Japanese Tea and Coffee – What Does It Taste Like? Trying Innovative Drinks at a Japanese Tea Salon in Hommachi

● A Japanese tea salon with a beautiful borrowed scenery of Utsubo Park

Free from traditional constraints, these tea salons allow you to enjoy Japanese tea in a stylish, minimalist space. In recent years, such salons have been increasing in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. This time, I visited a salon where you can experience the combination of two different elements: Japanese tea and coffee.

About a five-minute walk from Exit 28 of Hommachi Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line, you’ll find the Japanese tea salon “CHASHITSU Japanese Tea & Coffee.” Facing Utsubo Park, this salon offers views of the changing seasons, allowing you to enjoy nature even in the heart of Osaka.

Exterior of CHASHITSU Japanese Tea & Coffee

Originally named “CHASHITSU for worker,” this shop was planned by the NPO法人 HELLOlife, which provides employment support, and opened on the first floor of the building where the organization’s headquarters is located. As a place to help visitors relax, it offers Japanese tea and Japanese sweets. Bookshelves along the wall are filled with books about “labor” and “work.” In July 2016, the shop was renovated and renamed “CHASHITSU Japanese Tea & Coffee,” evolving into its current style while retaining the original concept. It attracts not only nearby office workers but also coffee lovers, serving as a healing space.

The drinking area is designed to resemble a tea room

Looking around the shop, the first thing that catches your eye is the rectangular ceiling frame surrounding the coffee drinking area. This mimics the space of a tea room, and the counter panels (tabletops) are made of tatami using Japanese paper. Additionally, a tea room requires flower arrangements, and it is said that flower arranger Kats visits regularly to arrange flowers. I visited in early December, so there was a Christmas atmosphere. Throughout the shop, you can feel Japanese aesthetics, which might be one of the charms of “CHASHITSU.”

Flower arrangement by Kats

● Japanese Tea × Coffee: A Taste Born from Careful Creation

Speaking of the features of “CHASHITSU,” it’s definitely the innovative drinks that combine Japanese tea and coffee. First, I asked staff member Yurika Wakazono to explain the shop’s dedication to Japanese tea and coffee.

Yurika Wakazono, staff member of “CHASHITSU”

― Please tell us about your Japanese tea.

“The tea leaves used in our shop are all from Wazuka-cho in southern Kyoto Prefecture. Wazuka-cho is a tea-producing region with 800 years of history growing high-quality Uji tea. The lush green tea fields create a charming landscape, earning it the nickname ‘Tea Origin Village.’ The tea we offer is broadly divided into two types: hojicha and matcha. Both are of excellent quality, allowing you to enjoy an authentic taste.”

― I’m drinking hot hojicha; it’s aromatic and delicious!

“Our customers often say that. This ‘Tokujo Hojicha’ is aged in the warehouse for three years and then roasted twice at different temperatures. Its biggest characteristic is the roasted feel and excellent aroma. When brewed with hot water and then rapidly cooled with ice for a cold drink, the flavor becomes even more pronounced. Generally, many people think the aroma comes from the steam of hot tea, but with this one, when drunk cold, the aroma strongly passes through the nose, leaving a strong impression. If you drink it from a wide-mouthed wine glass, you can better appreciate the deep flavor and aroma.”

Tokujo Hojicha from Wazuka-cho, Kyoto Prefecture

Indeed, compared to the rapidly cooled cold drink, the difference is clearly noticeable. The hot version is suitable for relaxing leisurely moments, while the cold version would pair interestingly with meals! On the menu, all drinks (except the hojicha latte made with special tea leaves, see right photo) use ‘Tokujo Hojicha’ leaves. There are also special tea leaves for hojicha latte.

― Please also tell us in detail about the coffee.

“The coffee drinks we serve are developed jointly with ‘Unir,’ a specialty shop in Kyoto that deals in high-quality specialty coffee. We explored ways to showcase both Japanese tea and coffee, and chose single-origin coffee with fruit flavors that wouldn’t be too bitter when paired with tea. One drink that allows you to fully enjoy both is ‘Hojicha Americano.’ Depending on the season, the coffee beans used vary by origin, so you can also enjoy the changing impressions of the seasons.” They say that even when tasting the coffee alone, you can sense the differences in flavor, and when paired with hojicha, the impression changes become even clearer. Truly fascinating.

● New Pairings of Innovative Drinks and Japanese Sweets

Sorry to keep you waiting! Now, let’s taste the innovative Japanese tea × coffee drinks.

Top recommendation☆ Hojicha Americano

It may not be flashy, but it’s a drink that slowly seeps into your heart. Staff member Wakazono recommended this “Hojicha Americano.” Carefully extracted specialty coffee is topped with Tokujo Hojicha brewed in an iron pot, creating a luxurious drink. Coffee and tea – you might worry that the flavors would clash, but when you taste it, you find an incredible harmony! The two drinks blend together, giving birth to another flavor. As the temperature changes, the aroma becomes more intense, so be sure to savor it slowly.

“Hojicha Americano” brewed with an iron pot

Pairing with the drink is “Hagi Burger.” Glutinous rice grilled on both sides is filled with red bean paste and seasonal ingredients, creating a cute-looking Japanese sweet. To match the simple flavor of the Hojicha Americano, I chose a refreshing, sweet-and-sour yuzu (winter limited) flavor.

Hagi Burger “Yuzu”

Then I also had corn pound cake… Before eating, lightly spray with soy sauce; it becomes fragrant, like grilled corn. The sweet and salty taste is mouthwatering.

Corn Cake Soy Sauce Flavor

Winter recommendation! Matcha Wiener Coffee

A must-try this season is the winter-limited “Matcha Wiener Coffee.” It starts with a hot coffee base, then adds matcha syrup shaken to 30% froth in a shaker and fresh cream. Adding a little homemade coffee syrup made from brown sugar gives a slightly sweet and warm taste. It’s really a perfect drink for winter. Also, be sure to watch the moment when the matcha cream is poured into the coffee. The instant aroma of coffee and matcha fills the air, enveloping you in happiness.

Winter-limited recommended drink “Matcha Wiener Coffee”

The rich creamy Matcha Wiener Coffee pairs well with a Mont Blanc-style Japanese chestnut (far right in photo, limited period) Hagi Burger. This Hagi Burger is a wonderful combination of Japanese and Western ingredients, and even those who don’t usually eat Japanese sweets will fall in love with it. The seasonal limited menus are also tempting; in February, a chocolate version is planned. There’s also a great value “snack set” that pairs sweets with drinks, so come find your favorite combination.

Three kinds of Hagi Burger

● Also available online and workshops

What did you think of the innovative Japanese tea × coffee drinks? The Tokujo Hojicha, Hagi Burger, and Japanese pound cake introduced in the article can also be purchased for takeout or through the online shop.

Hagi Burger and Japanese pound cake

Additionally, the shop occasionally holds workshops related to tea tasting and other events. Be sure to check the official website and social media of CHASHITSU for the latest information. Thank you to Yurika Wakazono (left) and Fusae Ishii (right) for the detailed introduction.

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