Top 10 Matcha Green Tea Desserts to Enjoy in Kyoto

Motoan is a tea shop in Nishino-touin opened by the established tea producer, Marukyu Koyamaen, as a place people can casually enjoy tea. It serves professionally prepared matcha and sencha drinks as well as matcha sweets. It also has a tea ceremony room in the back so that guests can enjoy the culture of Japanese tea ceremonies. There is a courtyard that spreads out to the back, so you can experience the changing of the seasons.

Matcha Roll Cake (700 JPY). A roll cake so full of matcha that it tastes like koicha.

Kyo Hojicha Ice Cream (650 JPY).

The manager, Kazumasa Watanabe, comments, "We tend to get very crowded from 3 pm to closing time, and the matcha green tea roll cake can run out. So we recommend coming before 2 pm."

Umezono CAFE & GALLERY is a cafe managed by the established sweets tea house, Umezono. The barrel-shaped mitarashi mochi balls and Japanese-style pancakes with plenty of Uji matcha green tea are popular. It also has a gallery with works by a variety of artists, such as ceramics, jewelry, and illustrations, exhibited throughout the year. Some special exhibits result in lines out the door. The artwork can also be purchased. You can spend a relaxing time in a modern space in a Machiya-style building while enjoying the artwork.

Matcha Hotcake (930 JPY). Fluffy Japanese-style pancakes with brown cane sugar butter and azuki bean paste.

Mitarashi Dango (430 JPY).

Sayaka Koide, a staff member, comments "We're away from the center of town, so you can relax and enjoy the exhibits and food. People who just want to see the gallery are welcome too."

Rakkansha has a wide selection of beautiful cakes made with Japanese ingredients, such as matcha green tea and soy sauce, and seasonal fruits. In addition to the rich matcha green tea terrine, there are many outstanding items that are perfect to take away such as the popular butter sandwiches and rose-shaped financiers.

Matcha Terrine (2,160 JPY). The moist and smooth texture and rich matcha flavors are outstanding. The terrine, which is the pride of this patisserie, is made with the highest grade Uji matcha green tea and French white chocolate to achieve an aromatic and rich flavor.

Chocolate Tart Wako (540 JPY).

The manager, Takashi Okabe, comments, "We're particular about our fresh cream, custard and mousse so that the flavors of the ingredients, such as fruits, are enhanced further."

Saryo Tsujiri Gion Main Store is a dessert cafe where you can enjoy Uji matcha sweets known for the lines that form even before opening. The popular parfait that incorporates all of Tsujiri's menu items comes in eight flavors including matcha, genmaicha, and hojicha.

Special Selection Tsujiri Parfait (1,383 JPY). The 25cm high glass is full of matcha!

Tsujiri Anmitsu (1,080 JPY). The cafe is always full, so the mornings are the best time to go.

According to a staff member, "The Hojicha Parfait (1,091 JPY) is also popular. Enjoy the authentic flavors that only a shop managed directly by the Uji tea maker, Gion Tsujiri, can offer. We also have other items such as Matcha Soba noodles (854 JPY)."

Saryo Suisen Takatsuji Main Store has a wide selection of desserts made with rich, bright green tencha made from steamed green tea. All items in the matcha warabi mochi and jelly ice that maximizes the flavors of matcha, from the kinako roasted soybean flour to brown sugar syrup, are homemade.

Soft & Rich Matcha Latte 3D Art (700 JPY). It is designed three-dimensionally on top of a strong matcha green tea (changes daily).

The jiggly and slightly bitter Matcha Cream Warabi Mochi (880 JPY).

According to a staff member, "The 3D latte art is so beautiful it's hard to destroy it, but you get a delicate, smooth flavor by thoroughly mixing it up."

ran Hotei is a teahouse produced by Randy Channell Soei, a tea master of the Urasenke school of tea ceremony​. The interior is decorated in an art deco style so that guests can casually enjoy tea. It is popular as a place to enjoy matcha green tea in a cafe environment.

Koicha tofu Cake (550 JPY). The gentle sweetness of the tofu goes perfectly with the deep flavors of matcha.

The elegantly sweet Original Matcha Carbonated Water (670 JPY).

The manager, Yukiko Kuriyama, comments "We hold tea ceremony classes, which require reservations, for 3,500 JPY per person. An Urasenke tea master will teach you everything from the history of tea ceremony to how to brew tea in about 60 minutes."

Tsujirihei Honten is a cafe opened by an established tea wholesaler as a place for people to "experience the superior flavors of high quality tea" that serves items made with high grade tea leaves. Its Okoicha Parfait Uji Homare is outstanding.

Okoicha Parfait Uji Homare (1,728 JPY). Matcha crunch, kanten jelly and fresh soft serve ice cream is served with tencha jelly.