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7 Delicious Matcha Dessert Shops You’ll Love in Kyoto Tea Country

2024.06.19

Kyoto Tea Country

Are you craving something sweet but also want to indulge in the healthy goodness of matcha? Look no further! In this article, we’ll dive into the world of delicious matcha desserts of Kyoto Tea Country, known to the locals as “Ocha no Kyoto,” just south of Kyoto city. These sweets will satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising flavor or well-being.

From matcha cheesecakes to matcha ice cream, we’ve gathered a collection of irresistible green tea shops that will delight your taste buds and keep you coming back for more. Each dessert is infused with matcha’s distinct earthy and vibrant flavors, creating a delightful harmony between sweetness and bitterness.

Matcha, a powdered form of green tea, is known for its numerous health benefits. Packed with antioxidants and rich in nutrients, matcha satisfies your cravings, provides a gentle energy boost, and promotes relaxation and focus.

So whether you’re a matcha enthusiast or just curious to explore new flavors, these matcha sweets are sure to impress. Get ready to indulge in the perfect blend of sweetness and goodness with these delightful treats. Let’s dive in!

Nakamura Tokichi Honten

Matcha jelly and assorted Japanese sweets in a bamboo bowl on a wooden tray

Nakamura Tokichi Honten is a renowned tea house in Kyoto that has been serving matcha desserts for over 165 years. Their tea jelly is a must-try for any matcha lover. Nakamura’s secret recipe locks in the tea’s goodness. It’s paired with a scoop of their high-quality matcha ice cream, Japanese white flour dumplings, and red bean paste for the ultimate matcha experience.

Nakamura Tokichi Honten

Nakamura Tokichi Honten

Nakamura Tokichi Honten opened in 1854. With a history of more than 165 years, this tea shop is famous for its matcha sweets. While there are three Nakamura Tokichi stores in Kyoto Prefecture, the Nak …

Itoh Kyuemon

Matcha parfait with alternating layers of green tea jelly and ice cream. Topped with rice flour dumpling, red bean paste, matcha jelly, vanilla ice cream, and a green tea waffer.

Itoh Kyuemon is another tea house in Kyoto that offers a wide range of matcha desserts. Their matcha tiramisu is a unique twist on the classic Italian dessert. Instead of coffee, matcha is used to soak the ladyfinger biscuits, giving the tiramisu a distinct green tea flavor. The layers of creamy mascarpone cheese and matcha-infused biscuits create a delightful contrast of flavors and textures. It’s a perfect balance between the mascarpone’s richness and the matcha’s bitterness.

Itoh Kyuemon

Itoh Kyuemon

Founded in 1832, this Uji tea specialty shop offers a variety of Uji teas, as well as sweets made from Uji matcha green tea that make for perfect gifts. At the attached teahouse visitors can make thei …

Fukujuen Uji Cha Koubou

Fukujuen Uji Tea Workshop is a tea house and workshop in Kyoto that specializes in Uji matcha considered the highest quality matcha in Japan. Their matcha anmitsu is a must-try treat. Made with their premium Uji matcha and fragrant roasted tea agar-agar topped with luxurious green tea syrup, this sweet treat is rich and has an intense matcha flavor that is simply divine.

Fukujuen Uji Tea Workshop

Fukujuen Uji Tea Workshop

At this workshop, visitors can experience hand-rolling tea, making Uji tea with a ceramic plate, and using a stone mortar to make matcha tea powder. You can even enjoy activities like making an Asahiy …

d:matcha Kyoto CAFE & KITCHEN

Pasta in a green sauce topped with vegetables, squid, and nori.

d:matcha Kyoto CAFE & KITCHEN is a modern café in Kyoto offering various innovative matcha desserts. Their matcha lava cake is a showstopper. When you cut into the cake, the gooey and melty matcha-flavored chocolate oozes out, creating a mouth-watering experience.

d:matcha Kyoto CAFE & KITCHEN

d:matcha Kyoto CAFE & KITCHEN

d:matcha Kyoto CAFE & KITCHEN is a café where you can enjoy food, sweets, and drinks made using tea from the town of Wazuka. Though the ingredients are not limited only to tea, they are as locally-sou …

dan dan cafë

A parfait featuring granola, whipped cream, red bean paste, and matcha-flavored cake, ice cream, and jelly.

You can enjoy the stunning view of Wazuka-cho’s most famous “Ishitera Tea Fields” at dan dan cafë. Indulge in their matcha parfaits or one of their homemade lunches. It’s truly a feast for the eyes and mouth.

dan dan cafë

dan dan cafë

This is a cafe where you can enjoy the view of Wazuka-cho’s most famous “Ishitera Tea Fields.” In order to enjoy this view at a leisurely pace, this cafe was opened by a woman who worked in the resta …

Michi no Eki Ocha no Kyoto Minamiyamashiro Village

Green tea ice cream in a waffle cone topped with green tea syrup

Ocha no Kyoto Minamiyamashiro Village is a tea house and souvenir shop that offers a range of matcha desserts. Their matcha shaved ice is a perfect treat to beat the summer heat. The finely shaved ice is drizzled with sweet matcha syrup and topped with a scoop of matcha ice cream, creating a refreshing and indulgent dessert. The combination of the cold and crunchy shaved ice with the creamy matcha ice cream is a match made in heaven. It’s a dessert that will help you stay refreshed and satisfy your sweet cravings at the same time.

Michi no Eki Ocha no Kyoto Minamiyamashiro Village

At this “michi-no-eki” rest stop, you’ll find a compendium of the everyday in Minamiyamashiro Village. Visitors can experience the local lifestyle and wisdom of everyday life in the village with all five senses.
At its centerpiece, the Nomon Market, you can find local specialties, including tea and fresh vegetables for sale. There are plenty of food, sweets, and boxed lunches available for you to fully enjoy with Japanese tea.
The rich flavor of the green tea soft-serve ice cream here is made using only first-grade tea, yet it has a surprisingly fresh aftertaste! This quality soft-serve is just what you might expect from a tea shop, full of rich tea flavor, and topped with matcha syrup. 370 yen (tax excluded).

Maiko Tea Boutique

Maiko Tea Boutique is a cafe that serves a variety of matcha desserts featuring Uji matcha. Their matcha parfait is a delight for matcha lovers. This layered parfait is topped with matcha-infused ice cream, crackers, shiratama dango (mochi dumplings), red beans, and jelly. The melody of green tea and traditional Japanese sweets is divine.

Maiko Tea Boutique

Maiko Tea Boutique

Maiko Tea Boutique is directly managed by Maiko no Cha (“Apprentice Geisha’s Tea”), a popular gyokuro (high quality green tea) shop in Kyotanabe City. There is a selection of teas for different occasi …

Conclusion: Indulge in the delicious world of matcha desserts

In conclusion, matcha desserts offer a unique and delightful way to satisfy your sweet cravings while enjoying the health benefits of matcha. When you’re in Kyoto, there’s an abundance of delicious options to choose from. From traditional tea houses to modern cafés, the world of matcha desserts is waiting to be explored.

So go ahead, indulge in the rich and vibrant flavors of matcha. Whether it’s a matcha parfait, matcha tiramisu, or matcha roll cake, these desserts are sure to delight your taste buds and leave you craving more. Embrace the harmony between sweetness and bitterness that matcha brings and treat yourself to a truly blissful experience. Happy savoring!