At trade shows, founders usually stand to one side, greeting visitors while someone else prepares the drinks. Wayne Qu does the opposite.
When we met him at the International Coffee & Beverage Show in Kuala Lumpur, he spent most of his time behind the counter, whisking matcha. Visitors probably saw someone preparing tea. What they were really watching was the person who had imagined the brand from the beginning making sure the final experience matched the original idea.
That instinct—to control every detail—runs through everything Wayne builds.
Over the past twelve years he has quietly developed The Tea Depot into one of Singapore’s established B2B tea suppliers, serving more than sixty cafés and tea businesses across Singapore and Malaysia. The company creates bespoke tea blends, but what distinguishes it first is not the tea itself. It is the identity surrounding it.
The Tea Depot is colourful, graphic and immediately recognisable. The illustrations are produced by an artist, but the visual direction comes from Wayne, who approaches branding much like blending: every element has to contribute to a balanced whole. Even the company’s communication changes between Singapore and Malaysia, reflecting his view that brands should adapt to markets without losing their character.
This year he introduced Sen & Ro, a brand devoted entirely to matcha.
Where The Tea Depot is expressive, Sen & Ro is restrained. Inspired by Japanese aesthetics, the new brand exchanges bright colours for quieter tones and minimal design. The transition feels less like a new business than another exercise in visual language. Different personality, same author.
As premium tea becomes increasingly important within hospitality, operators are looking for partners capable of offering more than quality leaves. They need suppliers who understand menu development, branding, presentation and the role tea plays within the overall guest experience.
That is where Wayne Qu has found his niche. His value lies not only in creating tea blends, but completing a venue’s concept with a coherent tea offering.
