Japan's love for green tea has translated into everything from the world's most intense matcha ice cream to green tea flavored Kahlúa, so it should come as no surprise that the country is filled with tea shops where you can partake of a cup of high quality green tea. Now a newly opened shop in Tokyo is taking that passion for green tea and combining it with Japan's coffee tastes, opening the world's first hand-drip green tea shop.

Japan may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of coffee, but in recent years the country has been going through a coffee boom, and one of the most popular methods of enjoying a good cup of brew is the "drip" or "pour-over" method. If you need a reminder about it, take a look at this video below. Timing of the pour is often stressed as critical to getting the best taste.

Tokyo Saryo recently opened at the beginning of January in Sangenjaya, Tokyo, and offers what they call the world's first hand-drip green tea experience. Teas are served in sets of two, so you can compare two different types. Tokyo Saryo stresses that many bottled and instantly available green teas don't deliver on the full experience of tea, which can be as varied and deep as wine or sake. The dripper and barista provide for meticulous attention to temperature and extraction rate, which they claim provides the best overall balance for a proper tea experience.

If you live in Japan, you can take a look at Tokyo Saryo's online shop, which stocks tea leaves and even their green tea dripper device.

If you're in Japan or just passing through Tokyo, this bare bones tea shop may be a great way to get the most out of your cup of tea, and even see how distinct the varieties of green tea can be. Access instructions and a map can be found here.


By - grape Japan editorial staff.