Get to know the family behind Matcha Thomas — a wellness teahouse in downtown Beacon, offering Japanese, ceremonial-grade matcha in a serene environment.

1.
Matcha Thomas is family-owned and operated by the Thomas family: Hugh (dad), Charmaine (mom), and sisters Haile and Nia.

2.
The Thomases honed their matcha-making skills through international travel and years of tea tasting and recipe testing.

3.
The teahouse launched in 2020: During the pandemic, the Thomases came across a space for lease on Main Street in Beacon and saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out their dream of running a cafe.

4.
The @MatchaThomas Instagram account was originally Haile’s personal Instagram account, which she’d used to review matcha in different parts of the world.

5.
While every member of the family lends their creativity to the business, Haile and Nia focus on the visual elements — online presence, content, design — while their parents handle the backend operations.

6.
The Matcha Thomas teahouse is a delight for the senses: Japanese and Scandinavian inspired interior design, scents of rose and jasmine, and a forest scene projected on the wall in the shop's lounge featuring nature sounds.

7.
While drinking tea in the lounge, guests are invited to thumb through books on mindfulness, tea and self-growth.

8.
In addition to traditional matcha, the fall menu includes pumpkin pie boba (fresh pumpkin puree, warm fall spices), brown sugar boba made with unrefined coconut sugar, apple pie with cinnamon and nutmeg, and golden milk with or without matcha.

9.
Everything at Matcha Thomas is vegan and gluten-free.

10.
The Thomas family has Jamaican roots and is originally from Tucson, Arizona, but moved to the Hudson Valley six years ago.

11.
Haile describes Beacon as a place to “explore the beautiful balance of nature and unique local businesses. It’s a great hub for wonderful concepts and for entrepreneurs to let their ideas shine.”

12.
Ingredients are sourced from local vendors like Tree Juice Maple Syrup, Roe’s Orchard for apples and Fishkill Farms for peaches in the summer.

13.
When not running Matcha Thomas on weekends (Friday - Sunday, 11 am - 5 pm), every member of the Thomas family has a weekday, individual career.

14.
Haile is a writer, content creator and speaker on wellness and self care.

15.
Honoring health and wellness is the mission. “We feel excited about the potential that this store and concept have to make an impact in peoples’ lives,” Haile says. “People feel instantly relaxed when they come in and that experience is the most important piece.”

Find @matchathomas in Beacon, New York. www.matchathomas.com

By Jessica Gordon

Images courtesy of Matcha Thomas / Nina Elizabeth Berry

Volume 9