Last fall, I travelled to a small city in Japan just south of Kyoto with my best friend. Her main goal? To get a few cans of the world’s most premium matcha straight from the source in Uji, Japan.
Uji, growing in popularity, is situated just between Kyoto and Nara. It’s conveniently a short 20 to 30-minute train ride away from central Kyoto, accessible by both the rapid line and local trains. The city is known for its abundance of premium matcha, or what you’ll often see referred to as “Uji Matcha”. I’ve been to Japan a few times now, but as a casual consumer of matcha, I honestly didn’t think the trip to Uji would be worth it.
And while it is true Uji is a paradise for matcha lovers, I discovered that it has so much more to offer – from its beautiful natural landscapes to its unique experiences. When you’re ready to take a break from the hustle and bustle of major tourist hubs in Kyoto, embark on a quick train ride down to Uji to discover a little tea-filled paradise.
Matcha what?!
Okay, I know I said Uji has more to offer than matcha, but I have to highlight this experience. We’ve all heard of or even tried different forms of matcha, such as lattes, ice cream, or cakes. These all tend to lean into a sweeter profile. So, one has to wonder, can matcha mix with the strong and savory profile of curry?
The answer is: yes! At Itoh Kyuemon Uji Head Shop, we tried their matcha curry udon and rice dishes (pictured above). The two dishes came out with a shade of green that one wouldn’t normally look for in their meals. Personally, I had the curry rice while my ”matcha addict” friend had the udon. The curry rice came with a side of hojicha (roasted green tea) curry. With anxious anticipation, I tried a bite of the curry rice, expecting a strong flavour of matcha from how green it was. But to my surprise, my tongue was met with a sweet and spicy curry, with a faint bitterness from the matcha. Immediately I understood, the tea flavour is meant to elevate the curry rather than replace the taste of the curry itself. Personally, I enjoy hojicha slightly more than matcha – so the aromatic hojicha curry was my personal favourite (and I felt that you could taste the hojicha more than matcha).
We didn’t try any of the desserts, but Itoh Kyuemon also offers many different matcha desserts such as their parfait! Their gift shop sells the matcha curry packaged, along with many other matcha souvenirs such as matcha covered freeze dried strawberries and matcha cappuccino packets that you can bring home and share with your loved ones!
Tranquility by the river
While Uji is a small city, it would be misleading to say it is hidden or a “secret gem”. The streets still get busy as matcha grows in popularity, especially with foreigners, and schools take their students here as a common field trip spot. The thing I love the most about Japan, however, is that even amidst the busiest streets, there are peaceful pockets of nature nearby that you can easily escape to.
After my friend bought all the matcha she could carry, we needed a quick rest before crossing Uji Bridge to the other side of the city where we had booked a matcha making workshop. Just off to the side of the bridge, we found a bench tucked away behind some trees facing Uji River. It was a mere few steps away from the main street, but the sounds of the river flowing gently and crickets chirping in the distance muffled the noise of civilization.
I remember sitting there and just taking in the beautiful scenery of Uji – hills of green split up by a soft river in the middle of the city connected by bridges, with rows of wooden framed homes standing proudly in between. When you’re ready to take a break from matcha tasting and shopping, remember to stop and take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty of Uji.
The art of tea making
Matcha, love it or hate it, you have to admit there is a level of dedication one must have to make it.
I learned this the hard way at the Fukujuen Uji Tea Factory. For just 1650 yen per person, my friend and I got to experience the traditional process of making matcha. We each had a spoon of tea leaves on top of a stone mill. We then had to slowly and painstakingly turn the mill to grind the leaves into powder. This process has since been modernized, of course (and thankfully), for more efficient production.
Afterwards, we got to taste the fruits of our labour and whisked up a cup of matcha to enjoy. A typical cup of matcha calls for about 2g of matcha powder, though I only managed to grind about a gram of it. And let’s just say, whisking matcha is a vigorous arm exercise and achieving “microfoam“ is not an easy task.
Make Uji your next day trip!
Uji is a must-visit city if you are a matcha addict! But, even if you aren’t one, you will not be disappointed. Matcha is popular, but you’ll find that the streets are filled with the fresh aromas of all kinds of teas and a variety of delicious Japanese cuisines and treats.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan soon and plan on staying in Kyoto, Nara, or even Osaka, a day trip to Uji may be just what you need to make your vacation feel special!
Happy matcha hunting,
Vivian
