BROOKLINE, MA – Gen Sou En has leased 5,500 square feet of retail space and announced the introduction of its modern Japanese tea house, set to open in Brookline, Mass., in early 2018.
The new concept will offer guests a traditional Japanese tea experience blended with contemporary food pairings for breakfast, lunch, light dinner and dessert, as well as sake, wine and beer in the evening. The tea house will be located at 299 Harvard St. in Coolidge Corner.
Gen Sou En – which loosely translated means farm-to-cup – brings 100 years of Japanese tea expertise to the Boston area, from the cultivation and blending of tea leaves to the meticulous preparation and artful presentation of every cup. For both beverages and food, the tea house menu will combine locally sourced, seasonal ingredients with traditional Japanese culture.
The 125-seat, 5,500 square-foot tea house will feature premium Japanese green tea, in addition to black tea, matcha beverages, coffee brewed from beans roasted in Vermont and locally made sake. Guests will be able to choose from three signature green tea blends: umami (round and savory), kokumi (deep and full bodied) and shibumi (sharp and intense), all prepared at the exact temperature and brewing time needed to extract the full flavor of each leaf.
All green tea blends will be served brewed or kyusu style, the authentic Japanese way in a teapot. Food pairings will be suggested for each blend to enhance its flavor profile.
“We are excited for the guests of our Brookline tea house to enjoy green tea the traditional way it’s served in Japan,” said Haruo Abe, co-founder of Gen Sou En Tea House, Brookline, and president of Harada Tea & Foods, Inc. “We
are creating a vibrant and relaxing environment with a focus on the attention to detail that defines Japanese hospitality.”
Gen Sou En will also offer matcha lattes and hoji (roasted green tea) lattes, two of the most popular beverages served in Tokyo and Kyoto tea houses. The bakery will also feature matcha-containing treats, such as matcha tiramisu and matcha croissants, along with many other house-made pastries, breads and desserts. Food choices will include a wide array of savory Japanese selections for any time of day, such as temaki (cone-shaped sushi handrolls), tempura, and onigiri (triangular Japanese rice balls).
Gen Sou En was designed by Suzumori Architecture, based in New York. Boston-based Marquis Design is creating all of the branding, graphic design elements and website. The headquarters of Gen Sou En’s parent company in Japan, Harada Tea Processing Co. Ltd., is located in Shizuoka near Mt. Fuji.
Gen Sou En Tea House is bringing 100 years of tradition to Brookline with its new, modern Japanese tea house. The concept combines traditional green tea preparation with contemporary food pairings, and blends Japanese culture
with local sourcing and community. In addition to a full array of tea and coffee, Gen Sou En will serve breakfast, lunch, light dinner and dessert, plus sake, wine and beer during evening hours. Located in the heart of
Coolidge Corner, Gen Sou En plans to open in early 2018.
