The story of creating medicinal tea, which began with the question, 'What is a design that sells?'

I work in design in Nara.
My job is to give shape to the 'message a client wants to convey' through logos, packaging, and brand building.

But one day, a question suddenly arose.
'Can I really talk about "designs that sell" without having the experience of "selling" something myself?'

That question had been dormant somewhere in my heart for a long time.
Someday, I wanted to create, communicate, and deliver a product myself.
Even while thinking that, I couldn't quite bring myself to take action.

I will challenge myself to "sell"

Through my work, I occasionally have the opportunity to meet farmers.
They are all truly proud and dedicated to "creating."
But at the same time, I have heard many voices expressing the worry, "I don't know how to sell my products."

If that's the case, I want to find a way to support agriculture from the "selling side."
That feeling began to sprout within me.

Everything started with meeting a tea farmer

In September 2024, I tagged along to an interview with a tea farmer I knew, and that was the beginning of everything.
Just like other farmers, they said:
"Surrounding tea plantations are closing due to the successor problem"
"Because of the difference in name recognition, we are sometimes bought at lower prices than Uji tea"
"We are too busy with production and lack the resources to focus on sales"

Those words made my heart ache.

If so, what could I do as a designer?
I might be able to add "value" to the tea itself, communicate it, and deliver it.
But what is added value??
What on earth is it??
Round and round, my thoughts went back and forth...

The answer is medicinal tea!!

Actually, Nara, where I live, is a land wherethe culture of tea and herbal medicine is deeply rooted.
It might not be well known nationwide, but
it is a tea-producing region and is also said to be the "birthplace of herbal medicine" in Japan.

Couldn't I deliver the power of this land in a form that can be incorporated more into daily life??

Tea x Herbal Medicine!!
That's it! Medicinal tea!!

With medicinal tea:
・It's "light"
・It has a "long shelf life"
・It "doesn't require large-scale equipment"

While doing my design work, I can ship it with as little burden as possible and minimize waste.
"If it's this, maybe even I can do it."

At least in terms of speed, I didn't lose to anyone (lol)

From there, it was full speed ahead, haha.
・Submitted notifications to the public health center
・Gathered samples of packaging materials
・Consulted with a herbal tea blender I know to create an original recipe
・December 2024, first event sale
・February 2025, opened the EC site and officially launched!

Creating a cycle of "Design × Agriculture × Self-care"

sillo medicinal tea is a brand born from the combination of design × agriculture × self-care. Leveraging the knowledge cultivated as a design firm, I want to deliver the nature of Nara and the passion of producers as a daily habit that "aligns the mind and body."

If a single cup of tea could become something that
gently connects someone's field with someone's body—.

It is a small effort, but
I hope to gradually spread the charm of Nara's tea.