Nana’s Green Tea Plants Its U.S. Flag on Raymond Avenue

The matcha comes from Kyoto. The parfaits are layered with mochi and red bean. And starting Friday, all of it will be served at 45 North Raymond Avenue.

nana’s green tea, a Tokyo-born café brand founded in 2001, opens its first company-operated U.S. location in Old Pasadena on May 9. The chain already has franchise-run outposts in Seattle and New York, but the Pasadena café will be the first managed directly by its parent company, Nanaha Co. — a distinction the company said reflects the site’s role as a launchpad for wider American growth, according to a press release issued April 25.

The menu spans matcha lattes, soft-serve and layered parfaits to savory plates including rice bowls and curry, positioning the café as a sit-down destination rather than a grab-and-go counter. The brand sources its matcha through a longstanding partnership with Yamamasa Koyamaen, a Kyoto-based tea producer that has been cultivating and processing tea in the Uji region since 1861, the company said.

The interior draws on wabi-sabi, a Japanese design philosophy rooted in simplicity and restraint. Seasonal menu items will rotate to feature ingredients such as sakura, according to the press release.

“At the heart of what we do is a commitment to authentic ingredients, Japanese producers, and the spirit of omotenashi,” said Kazuto Kutami, founder and CEO, in the company’s statement.

Pasadena is the first stop in a planned wave of franchise openings. New locations are scheduled for San Mateo, California, in May; Meridian, Idaho, in June; and Boston, Massachusetts, in July, according to the press release.

nana’s green tea operates more than 70 locations in Japan and additional cafés internationally, according to the company’s website. Hours and opening-day details for the Pasadena location will be posted on the brand’s Instagram account, @nanasgreentea_usa.

The matcha comes from Kyoto. The address is Pasadena.