For centuries, Uji matcha from Kyoto has been synonymous with Japanese matcha, ranked alongside Shizuoka tea and Sayama tea as one of Japan’s “Three Great Teas.” Unlike China’s method of fermenting tea leaves, Japan steams the leaves, dries them naturally, and grinds them into powder to make “matcha.”The exceptional quality of Uji matcha comes not only from the premium Uji tea leaves but also from the meticulous stone-grinding process. High-quality stone-ground matcha requires the removal of all stems and leaf veins from the tea leaves. Many visitors to Kyoto make it a point to go to Uji just to taste the richest and most authentic matcha. As the birthplace of Uji tea, Uji’s streets are filled with tea houses, wagashi (Japanese sweets) workshops, and tea shops, each offering genuine Uji tea. Below, we introduce five of the most popular matcha shops in Uji. Come take a look!

If you’re also a matcha enthusiast, add Uji to your travel itinerary right away~