Chafinity Tea House

So thoroughly and classically Japanese that one might assume it had been there for decades, Chafinity Tea House opened at The CAMP near the end of March 2026, deliberately blending into the anti-chain retail space’s greenery. Combining a mostly hidden prep kitchen and service window with an ordering counter and wood shelves holding matcha bags and tools, Chafinity is a formal, intentionally tranquil place to serve a local tea company’s organic imported matcha alongside mostly traditional snacks.

Chafinity’s theme of “stillness” and a corresponding sense of quiet relaxation feel palpable rather than forced in this serene, calming environment. At the entrance, logo- (but not name-) branded drapes placed at head height compel visitors to bow as they enter the space, revealing tables and chairs under a tree-laden shaded canopy. Incense burns in one corner, near a small collection of drink-customizing syrups and related items; most of what you see, hear, and smell is naturally calming.

To underscore a point that should be obvious by now, this isn’t your typical tea shop or a place to get super-sweet, cream-topped, or otherwise trendy matcha-fruit/matcha-coffee pairings. A single-page menu lists classic and sometimes expensive Japanese-style matcha preparations, with the basic blended-source house matcha at $7 (hot or iced), and premium, single-cultivar Saemidori matcha going for $14 per serving; brewed teas including hojicha, sencha, and oolong are offered for $6 each, with gyokuro green tea at $9. Three $7 to $9 lattes – matcha, a smaller and more concentrated picollo matcha, and hojicha – add whole, oat, or koji rice milk at no extra charge, with several housemade milks (almond, walnut, coco-almond) available for $3 more.

Snacks are similarly traditional: Several types of Japanese wagashi sweets range from $6 to $10 per piece, with a bowl of miso soup ($6.50) as the only savory option. In an almost singular accommodation to Western tastes, sourdough cinnamon buns are offered for $7 each. At least during Chafinity’s soft opening period, when we visited, that was it for the choices, and some of the items were temporarily obscured on the menu as unavailable.

Having enjoyed matcha variations across the world (and at numerous OC shops), the simplest way we can describe the Chafinity drinks we sampled is “authentic to Japanese preparations.” The house matcha we ordered, iced, was served naturally green and still lightly frothy in a traditional whisking bowl, with several ice cubes melting inside, and matcha flavor that was just a little stronger and more earthy than more commonly available versions. It arrived without any artificial sweetening – a point that will put off kids while thoroughly thrilling many true matcha fans. For the $7 price, which is now close to the local floor for matcha drinks, it’s a connoisseur-quality alternative.