. We provide plenty of inspiration and guidance, but most people eventually add their own personality. They may begin with one of our sample designs and then change the colours, patterns or details. There’s no pressure to copy anything exactly!”

Our ceramic painting workshops are perfect for…

“We welcome a real mix. Solo guests often enjoy meeting new people in a relaxed environment, while couples treat it as a creative date. Birthdays and hen parties tend to be more lively and playful, and mother-daughter bookings usually feel especially warm and meaningful.

Each group brings a different energy, but everyone shares the same table and creative experience.”

Emma D., one of NOA’s class-goers, had this to say about a session run by Dönay: 

“Such a lovely experience from start to finish. Dönay was fantastic; she explains everything so clearly, really knows her stuff, and you can tell she’s genuinely passionate about matcha. That energy made the whole session feel special.”