Ippodo Tea

Green tea is often synonymous with Japan, and there’s no better place to buy authentic Matcha than Ippodo Tea in Kyoto. Located on Teramachi Street, this tea company has been around for more than three centuries. The exterior of Ippodo might just remind you of the residence of a Samurai, while the interiors, with their long wooden shelves, are equally conventional and cosy. The aroma perpetually wafting from the premises, however, is quite otherworldly. Entrenched in Japanese traditions, the store provides a massive selection of tea to visitors, with a staff that is well versed with everything right from the process of making Japan’s favourite beverage to its many forms. In fact, the establishment has a tea salon called Kaboku, where you can brew your own tea and sample the many varieties available. You can then decide whether you want to carry home a container of Matcha powder or fine tea leaves. Japan’s very own Starbucks, Ippodo also conducts classes that provide both locals and travellers a better understanding of the ‘art’ of tea making and consumption.

Ippodo’s popularity can be gauged by the fact that it has stores not only in Japanese cities, but also in New York. A few minutes from the Shiyakusho-mae Station along the Tozai subway line, it is open from 9 am till 6 pm, while the Kaboku tearoom opens at 10 am.