Hello friendly faces! It’s that time of the week! We’re back with a new CNSM Meet a Mom spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law. We excited to introduce you to Northbrook mama of three girls under the age of six and founder of the super food product Mantra Matcha, Katie Mankoff!
Katie shares with us her favorite North Shore family friendly spots, what gets her through a tough day (can you guess what it is?) and the what’s and why’s matcha! Welcome, Katie!
Hi Katie! Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?
Hi, my name is Katie Mankoff and I currently live in Northbrook. I grew up in Lincolnshire, went to college at IU, and then lived in Chicago for many years prior to relocating back to the North Shore.
You’re a mama! Tell us about your kids.
I have 3 girls: Sloan (6), Mazie (4), and Naomi (2). Every day is chaos with school and activities, but I love being their mom more than anything!
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
Prior to Lincolnshire, I lived in Belgium for many years as a child! Between running Mantra Matcha and being a mama to 3 young kids, I still wake up at 4:00 or 5:00 am some days to teach or take classes at Shred415. I love fitness and even ran a half marathon while pregnant years ago.
What are your favorite North Shore local places to spend with the family?
The kids love playing at the Kohl’s Museum, Funtopia, and Sky Zone. We usually end up at Dawg Park at The Glen after for their elaborate, over-the-top milkshakes. Our kids are very picky eaters and can’t sit still, so we don’t eat out often these days. When we do, it’s usually Francesca’s North, Once Upon A Grill, or Georgie V’s.
Pun intended…Your Mantra is…
Every Monday, Mantra Matcha sends out an email to our customers with a unique ‘Monday Mantra’ to start the week off with positive vibes. It’s free and anyone can sign up at MantraMatcha.com. The mantra that I start my day off with and keep top of mind is: “I am calm, fulfilled, and happy. Today will be a good day.”
Please introduce Mantra Matcha! Tell us about this product. When did you launch this company?
Mantra Matcha is a unique specialty line of small-batch, Super Premium Ceremonial Matcha infused with flavorful superfoods. With blends such as Superfood Berry and Banana Cacao, you’ve never tasted matcha like this before, guaranteed.
Why did you create this product and found this company? What pain point are you/were you trying to solve?
What was the impetus behind starting this brand?
I launched Mantra Matcha in 2021. The company’s mission is to spread positive energy, one sip at a time. We help our customers say peace out (hence the logo) to the crash, jitters, and anxiety associated with coffee and instead say hello to the crash-free, mood-boosting energy of plant based matcha tea.
What exactly is Matcha?
Matcha is a superfood powerhouse form of green tea loaded with a variety of health benefits. The process in which it’s harvested makes it the highest-grade powdered form of green tea on the planet. This process reserves an abundance of beneficial nutrients compared to traditional green tea, which is highly processed and stripped of most nutrients. Because matcha powder is consumed whole leaf, you ingest more nutrients than you would from steeping a tea bag.
In fact, 1 cup of matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of traditional green tea! Plus, it’s known to have countless potential health benefits including restored vitality, increased metabolism, decreased stress levels, enhanced focus, and on overall feeling of wellbeing. It’s purely stress-free, positive energy. Restore, revive, and come alive with Mantra Matcha.
What is the story behind the name Mantra Matcha?
Mantra: A mantra is something you repeat daily to stay centered, balanced, and optimistic. Matcha: The same benefits can come from incorporating matcha into your daily routine.
The meaning when combined is to make matcha your daily mantra!
What sets Mantra Matcha apart from other health food beverages?
Quality is everything when it comes to matcha, and Mantra Matcha is unmatched. Our entire product line is made from Super Premium Ceremonial Matcha (the highest grade matcha possible). Every cup is smooth and velvety.
Mantra Matcha is carefully harvested and sourced directly from a non-commercialized, private hillside farm located near Uji, Japan. It is then brought to you, farm-to-cup. It’s anything but mass-produced, low-grade matcha disguised as premium (which is all too common).
Quality aside, matcha tends to have a grassy and earthy flavor profile. By infusing our matcha with mouthwatering superfoods such as goji berries, strawberries, rose hips, cinnamon, and ginger, those that don’t love the taste of matcha alone can now enjoy it.
Is this product food-allergy friend?
All Mantra Matcha blends are carefully crafted using a limited number of organic, non-GMO, clean ingredients beaming with health benefits. The use of unnecessary, harmful, misleading, or masked ingredients is strictly prohibited from our entire product line.
Mantra Matcha is produced in a peanut and gluten-free facility and excludes added sugar, stevia, sucralose, artificial colors, and artificial flavors.
…Just genuinely healthy, great tasting, unique matcha blends with benefits.
What gets your through a particularly stressful day as a small business owner?
I drink matcha! It contains a naturally occurring amino acid called L-Theanine, which has a primary function of reducing stress and enhancing focus.
What’s on the horizon for Mantra matcha?
Mantra Matcha is focused on expansion and new products. Follow us on Instagram at @mantramatcha to join on the journey!
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
For every Mantra Matcha purchase, a meal is donated to a child in need through the No Kid Hungry organization.
Where can people find this product?
Mantra Matcha is available at a variety of retailers from Bubble Goods to Walmart. For the lowest pricing and exclusive discounts, shop direct at MantraMatcha.com. All orders ship free & fast and come with a 100% money-back guarantee. Step into spring 2023 with 20% off + free shipping! Use code: SPRINGMATCHA. Don’t forget to follow us on @mantramatcha!
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
