Love Matcha? Upgrade Your Matcha Experience With Tsujiri!

Japanese matcha isn’t just for Japan anymore! These days matcha lovers can be found across the globe, and the passion for this uniquely rich and deeply flavorful variety of Japanese green tea is only growing, as more serious matcha fans fall in love with the taste and health benefits. Of course, as matcha drinkers around the world grow more discerning, finding the perfect matcha from the right brand has become an important part of the experience.

Today we’re looking at Tsujiri (辻利), a premium matcha brand that caters to matcha drinkers seeking an authentic matcha experience. Even in Japan, Tsujiri is known for being one of the few brands to use the very best matcha from the famous matcha area of Uji, Kyoto, making it one of the most famous manufacturers in the industry. After over a century and a half of maintaining Uji tea traditions, Tsujiri remains a top pick for matcha fans, but also shoppers searching for high-quality Japanese souvenirs.

What Makes Tsujiri Matcha Special?

Tsujiri’s founder, Riemon Tsuji (辻利右衛門), pioneered tea preservation techniques in the 1800s and went on to refine cultivation methods for gyokuro – an extremely high-grade green tea grown in shaded conditions to produce soft leaves with less bitterness, a natural sweetness, and deep umami flavor. Over time, the brand name “Tsujiri” became synonymous with premium Uji tea, leaving a legacy that lasts to this day.

Much like Riemon Tsuji did in the 1800s, Tsujiri’s tea masters still select the finest leaves to create unique signature blends for a variety of matcha products – traditional pure matcha powder, matcha lattes, desserts, ice cream, baking, and more – making it a favorite for matcha lovers looking for the real thing.

*These varieties are what you might call “ceremonial grade matcha” and “culinary grade matcha” in the English-speaking world, but those terms aren’t actually used in Japan (they’re marketing terms made up for the international market), so we won’t be using them in this article!

Tsujiri Uji Main Store, Kyoto

Tsujiri products can be found all across Japan, in supermarkets, drugstores, souvenir shops, and even the popular discount store Don Quijote – but the brand’s flagship store is located in Uji (宇治), the rural Kyoto town known for producing spectacular green tea. The shop offers a fantastic selection, with all kinds of tea as well elegantly packaged gifts that make great souvenirs for matcha lovers, like matcha rusks, langue de chat cookies, and chocolates. Many matcha drinkers, however, come for the in-store teahouse, which has a menu packed with treats like matcha parfaits and matcha shaved ice, as well as plenty of tea perfect for authentic matcha tasting.

At the entrance of the Byodoin Phoenix Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 10 minutes from the shop on foot, you’ll spot a bust of founder Riemon Tsuji himself – keep an eye out for this historical figure while you explore Uji!

Tsujiri Uji Main Store (辻利 宇治本店)
156 Ujimyoraku (Ujibashidori), Uji, Kyoto
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 | teahouse: 11:00 – 17:30 (last order 17:00) | open year-round, except the New Year holidays
Directions: about 5 min from JR Uji Station (Nara Line)

Must-Try Matcha Sweets at the Tsujiri Uji Main Store

Uji-Exclusive Tsujiri Desserts

If you’re a true fan of matcha, your love for this vibrant green tea probably doesn’t stop at drinking it. We recommend sampling the selection of premium matcha sweet treats at Tsujiri’s Uji flagship store.

Among the many decadent options at Tsujiri’s Uji teahouse, the most popular is their Matcha ni Somaru Parfait (抹茶に染まるパフェ), a name that implies it will leave you steeped in tea flavor. Each tall parfait glass is filled with Tsujiri’s intensely flavorful matcha ice cream, sweet red bean paste, chewy mochi-like “shiratama”, and matcha jelly, for a whirlwind of tastes and textures in every spoonful. It’s a Tsujiri favorite, and a must for matcha dessert lovers visiting for the first time.

Another popular order is the Tsujiri Plate with Usucha Matcha (辻利プレート お薄つき), a premium dessert sampler with a wide variety of matcha treats, a little like matcha afternoon tea. Many of the items on the platter are also sold in the souvenir shop, so ordering this set is a fun way to do a taste test before you shop!

Hint: Use the QR code to order – you don’t have to line up at the counter, and even if you’re not confident in Japanese, the language options make it traveler-friendly.

The teahouse has its own Kyoto-style garden to create a uniquely serene atmosphere and offer beautiful views while you take your time and enjoy the tea and sweets. The best seats, however, are always snapped up quickly (and popular menu items sometimes sell out), so if you want to enjoy a leisurely tea break at the Tsujiri Uji Main Shop teahouse, we recommend visiting as early as you can fit it into your schedule.

Tsujiri Matcha Picks From the Experts

Must-Try Uji Matcha at the Tsujiri Uji Main Shop

Looking for gyokuro? You’ll find the famous top-quality gyokuro sencha tea cultivated using Riemon Tsuji’s techniques at the Uji flagship! The rich umami and lingering aroma of these premium tea leaves are best revealed when brewed slowly at low temperatures, delivering an unrivaled depth of flavor.

You can also buy tins of authentic, high-quality matcha at the Tsujiri Uji Main Shop! The lineup consists of 7 different varieties, so you can find the perfect blend for your morning matcha latte, or something for special occasions (but the popularity of these tins means one variety or another might be sold out when you arrive). No matter which you choose, all of Tsujiri’s matcha is made with local Uji tea leaves and stone-milled into a fine, silky powder that delivers the kind of rich matcha flavor that will show you what you’ve been missing all this time. If you’re curious to see what matcha is really like in Japan, you’ll want to check out this selection.

