Make mine a matcha

A LOVE of Japanese green tea inspired young entrepreneur Varisara Praphapyuenyong and her brother to bring vintage matcha brand Tsujiri to Bangkok. Open for just two months, the pair’s Tsujiri teahouse at EmQuartier is already pulling in Japanese housewives and Thai shoppers eager to sip authentic matcha drinks and sample desserts made with premium green tea. 

O-Matcha Cappuccin

Riemon Tsuji founded the first teahouse back in 1860 in Kyoto’s Uji district with the aim of strengthening the Japanese tea industry by using advanced methods to produce Gyokuro leaves for a smoother and sweeter taste. Tsuji is also credited with inventing a cabinet to help draw out the freshness of the leaves and help them keep for longer.
Today, Tsujiri offers several kinds of leaves, each with its own and unique taste. Kyoto has three outlets and the brand has expanded overseas with branches in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and the UK. 
Bangkok is the latest member of the Tsujiri family with a 24-seat facility on the seventh floor of the Helix Quartier building. 

Tsujiri Sundae

“Kyoto is famous for its tea plantations. We first discovered Tsujiri on a family trip to Kyoto six years ago and fell in love with the brand. After looking carefully at the market, we were able to confirm that no original Japanese green tea brands were available in Thailand so my brother and I decided to express our interest in a franchise. We thought it would be a good opportunity for Thais to discover traditional Japanese matcha is,” says Varisara, whose family operates a packaging business.
Decorated in a cosy and simple style and boasting wooden ceiling lamps designed by Shozo Toyohisa, the teahouse imports most of its ingredients from Japan, including the matcha powder and shiratama dough. 
A favourite order is the Hot O-Matcha Cappuccino (Bt155), which is based on the Japanese tea ceremony. Here the green tea powder is mixed with water heated to exactly 80 degrees Celsius to which is added fresh milk warmed to 70 degrees for a perfect balance.

Houjicha Milk Float

The tea selection includes refreshing Yuzu Black Tea (Bt135) and aromatic Genmaicha (Bt95), a blend of green tea and roasted brown rice. Less sweet but very smooth, the Tsujiri Kinako Kuromitsu (Bt135) is hot green tea blended with soybean powder and brown sugar syrup that goes very well with chewy, soft Shiratama dough made from premium grade glutinous rice flour.
Houjicha Float (Bt170) is made with roasted green tea and comes with a choice of rich green tea or vanilla soft cream on top. Tsujiri Sundae (Bt175) has a layer of roasted brown rice at the base, a little sweet red bean sauce and green tea soft cream, and is served with mellow sweetened chestnut and shiratama dough. 
Popular with the young, Tsujiri Match Shaved Ice is served with a scoop of red bean paste and shiratama dough in matcha syrup. Also on offer are Shiratama Kinako Kuromitsu (Bt135) served on a bed of soybean powder and brown sugar syrup, O-Matcha chiffon cakes and macarons filled with rich green tea, houjicha and chocolate.

GOING GREEN
>> Tsujiri is on the seventh floor of Helix Quartier building, The EmQuartier. |It’s open daily from 10 to 10. 
>> Call (091) 569 6924 or visit the “Tsujiri Thailand” page on Facebook.