Tea & Chocolate
At Ippodo we often suggest chocolates to pair with teas like matcha, sencha, gyokuro, and bancha. And, occasionally we will feature a tea with a chocolate dessert in a special menu in our tearooms.
Koicha, for a Next-Level Matcha Experience
Koicha ("thick tea") is a style of preparing matcha with a thick density. True to its name, a properly-made koicha has a consistency somewhere in-between maple syrup and warm honey.
Featuring Obukucha, Our New Year’s Genmaicha
There is a long tradition of drinking Obukucha in January in Japan to bring good fortune in the coming year.
Enjoying Tea Under Cherry Tree Blossoms
With the springtime comes the beloved blossoming of cherry tree flowers in Japan. In Kyoto, where Ippodo Tea was founded, after the bonds of winter loosen, these flowers transform the city into a pink wonderland.
How to Make Japanese Tea to Share
Learn how to quickly brew sencha, gyokuro, genmaicha, or hojicha for a group of people. The 3 minute recipe, tips, and favorite teas from Ippodo.
All About the Chasen - Matcha’s Most Important Tool
The chasen, a special whisk made from bamboo, is perhaps the most recognizable matcha utensil.
Guide to Japan-Style Iced Tea
On hot days when a hot cup of tea seems unbearable, we turn to our favorite iced tea recipes. There are different ways to make cold, refreshing Japanese tea, and we recommend different recipes for different tastes.
How to Make a Matcha Latte
A matcha latte combines the crisp, green bite of matcha powder with the creaminess of milk. From the variety of matcha to the type of milk and ratios in your recipe, a few factors determine the character of a matcha latte.
Tea: Your New Favorite Cocktail Ingredient
If you have leftover hot or iced tea, you’re just one ingredient away from making a potent simple syrup that will easily swap into recipes and keep for weeks in the refrigerator.
Get to Know Gyokuro
If you’re looking for something luxurious to mark a special occasion (or just treating yourself for kicks), gyokuro is what you’re looking for.Â
Hojicha: The Perfect Tea for Coffee Lovers
Not all green tea is green. In fact, one of the most popular everyday green teas in Japan brews as dark and toasty as coffee.
Meet Miyako Watanabe of Ippodo
When your company is 300 years old, keeping historic traditions alive is a critical part of the job. The Watanabe family is that keeper at Ippodo, and as the company’s Vice President, Mrs. Watanabe is Ippodo’s public face.
How to Pick the Perfect Teapot
With centuries of artistic tradition behind them, Japanese tea-making tools are just the thing to turn your at-home tea cupboard or office nook into a calming, beautiful tea room.
How Well Do You Know Your Sencha?
80 percent of tea in Japan is made into this loose leaf style, which provides a perfect balance of sweetness, umami, and refreshing astringency. See why we at Ippodo love this classic tea!