Horaido Tea Shop Kyoto
Horaido Tea Shop was established around 1804. It sells Japanese tea, tea cups and other tea pieces for everyday use.
Yasumori-san is head of this family run shop. Able to speak English, his passion for tea and value for his customers is very evident as he spends time speaking to you about tea and explaining the best ways to enjoy it!
Types of Japanese Tea
Horaido sells Japanese green tea, cultivated in Japan’s most famous tea region-Uji. The unique climate and geography of this area allows Horaido to provide rich and high quality tea blends. Horaido was also the first tea shop in Japan to offer Genmaicha (tea with roasted rice) back in the 1920s.
Why not just drink tea from a tea bag?
The quality of tea bag tea is far lower than leafy teas. It lacks the aroma, colour and flavour of leafy teas. Tea made by producers from Uji still use traditional roasting methods, retaining the natural tea leaf flavour and aroma, other tea bag teas simply cannot match!
Much like brewing beer or sake, the ingredients and process for making tea are vital to ensuring high quality standards. Over the years, Horaido has cultivated relationships with Uji producers, working exclusively with them to create their own unique blends. Knowing exactly where the tea comes from, Horaido is not only able to ensure the same high level of quality time and time again, they also are able to provide deep savory flavours of tea unlike those I’ve tasted before.
Horaido Green Teas: Mattcha, Genmaicha, Bancha, Sencha, and Tencha
Horaido Tea Characteristics & Prices
For more details look at Horaido’s page
What is Mattcha?
Mattcha-Powdered Green Tea
Most of the tea we see on a daily basis is leafy green tea. The leaves are picked and go through a fermentation period and are not ground up. However, mattcha is a non-leafy green tea, meaning its process differs. Once tea leaves are picked, they are immediately steamed to prevent fermentation, then the leaves are ground up into a fine green tea powder.
Mattcha is used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony, a ritualized way to prepare and drink tea where hot water is added to mattcha. Depending on the tea school (3 main ones-Omete-senke, Ura-senke, Mushakouji-senke) there are various styles of preparing the mattcha. For example, Ura-senke uses a chasen (bamboo wisk) to whip the powder into a creamy consistency while Omote-senke simply blends it. And of course, we can’t forget about the delectable sweets served along side the mattcha!
How to whip mattcha into a creamy bowl of tea?
Instructional Guide
What is Uji?
UJI-Japan’s most Famous Tea Plantation
There are other large-scale tea plantations in Japan but Uji is Japan’s most famous tea growing region. After the Japanese monk Eisai introduced tea from China, it slowly took hold and spread. Uji, a region southeast of Kyoto city had the perfect climate and geography to grow tea. You’ll find most of the well established tea shops get their tea from Uji.
Other Tea Goods: Using the Right Tea Pot Matters…
Horaido sells their own original tea pots, accentuating the flavour and aroma of the tea. Yasumori-san says the type of teapot can influence the taste. I recommend asking him about the right one for your tea. Horaido also sells tea canisters, tea cups and chawan (tea bowls), along with other tea implements for the tea ceremony and everyday living.
Overseas Shipping Possible!
For those of you interested in continuing your love affair with tea, Horaido also ships!
Check out their shipping page for more information!
