Nakamura Tokichi Azabudai

Savour some of Japan’s best green tea in the form of matcha lattes and green-tea-infused sweets at this revered tea shop, which has been in business in Kyoto since 1854. The shop mainly serves takeaway drinks and desserts, with a few chairs at the back. You can also pick up tea bags, sweets, gift boxes and, of course, matcha.

This long-standing tea label’s outpost is a great place to sample all sorts of Japanese tea, from popular sencha to the complex, umami-rich gyokuro. Its matcha is also a good choice, whether you’re looking to enjoy a drink at the shop or take some tea home.

Café drinks are straightforward and include the ‘mixcha’ – essentially usucha (pure matcha) poured over milk, available hot or cold. It comes lightly sweetened, but you can request no sugar or an alternative milk. Other popular options include refreshing usucha topped with fragrant matcha jelly and matcha cream and hojicha with milk.

If you’re looking to take matcha home, Nakamura Tokichi stocks an extensive array, with around eight varieties available in store. The matcha is made from tencha, or shade-grown green tea leaves, with reduced sunlight helping to bring out sweetness and umami while minimising bitterness and astringency. One of the most popular varieties is Senun no Shiro, which is also used in the café drinks. It has a slight bitterness and a refreshing, crisp aftertaste, making it easy to drink on its own or with milk.