Japanese Matcha Souvenirs: Premium Sweets for Matcha Lovers Back Home

In addition to the desserts served in the tea shop, Tsujiri’s selection of matcha gifts includes a number of beautifully packaged matcha treats perfect for gifting – or as a sweet reminder of your Japan trip memories.

According to shop staff, visiting travelers often go for the Kyo-Langue (京らんぐ), langue de chat sandwich cookies with a crisp crunch and a center filled with rich matcha chocolate. Each bite offers a rush of deep matcha flavor that tastes like the real thing, and the elegant packaging make the cookies a pleasure to gift. Or bring home a box of cookies and a tin of matcha to enjoy Uji tea time in your own home.

Another must-try is their “Yaki Chocolate” (焼きチョコレート), a baked chocolate treat that’s crunchy and melt-in-the-mouth delicious, while remaining melt-resistant in the package – which means you can bring the chocolates home as souvenirs even in the summer! There are two flavors of Yaki Chocolate, a sweet and creamy “matcha milk” and an aromatic “hojicha and brown sugar,” and if you take turns eating one after the other, you might find yourself at the bottom of the container before you know it. This one comes in a cute package too, but if you want to try both the Kyo-Langue cookies and Yaki Chocolate to decide which to buy for souvenirs, you can try both by ordering the Tsujiri Plate in the teahouse!

If you’re looking to try premium Japanese tea and matcha products at the Tsujiri Uji Main Shop in Kyoto, we have two products for you. The first is the “Uji O-Koi Matcha Latte” (宇治お濃い抹茶ラテ), a “rich Uji matcha latte” powder that balances the flavors of matcha and hojicha with the natural sweetness of milk. Just add hot water and it’s ready to enjoy, so you can enjoy a luxurious matcha latte anytime, and feel like you’re back in Tsujiri’s Uji teahouse.

Tsujiri’s illustrated tea bag canisters, full of sencha green tea or the roasted hojicha tea bags, are great for tea lovers who prefer the gentler flavor of leaf teas. The cans are decorated with appealing illustrations of the Uji landscape, including nearby historic landmarks, so you (or your lucky souvenir recipient) can use it to store small items long after the tea is gone!

Of course, Tsujiri products are also available at other stores throughout Japan, including supermarkets, drugstores, and Don Quijote. If you’re looking for matcha souvenirs that are compact and affordable, good for distributing to lots of friends or coworkers, we have some recommendations for those, too!

4 Popular Matcha Products Available Across Japan

Tsujiri Matcha Milk (辻利抹茶ミルク): The #1 Bestseller

Japan’s top-selling matcha milk blend combines the best Uji matcha with creamy milk for a smooth green tea flavor, good for kids and adults alike.

The 3-in-1 powder dissolves well in both cold and hot water, making it easy to enjoy matcha milk in the hottest months of summer or the coldest winter nights. That means you can also mix it with your favorite milk (cow, soy, almond, anything works) for a richer, mellower flavor, or even use it to make matcha shakes and sweets. If you are looking for a versatile matcha drink powder, this is a great choice.

Tsujiri Matcha Milk Uji Matcha Double Rich (辻利 抹茶ミルクお濃い茶仕立て): All the Flavor of Koicha in a Matcha Milk

For a stronger kick of real matcha flavor, the koicha-style Matcha Milk Uji Matcha Double Rich uses twice as much matcha in each batch! The deeper flavor makes it especially popular as a souvenir – if you like matcha milk but want a more intense flavor, this mix is just as convenient and easily soluble, with all the flavor a matcha lover craves.

Tsujiri Matcha Latte (辻利 抹茶ラテ): Convenient On-the-Go Matcha Latte Packs

Ever wished you could get the real matcha flavor of a good matcha latte on the go, without heading to a cafe every time you leave the house? Tsujiri’s convenient matcha latte packs are small and light enough to keep in your bag (or even your pocket), and they dissolve in seconds in milk or water, making them great for the office, on the road, or even on a plane! Since they come in individual packets, you can even split up a box and give them out as little souvenirs from your trip to Japan. The flavor is rich and creamy, but still light on the tongue, good in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up. The balance of milk and matcha flavors makes these little packets perfect for anyone interested in trying matcha, and the convenience will have matcha lovers coming back for more.

Tsujiri Matcha Soluble & Unsweetened (辻利 さらっととける抹茶): For All Your Matcha Needs

Like to mix things up? This matcha powder contains no sweeteners or dairy, but it dissolves in seconds, so it’s great for tea lovers who like to customize their daily matcha. Tsujiri makes the powder with 100% ichiban-cha, the first sprouts picked during the harvest season of the year, giving it a unique umami taste, a lingering flavor, and a bright green color. This soluble matcha is great with milk and honey for a sweet matcha latte, tossed into a smoothie, mixed with soy milk, or even in your protein shake. It can also be used to add matcha flavor to baked goods, your morning pancakes, or even sprinkled on a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Where to Find Tsujiri Matcha in Japan

It’s fun to visit Tsujiri’s flagship in Uji, but one nice thing about Tsujiri’s bestsellers is that they’re easy to find all over Japan. Head to a drugstore or a Don Quijote to taste test them during your trip, and if you find something you love (or something a matcha-loving friend would like), you can stock up before heading home.

Explore Japanese Matcha With Tsujiri

Tsujiri has long been at the heart of Japan’s tea industry, and after a century and a half refining their selection of matcha and green tea products, it only makes sense for matcha lovers to give Tsujiri a try! On your next trip, stop into Uji to go on a matcha journey with the experts at the Tsujiri Uji Main Shop, and check our Kyoto travel recommendations to plan the perfect trip!

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