Usually, I’m the last person anyone asks when it comes to restaurant and café picks, and quick bites across town. While I embrace the foodie aspect of myself, my dietary restrictions and aversion to walking more than five minutes to grab food has limited my knowledge of the culinary landscape that Boston has to offer. However, last spring, while brainlessly fli
pping through Insta stories on my phone, I came across a snapshot that grabbed my attention. It was the words GEN SOU EN written metallic silver, glowing in the moonlight. Curious, I looked it up, only to find out that it was in fact a Japanese teahouse in Brookline. As a fan of Asian teas, I made a point to visit this place at the first opportunity I could, and all I can say is that it’s a hidden gem that I wished I only knew about sooner.
Gen Sou En is in fact a Japanese teahouse that arose in Japan centuries ago and has now made its way into Boston. The ambience is a perfect balance between traditional Japanese and more modern Zen styles, thus giving one the opportunity to escape from the bustle of Boston’s streets and enter a place of serenity from the minute they open those wooden Japanese doors.
Unlike the tea-flavored water you try to convince yourself is worth your money at Pavement Coffeehouse, Gen Sou En offers some of the most refreshing and authentic tea options I’ve ever had. For those who prefer something reliable and basic, Gen Sou En offers a variety of Matcha and Black Tea options (because apparently, there’s more than one type of green and black tea) that’s frothy in consistency, and for those who are feeling a little bit more adventurous, there are a variety of herbal tea flavors (my favorites are Rose and Lychee), matcha club sodas, sake/beer/wine, and coffee options to experiment with. And unlike most cafes that only have muffins and cookies to accompany your beverage, Gen Sou En offers a variety of Japanese desserts (a ton of which have red bean paste) and even traditional Japanese bento boxes and rice buns for lunch and dinner. To top that all off, they have soft serve inspired by seasonal flavors.
Therefore, for those who are looking for a new study place that isn’t swarmed by BU students (like Pavement and Caffé Nero), but don’t want to take a hike halfway across the city, this teahouse is an option for you. Also, considering Trader Joes is right across the street, you can also get your groceries done after sipping tea and getting some studying done. Hopefully, Gen Sou En becomes your go to place in Boston, just like it has for me.
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Featured and Blog Photo Credits: Photo Taken by Maisha Savani