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Ina
Since I started Farcastea, I've been continuously exploring and trying to understand tea culture and matcha in general. I've participated in a few tea ceremonies in Japan and visited many stores and shops to get inspired by their menus and taste their matcha lattes or just a simple sencha green tea. I've also developed a love for houjicha lattes and the roasting process. A shop owner once told me that if your green tea is losing its freshness, you can turn it into houjicha by roasting it in a pan at home. I never thought such a simple trick could work, but it not only saved time and money but also filled my house with a delicious aroma.
Today, I wanted to share with you some small statistics( promise no boring facts ) about matcha's popularity, as well as five cool cafes where you can try some great matcha.
Matcha is now popular not only in Japan but also worldwide. Matcha lattes, matcha smoothies, and matcha-flavored cakes are just a few examples of matcha-based sweets being sold overseas. While domestic demand has been shrinking, putting local producers in a tough spot, many farmers are increasing their production to meet the growing international demand. I wrote a year ago about the decline of Green Tea in Japan, which you can find it here.
For example, in Wazuka, Kyoto, a well-known tea-producing region, the production of tencha (the raw material for matcha) increased from 445.774 tons in 2012 to 725.577 tons in 2016, a 62% increase over five years (according to the 2016 Kyoto Tea Industry Statistics).
On the other hand, there is an increasing amount of cheaper, foreign-produced matcha, which has intensified competition. Domestic tea farmers are striving to enhance quality and combat imitations by challenging trademarks registered abroad under domestic brands, continuing their efforts to stay competitive.
Now, let's get to the exciting part—where you can enjoy delicious matcha beyond just Starbucks.
"Saten" is a matcha café opened in Nishi-Ogikubo in the spring of 2018. They use single-origin tea leaves from a single farm, ensuring top-quality matcha. Their matcha latte is available in both iced and hot versions, both of which are incredibly popular. One of the most popular item is the Matcha Pudding as shown below.
THE MATCHA TOKYO OMOTESANDO
THE MATCHA TOKYO is a sophisticated brand which specializes in matcha and blends seamlessly into the Omotesando neighborhood (where cool kids hang out).
Opened in November 2018, this shop offers a matcha latte made from a blend of tea leaves sourced from Kagoshima Prefecture, providing a rich matcha flavor that stands up to the milk.
カヤバ珈琲 (Kayaba Coffee)
Kayaba Coffee is a retro café in Tokyo that preserves the charm of the Showa era, known for its delicious matcha lattes. Located in the trendy Yanaka area, this renovated café has been featured in magazines for its nostalgic atmosphere.
One of their most famous items is the egg sandwich, which boasts fluffy bread and perfectly cooked eggs.
Their Uji matcha latte strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and bitterness, offering a comforting and relaxing experience. This café is a must-visit for both its food and its ambiance.
Café Kitsuné, created by the French designer collective "KITSUNE," offers a stylish blend of Japanese modernity and authentic taste. The café has recently become popular among foreign tourists for its chic ambiance and high-quality drinks.
Each matcha latte is carefully crafted, featuring vibrant green colors and adorable latte art. The foam is wonderfully smooth, and the rich matcha flavor is delightful. Despite its strong taste, the latte has a refreshing aftertaste. Takeout is also a great option here.
The fifth café to feature delicious matcha lattes in Tokyo is DIXANS in Suidobashi. This sophisticated café provides a calm and spacious atmosphere, with a high ceiling and a deceptively wide interior.
The matcha latte here is a genuine treat, made by whisking the matcha powder with a chasen (bamboo whisk) to create a fine froth. Sandwiches are also very tasty!
The café is also well-equipped for work, with power outlets and Wi-Fi, making it a place where you might find yourself staying longer than planned.
Coming to Tokyo for @edconn or just for fun? Check out these five popular spots for delicious matcha in Tokyo: https://paragraph.xyz/@beecurious/tokyos-best-matcha-cafes
Would love to visit Tokyo someday ⚡
Matcha is delicious!⚡️
First day at @paragraph 🫡 (pinch me, this is an absolute dream job) and reading all of your wonderful pieces this morning! Really loved @beecurious post on the top matcha cafes in Tokyo. Thank you so much for taking the time to share all your brilliant thoughts, experiences, and ideas. I freaking love the internet! https://paragraph.xyz/@beecurious/tokyos-best-matcha-cafes
Hit me up if you ever want to bounce ideas!
this is the kind of content we need 👏🏻
also recommend @joanwestenberg.eth’s excellent new piece on anxiety
Thank you for sharing, y’all are brilliant.
good time to think about a feature to save the articles or rather a place to see all the ones you’ve minted
instead of bookmarking it somewhere
my wallet is like 80%+ mints are unintentional and airdrops I think that should be a feature of the app and bit a separate explorer like interface
Keep the good ideas coming 🫡
to end the thought, these chain explorers are only here because UX is not there yet and we don’t have products so people using chain raw / like eating raw meat but it takes time to learn how to cook
Meesh + Paragraph = Matcha Made in Heaven 😍😍
My husband is in Tokyo right now, I gotta share this!:) Congrats on the new job 🩷
Reposting here on the /japan channel for all matcha lovers: I've compiled a list of the 5 most popular matcha cafés in Tokyo. Enjoy 🍵 !
i can’t wait to try out matcha tokyo. thanks for the list! got to do a farm tour too.
super great, love Matcha, nice to discover this spots in Japan, 40 $degen for this incredible article
Save for next time I go there😆
I will bookmark it haha 😆
I'll make a list for bkk matcha later😆😆😆.
As the founder of /farcastea, I feel it's my obligation to contribute to the knowledge about matcha and Japanese tea to /warpcast community. Here you have 5 cool matcha cafés in Tokyo that you must try in this special edition of my newsletter.
wowow just in time 37 $degen
Thank you 😊
gonna check out some of the spots. Do you have other such lists? (Any recommendations within Tokyo)
Great read and definitely minted for reference when we ever go to Tokyo!