Dear Steemit Friends:
China is the homeland of Tea, with a history spanning nearly 5000 years, it's difficult go anywhere without seeing and feeling the influence of tea around me. As by default, I'm already half a tea fanatic. In my recent travels to Hong Kong, I was able to taste some of the best Matcha around. Without further ado, lets take a look at what all the buzz about this Matcha place is about.
Even though Matcha Green Tea is very popular in Japan, it was actually first made in China during the Sui Dynasty (581 - 617 AD). It was only quite some time later that the Matcha Green Tea phenomenon reached the shores of Japan.
The origins of Japanese tea can be traced back to Uji, Kyoto. Today, I'm visiting this Matcha Tea restaurant / shop called Tokichi which has over 160 years of history.
The Tokichi shop in Hong Kong is their first store outside of Japan.
The restaurant is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, on the 3rd floor of the Miramar shopping complex.
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As you can see it is just one of many eateries open for business here.
From what i've heard, the popularity of this restaurant usually means queues of up to 1 hour for a table. However, I chose to visit during lunch time on a work day, so I was lucky to avoid the long queue.
Even so, the restaurant remains very popular and guests are limited to just 90 minutes of time per visit.
Even at off peak times, the restaurant is still very full. No doubt there are many Matcha Green Tea lovers, relishing this wonderful establishment. It is believed that Matcha Green Tea helps reduce Cholesterol as well as lower blood pressure, a healthy side effect making Matcha attractive to even the most health conscious people.
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The Hong Kong tea house retains a simple and yet elegant decor, mirroring the sense of style from traditional Japan. I really like the rice coloured wall paper.
All of the Matcha Green Tea products sold here are imported from Japan.
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This machine is used to make the Matcha Green Tea powder.
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I chose a seat by the window where I can enjoy a very green scenic view from several floors up above ground level.
Even though it's very simple, I like the design of the dining mat combining the Matcha Green, and a very deep complementing blue.
When I sat down, I immediately noticed the classic style teapot which looks very sturdy as well as heavy.
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Lets have a look at the menu!
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Lets take a look at what I ordered!
Matcha Green Tea Curry
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Inside this dish you'll find Matcha Green Tea Ice cream, Matcha Jelly, White Dough balls, and Red Bean Paste! It's served in a metal silver coloured bowl which helps keep the temperature low. My favourite ingredient has to be the Matcha Green Tea ice cream. It has very thick texture and tastes like a really premium ice cream. I also really like the Matcha Jelly for it's very light and refreshing taste. It really helps balance out the thick creamy texture of the ice cream.
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Green Tea Parfait
The Parfait is a very popular dessert. It consists of several different layers of various creams, fruits, and ice cream. The Parfait I ordered supposedly had 8 different things all in one tall glass!
An interesting addition to this dessert is the little rice grains in the ice cream. I've never come across this before so it was a welcome first experience.
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Green Tea Matcha flavoured Anmitsu dessert.
The two cute bowl like cones are served with honey, kiwi and various other fruits. Of course, there is virtually dessert here that is served without Match Green Tea ice cream, this one is no exception.
The idea is to take these various fruits and green tea ice cream, and eat them together with the bowl like ice cream cones.
Green tea mochi.
These Green tea mochi's are very limited, so I was lucky to still be able to order them before they sold out. On their own, the Matcha powder covering the mochi cakes can be quite bitter. For this reason, black honey and green tea honey is provided as a dipping sauce to sweeten up the taste.
To my surprise, a pigeon landed just outside the window where I was seated. It probably wanted to try out the delicious Matcha Green Tea for itself.
And that rounds up my very Green Matcha Green Tea adventure, I've already added this restaurant to must visit list next time I am in Hong Kong and I would highly recommend you do too if you are visiting Hong Kong! More delicious food awaits.. Till next time!
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生活在茶的故乡，受周围亲人的影响，饮食习惯里离不开喝茶，我也算半个茶的粉丝，今天我想带大家去香港探索一家抹茶店。抹茶起源于中国隋朝，之后抹茶的文化传入日本受到极大的推崇。日本京都的宇治是是日本茶的发源地，今天我要带大家去探索的就是拥有160年老字号的京都抹茶店---中村藤吉。而香港的中村藤吉是它们在海外的唯一一家分店。这家店开在尖沙咀的美丽华商场三楼。商场里有很多美食。听说这家店正常需要排队1小时左右，不过我选择在上班日的中午，所以很幸运不用排队了。不过由于顾客很多，店不大所以用餐时间限时90分钟。店里基本坐满，大家很爱吃抹茶，可能是因为吃抹茶可以减轻体重，调节血脂血糖。我挑了一个窗边的位置，因为楼层很高，所有边吃抹茶还能边欣赏下窗外绿油油的景色。桌上的餐具桌布很有特点，看这个配色是经过用心设计的。这个茶壶吸引了我的注意，很厚重的材料，很有古典的风格。先来看看菜单吧！
抹茶咖喱:里面包含抹茶雪糕，抹茶果冻，白玉丸子和红豆泥！这个银制的碗可以保持一定温度，我喜欢把这四种小食混在一起吃，尤其是抹茶雪糕，浓浓的抹茶味特别香。而抹茶的果冻在嘴里很清爽，带来浓浓的幸福感。
绿茶芭菲:芭菲是非常受欢迎的甜点，它每一层放了不同的材料，一共八种食材。最让我惊喜的当然是脆脆的玄米粒，从来没吃过这种口感的冰激凌。
抹茶味的宇治馅蜜:这两个可爱的像碗一样的饼脆脆的，吃起来像甜筒地下的部分。还配了蜂蜜，里面有猕猴桃芒果等各种水果，配上抹茶冰激凌和白玉丸子，我真的是想一次把抹茶吃够。当然我把这些混合着放在饼上一起吃，味道更好。
抹茶蕨饼:据说这个是每日限量的，配上黑蜜及抹茶蜜。既可以将酱汁倒在上面也可以夹起蕨饼来沾酱。吃起来好像年糕，虽然抹茶粉有些苦，但是沾上蜜汁味道刚好。
身后的落地窗外还停了一只可爱的小鸟，也想尝尝抹茶的味道吗？希望你们喜欢我的抹茶美食之旅，之后还有更多有趣的美食等着我们去探索！