Meet the Team

AMY, Founder

 

With family ties in France, Japan, and Vietnam, Amy developed a love for fine teas and tisanes early on in her childhood. She was inspired by her entrepreneurial grandfathers, who established businesses in the United States and abroad.

After earning a degree in International Business from UC Irvine and a decade of working in consulting, tech, and wellness, Amy took the leap and started PARU in 2017. The idea quickly grew from a pop-up with tea educational workshops to a full-time business, operating both in-store and online.

In addition to leading the team, Amy serves as the primary tea educator, buyer, and master blender. She enjoys working with her hands and creating nostalgia-inspired teas like our Blue Chamomile and Pandan Waffle. 

LANI, Co-Founder / Marketing & Partnerships

 

As Creative Director, Lani ensures that our messaging and partnerships reflect PARU’s mission to represent the under represented and to educate the community on the benefits of high-quality tea. She brings over 14 years of experience to the team, ranging from small business and team management to professional services to marketing.

While studying history at UC Berkeley and Meiji Gakuin University (where she and Amy first met), Lani was inspired by Japanese culture and literature, which is highly centered around tea. In the following years, she lived and taught in the Japanese countryside, where she learned about the different grades and purposes of tea from her local community.

You can find her whisking matcha or steeping several cups of Moriuchi Sencha. Her favorite thing about tea is pouring it—it is a simple yet meaningful way to serve others, and it helps ground you in humility.