“We wanted to have a place where people can experience and taste the original Japanese tea and matcha within reach. We aimed to bring the same feeling as if you were in Japan,” Peng Chen, the driving force behind Maruwu Seichas operations and marketing strategy, said.
With its second international location recently opened in downtown Palo Alto, Maruwu Seicha is doing just that. Through its various matcha drinks, soft serves, and desserts, the cafe is quickly becoming a popular destination for local tea drinkers.
While Maruwu Seicha is new to Palo Alto, the Kyoto-based company has been producing tea since 2011 and opened its first international location in San Francisco’s Japantown last year. Maruwu Seicha’s commitment to offering truly authentic Japanese tea has helped them gain many loyal customers. “The tea powders we use are between culinary and ceremonial grade,” Chen said. The company’s roots lie in the tea farms of Uji, Kyoto, where they source their matcha directly from tea masters.
For Chen, the customers make the team’s intense efforts worthwhile. “We have people coming in three times a day. Seeing so many people give us the trust and loving the environment—it just makes our day,” Chen said.
Chen also noted the distinct difference in customer base between the Palo Alto location and the San Francisco location. While the San Francisco spot attracts more tourists, the Palo Alto location is becoming a beloved local cafe, with regulars returning time and time again. Students can often be found studying while enjoying their matcha drinks and cheese tarts, while colleagues come in after work to unwind with a cup of tea, making Maruwu Seicha an inviting space for the community.
Like any new business, Maruwu Seicha has encountered its share of challenges.“It’s a good problem to have, but we definitely did not anticipate this many people,” Chen said. The overwhelming popularity and staffing issues has placed a heavy strain on the team. The cafe has worked to adapt by temporarily pulling staff from its San Francisco location. They are also focusing on improving communication, especially when organizing events such as their recent Hojicha celebration. Despite the excitement behind the event, which celebrated Ingen, the legendary tea master who introduced Hojicha to Japan, a miscommunication led to an unexpected shortage of matcha, catching some customers off guard. “The choices we’ve made when we’ve done events, not necessarily everyone has liked. There are lots of decisions that have to be adjusted,” Chen said.
Despite these challenges, the team at Maruwu Seicha remains committed to offering a unique and high-quality experience, which is evident in their carefully curated menu. With a focus on all organic and fresh ingredients, their drinks and treats are flavorful and true to their titles. “Pretty much everything on the menu is popular,” Chen said. He recommended the pistachio matcha gelato, noting that it’s only offered at the Palo Alto location.
Even customers who typically don’t gravitate towards matcha are impressed by the quality drinks that Maruwu Seicha offers. Senior Giselle Martinez Landa stopped by to grab a drink and study. “I’ve had matcha at Starbucks and it just tastes like grass, but here the matcha tastes pure,” she said. “It’s not too sweet, it’s just perfect.”
Although matcha is their main focus, the cafe offers other tea types, including Sencha, Gyokuro, and Kyobancha. “We’re constantly coming up with new flavors for our drinks and desserts,” Chen said. Some highlights were the iced matcha latte with snow top and their strawberry matcha latte. The snow top is essentially a cheese foam that consists of cream cheese, organic milk, condensed milk, and whipping cream. Their Matcha Affogato combines a creamy vanilla soft serve with a rich matcha pour and tops the treat with crunchy Korean popcorn. They also offer a variety of freshly baked cheese tarts.
Looking ahead, Maruwu Seicha is focused on growing their business and embracing the community. Chen hinted at a possible rewards program in response to growing popularity as well as plans to host Japanese tea masters for their grand opening toward the end of 2024. Maruwu Seicha aims to stay fresh, inviting, and committed to its mission of bringing the finest matcha to the Bay Area.
Maruwu Seicha is located at 250 University Ave Unit 101 in Palo Alto and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. You can find more information by following @maruwuseichausa on Instagram.
