above: Zen Cha Matcha combines traditional and modern elements on its menu and in its décor. above right: Café owners and matcha aficianados Dan and MJ Grullon.
These New York transplants are bringing their expertise and passion for matcha to Darien
MJ Grullon and her husband Danlis have always been matcha enthusiasts. The high school sweethearts from Yonkers spent years exploring all the matcha spots in New York. During that time, Danlis (who goes by Dan) stumbled upon an underground tea ceremony where the couple connected with a Japanese tea master. That encounter would transform the Grullon’s affinity for matcha into a full-on passion project.
The Grullons signed up for a class with the tea master and, although they communicated through a translator, there was an immediate connection. They told the tea master about their dream of opening a matcha cafe of their own and he connected them with the CEO (or “sensei”) of his farm back in Japan. Their dream was beginning to take shape.
Two years ago, the Grullons relocated to Connecticut. As parents of a 15-year-old boy (and also now a sweet four-month-old baby girl), they were drawn to Darien because of the quality education. It also seemed like a perfect place to open the cafe they had long imagined. MJ, whose paternal family hails from Japan, says, “We wanted to bring a piece of Japanese culture to Darien and Fairfield County.” Little did they know, the area was chock-full of New York transplants and fellow matcha aficionados.
and good for you.
“The matcha we serve is ceremonial-grade,” says MJ. “It is the highest quality available.” The farm they source from is in Kyoto, Japan, and has been in operation for more than 400 years. MJ explains that the way to judge the quality of matcha is by the color. The greener the matcha, the higher the quality. “And the higher the quality, the better the taste,” says MJ.
The Grullons served their matcha at local farmers markets while searching for the perfect location to open the café they had been dreaming of. Earlier this year, Zen Cha Matcha opened its doors in Darien Commons. “The location is perfect,” MJ says. “We love that Darien Commons is very wellness-centered.”
In addition to taste and tradition, the thing the Grullons love about matcha is the health benefits. As MJ explains, it is packed with antioxidants and amino acids. “It is easier to process the caffeine than with coffee,” she says. You get the same boost, but without the bad side effects, like the jitters or that crashing feeling. Matcha also helps protect the liver, boosts brain function and helps promote heart health and weight loss.
At Zen Cha Matcha, guests can sit on the tatami mat and experience the traditional tea ceremony, where the tea is sifted and whisked with hot water before being served in a Japanese ceramic pot. While that experience is certainly zen, for a quicker matcha fix, you can choose from a wide selection of adaptogenic elixirs, or as the Grullons call them, “purposeful lattes.” The menu lists the specific health benefits of each latte: Purple Haze for relaxation, Blue Zen for anti-aging, Golden Hour for immunity, etc.
Whether you choose to take out or to sit and enjoy the tranquil café, all of the delicious drinks are beautifully prepared. The Grullons are passionate about their matcha and it shows.
Zen Cha Matcha
130 Heights Road, Darien
Mon-Wed 7:30-5:00
Thurs-Sat 9:00-7:00
Sun 12:00-6:00