Utena Tea’s matcha art classes are a fun experience for all ages, and a great way to hone your creative skills. Before drawing, the experienced and friendly teacher, who cultivates tea in Wazuka, will tell you about green tea of Kyoto and Wazuka, including the story of how the tea is processed, and other interesting facts about tea.
After preparing teas, which will serve as the “ink” and the “canvas” for your work of art, it’s time to draw! Create your own masterpiece on the foamy surface of the matcha. If you make a mistake or want to redo your design, you can easily erase it and restore the “canvas” as many times as you want, just by whisking it.
An advanced reservation is required to participate in the workshop. Send an email to the teacher at utena.tea@gmail.com for details, including the venue and workshop schedule (English is acceptable).
As a side note, you can enjoy creating matcha art at Uji Tea Ceremony Hall “House of Takumi,” too.
4. Eat and Drink Matcha
Delicious green tea, especially matcha, is everywhere in and around Uji, the Kyoto Tea Country region. It’s awesome, but this abundance may make it difficult to decide where to go. We recommend visiting some certified Ujicha Cafes that offer at least three sweets, meals or drinks featuring the Uji tea, and have staff knowledgeable about the tea’s history, culture, and preparation methods.
The following three places are certified Ujicha Cafes, perfect for experiencing delicious tea including matcha!
1. Tsujiri Uji Main Store
Tsujiri, founded in 1860, is a renowned tea shop chain with locations in Kyoto, Osaka, and more. At the Tsujiri Uji Main Store, you can enjoy a truly relaxing tea experience. This elegant shop has a nice cafe and a courtyard with a Japanese garden. The peaceful environment provides a serene haven.
They offer a menu with traditional matcha and wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery) combos, as well as matcha-infused desserts. With pictures and English descriptions on the menu, it’s easy to order. The photo above shows the combo of koicha (thick and rich matcha) and a homemade monaka (Japanese wafers filled with sweet bean paste).
This koicha is incredibly rich, dense, and creamy. In spite of its intensity, it’s surprisingly smooth without strong bitterness, making it a great choice for those looking to try an authentic matcha experience. The combo comes with a second serving of usucha (a lighter matcha), so you can enjoy two different kinds of deliciousness.
2. Ocha no Kanbayashi
Ocha no Kanbayashi has over 400 years of history producing high-quality Japanese tea. Their shop on Ujibashi Street has a cafe space on the second floor where you can enjoy tea with seasonal Japanese sweets. This photo shows a popular combo of matcha called “Asahi no Shiro” and a sweet (this one is mochi rice cake with a chestnut in it). They are delicious.
They offer a tour of the tea factory behind this shop, where you can learn how tea leaves, just after harvest, are processed. You can see mechanized stone mills that make matcha, too. In the adjacent tea house, you can experience a tea ceremony. You can also try grinding tea leaves into matcha powder using a traditional stone mill.
3. Maiko Tea Boutique
Maiko Tea Boutique is a cafe offering sweets, meals and beverages using high-quality tea. For those with a sweet tooth, their matcha parfait is a great option. You can enjoy rich matcha jelly and ice cream with shiratama dango (chewy rice dumplings), azuki (red beans), a chestnut, fruit, and other delicious ingredients. The harmony of the traditional Japanese ingredients and flavorful Uji matcha is divine.
Located in Kyotanabe City, the cafe is also known for the local specialty, gyokuro.If you visit it, don’t miss the chance to savor the exquisite gyokuro that normally is 10,000 yen per 100 grams. You can enjoy several cups, and even enjoy the unique experience of eating the tea leaves after finishing your tea.
