By the time I reached the counter at Maruwu Seicha, Palo Alto’s latest shrine to matcha worship, I was ready to pledge allegiance to the little green tea leaf. The aroma of fresh whisked matcha hung in the air, a promise of powdered joy to come. I had extremely high hopes—the kind you should only reserve for new crushes or the return of a canceled show. And the matcha? Well, it was everything I dreamed of and more. The rest of the experience, though, had me questioning my devotion.

Let’s start with the star: matcha gelato. It was pure green gold, smooth and rich, tasting like an imported Kyoto tea ceremony that had been flash-frozen and delivered into a cup. The matcha soft serve was its silkier, flirtier cousin, leaving a perfectly bittersweet aftertaste. These are unequivocally the best matcha desserts you’ll find in the area—and if you’re a true matcha lover, worth trying at least once (or twice...maybe thrice).

The drinks? A mixed bag. The strawberry matcha latte hit the nostalgia of a Neapolitan ice cream tub but suffered from a slight identity crisis—its fruity sweetness occasionally stepping on matcha's earthy toes. I prefer to get this drink with no sweetness but would recommend the 50% sweetness level for most patrons. The hojicha latte was pleasant, though also better with reduced sweetness. Its roasted, nutty flavor was a decent foil to the matcha-heavy menu but lacked the depth to be memorable. Paired with soft, chewy boba? Not bad, but not revelatory.

The hojicha chocolate gelato is ok, not nearly as rich and memorable as the matcha goodness but might be a good option if you like hojicha and milk chocolate. Lastly, let’s talk about the wildcard: egg tarts. I wouldn't order these again. The buttery crust was good and played well against the soft, creamy filling. However, the egg tarts were basically tasteless. The fillings were bland and left much to be desired.

Now for the curveballs. On multiple visits, I eyed the matcha drinks with anticipation, only to hear the dreaded words: “Sorry, we’re out of that today.” The first time, I brushed it off. By the third occurrence, I was not so zen. When you’ve already waited over 20 minutes in line, being asked to “choose something else” feels like a betrayal of trust—especially when you’re clinging to the hope that this visit, this visit, will deliver what’s missing in your life (or at least your order).

And yet, would I wait in a line out the door for all this? Probably not. Maruwu Seicha has a matcha game so strong it could rival a Tokyo cafe, but its service stumbles like a matcha neophyte who forgot to whisk their powder properly. If they can smooth out the bumps—and stock up on matcha gelato—it could be a new cult favorite. Until then, you might just want to bring a book and some patience.

My order: A matcha gelato or a strawberry matcha latte if I am feeling thirsty.

Sincerely,

Shaye Story