Matcha Makers

"Matcha Makers" is a comic short written by Nadia Shammas and drawn by Sara Alfageeh, with coloring by Savanna Ganucheau and lettering by Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt. It was released by Dark Horse Comics on August 14, 2021, as a part of Free Comic Book Day.
== Overview ==
Uncle Iroh's tea shop is the center of some strange spirit activity! Humans and spirits together give Iroh the push he needs to do something exciting that's outside his normal comfort zone!
== Synopsis==
Iroh is sweeping the floors in the late evening at the Jasmine Dragon while a waitress, Feng, is bringing tea to a customer. When Iroh notices that she is tired, he tells her to take off her apron and head home, although she asks if he is sure, as there is one more customer left. Iroh tells her not to worry and get some rest, or go and enjoy the nightlife, as she has better places to be.
Iroh approaches the final customer, an elegant upper-class woman, asking her if he can get anything else. She declines, apologizing for keeping him past closing, as she enjoys the tea so much that she wants to savor it. Iroh tells her not to apologize, as he is glad that the tea brought her such pleasure. She blushes, saying that it is not just the tea, clarifying that it is a very special shop. The firebender tells her that he cannot take all the credit, as he has wonderful helpers and repeat customers. She introduces herself as Li-Mei, while Iroh introduces himself too, although she already knows who he is. He says that it is a pleasure to make her acquaintance and offers to read the tea leaves at the bottom of her cup. The leaves form a swan, which symbolizes good luck and a new love. Li-Mei says that she hopes so, and hands the teacup to Iroh. She says farewell until next time and opens a fan to cover her face as she departs.
Later, Iroh is brewing tea for spirits in the Jasmine Dragon. He serves the tea before his spirit friends, explaining that it is delicate but layered with sweetness, complexity, and strength. He says it reminds him of someone he just met, but that those days are long behind him. Iroh reminisces that he has lived a long life with many challenges and victories, but that he has reached a place where he is content. He notes that not many people are lucky enough to have such fortune, and that it is a foolish person who asks for more when he has so much, wondering if it is best to leave things be as they are.
Feng tells Iroh that Li-Mei has returned to the shop and notes that she must have liked the tea. Iroh asks Feng to tend to the customer before going to fetch something from the back. Feng trips up due to the spirits and apologizes, but Li-Mei simply asks if she is alright. Iroh tells the waitress not to concern herself and tells her to take a break after promising to come back with another cup of tea for his customer. After spirits tamper with the cups, Iroh sets the tea before Li-Mei. The customer says that the Jasmine Dragon is quickly becoming her favorite spot in all of Ba Sing Se, and then notices some foam love hearts on the tea, saying that it is gorgeous. Surprised, Iroh says that Feng must have been practicing her skills, and asks her to enjoy.
Iroh gets suspicious of the spirits, and one of them holds up a poster about the Jasmine Dragon being the most romantic tea shop in Ba Sing Se. Iroh gets flustered and says that he really is content alone. Feng approaches him, saying that the customer wants more tea, and he says that he will get on it, asking her to check the tea leaves downstairs. He tells the spirits not to interfere and sets the tea before Li-Mei. In the background, the spirits are making a vase hover, and threatening to drop it. Iroh calls out for them to stop, and Li-Mei asks if everything is okay. Embarrassed, Iroh finally asks her to accompany him to a late dinner. Li-Mei smiles and tells him that she thought he would never ask. He starts to close up and approaches Feng, but she smiles and tells him that she can handle it, and that he has better places to be. Iroh begins to thank the spirits in his thoughts for pushing him outside his comfort zone. Li-Mei says that she has never been to the restaurant they are going to, but Iroh responds that variety is the spice of life, and that sometimes people need new experiences to remind them of how magical the world truly is.
== Production notes ==
=== Transcript ===
=== Trivia ===
* The title is a pun of the word matchmaker, as matcha is a type of green tea.
== References ==
== See also ==
* Read "Matcha Makers" on DarkHorse.com
* List of Avatar: The Last Airbender comics
de:Matcha Makers
ru:Создатели маття
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Category:Comics
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