JD: You recently received GBP50,000 from the UK investor TV show Dragons’ Den. What’s that cash being used for and any plans for further funding rounds? Grit & grind: marathon prep and startup life demand early mornings, late nights, sweat, and even blood and tears. With each hurdle overcome is a step (or a leap) forward. Its three-strong range is made using 100% natural ingredients, with no additives, preservatives or added sugar. The combination of matcha green tea, sparkling water and fruit juice gives each can 80mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to a Red Bull. The product is Europe’s first ever matcha green tea canned energy drink, AND it’s the first ever UK based energy drink to win a Great Taste Award. PerfecTed has expertly blended citrusy fresh yuzu with punchy pineapple to create a ridiculously refreshing experience.

Tesco buyer, Libby Lee, said the retailer is excited about a partnership with PerfectTed to grow the natural energy category with a range of “delicious drinks that put functionality and health first.” PerfectTed, made up of Hampstead brothers Levi and Teddie and New Yorker Marisa, to appear on Dragons' Den to pitch their matcha energy drink, already being sold in Tesco (Image: PerfectTed) Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life. Dealing with manufacturing issues really early on, we have an amazing partner but sometimes you can’t get ingredients or there is a fire in the factory, which we genuinely had a week before we were meant to go into our first-ever production round. JD: A fire in the factory? The first UK-based energy drink to win a Great Taste Award, PerfectTed Matcha Green Tea Energy Drinks are available in three unique flavour combinations of matcha green tea, lightly sparkling water and real fruit juice, the range includes:

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In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding. Marisa says she has long been aware of the relationship between food and the body. Aged 17 she had a tumour in her hip. “I really started to focus on my diet and healthy food, as what you put in your body is so intrinsically tied to your health.” In fact, Marisa explained how they were told they'd be appearing on the show just days before they were due to travel from London to Manchester for filming. They tried the few matcha powders and drinks on the market, but found them grassy, bitter, and full of additives and sweeteners, so they set out to discover a better solution. I thought it would help increase my mental alertness and just give me consistent energy levels throughout the day, but I often found I was just experiencing horrible side effects like jitters, crashes, exacerbated anxiety symptoms.

So, we knew we wanted it to be a human name. We wanted it to be relevant to one of the founders. Teddy is my co-founder, Ted, Teddy is a gender-neutral name and everyone kind of knows a Teddy and we felt it was really a play on words for perfected and perfect ten. Available in three unique flavour combinations (Pear Ginger, Apple Raspberry, and Pineapple Yuzu), the team sources its single origin, organic, ceremonial grade matcha from Uji, Japan. This premium quality matcha features a sweet, umami flavour, and a bright green hue (unlike poorer substitutes – which can be bitter, grassy, and insoluble). We're so proud to pioneer this better-for-you way to fuel your day, and we can't wait for you all to try them if you haven't already!

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A few years later, she spent six months living in Tel Aviv, studying at the Tel Aviv University as part of her university degree. As well as feeling “extremely connected to the Jewish community there” she was also inspired by the healthy way of living. “There was so much access to healthy food, and restaurants served a lot of healthy options. There was a focus on food as medicine and that definitely inspired me to want to set something up.” She added the Tesco listing also made the natural energy drink “readily accessible nationwide and marking yet more rapid growth for our business”. They describe how would batch-make big jugs to get them through a busy week but needed a high quality on-the-go solution to stay energised.