Our first afternoon in Tokyo could not have begun on a sweeter more wonderful note or leaf (tea leaves or powder). Shinji Nohara, who is considered the "Black Book" of Japan and "Culinary Navigator Extraordinaire" amongst many such superlatives invoking titles, and the foodie most trusted by locals and foreigners alike, brought us to what will perhaps be the best tea and tea service we encounter in our stay in Japan. Thanks Shinji!
This tea room, is the creating on one of the better known architects of the city, who decided to create a tea room, designed to his standards, as per his desires, and using most all his own creations. And the result is a shocking serene, exciting, calming and marvelous setting. It lends itself perfectly to the experience of the enjoyment of tea, and the relaxing of mind, body and soul.
The Omogashi and Ohigashi presented before and served with the tea, were amazing. Not the classic preparations that you will find most everywhere else, but inspired interpretations of what the brain behind this tea room finds acceptable to serve in this century, with what is available to them in Japan today. What you bite into are amazing treats, that are hardly limited by their geography or tradition, but rather, have found freedom in the hands of the inventive master behind this tea room.
The tea was served in beautiful bowls. The three of us got different bowls to enjoy and appreciate amongst us. The tea itself was lovely. Nice and frothy and foamy. The roasted tea served after was just as wonderful, even though offered as a gift of the house.
What made it totally worthy going here, were the GIANT ice cubes that came one in each glass, with the house-infused Sake. One infused with Japanese citrus and the other with apple. The glasses themselves were very beautiful, but the ice cube, blew our minds away.
The store adjacent to the tea room sells everything (almost everything) used in the tea room. Not cheap, but who wants to buy cheap stuff in a special city after having enjoyed very special tea? This is a place where you will find very beautiful ware, created by a very talented man and his team. There are also wonderfully beautiful confections that you can buy as gifts to take back home, wherever it is, and also to bring to friends locally, who you might be visiting. This could be a one-stop-shop for enjoying great tea and great sweet and savories. As also a place you can buy amazing housewares.
The caveat is that you need to recognize the space from the two photographs I was able to take before being asked politely to not photograph any more. Or you will need to be lucky enough to have Shinji as your guide to Tokyo. And if he is so inspired, he will bring you here. He chooses what he shares with his clients very carefully. And after great thought. His whole goal in life is to help hungry bellies and minds discover the Tokyo no guidebook or TV show could ever open to them. And towards that ambition, it seems he has found great success already, at a very young age. You can email Shinji at [email protected] or visit his website for more information. And of course, to find this amazing tea room and some of the other surprises that he can easily help you discover.
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