Ocharaka, located on the basement floor of Coredo Muromachi 1 in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district, is a specialty shop for Japanese tea flavors. Its owner, Frenchman Stephane Danton, is a sommelier with a love of Japan.
In recent years, domestic supply has been gradually declining, and in order to expand the potential of Japanese tea, Ocharaka opened its first store in Kichijoji in 2005 as a gateway to new tea lovers. Since then, he has developed original flavored teas, infusing green tea and roasted green tea with aromas unique to Japan, such as fruits, flowers, mugwort, and kelp, proposing and promoting a new way of enjoying Japanese tea not only in Japan but also around the world.
Stephane Danton
The flavored teas housed in tea boxes lined up on the wall of the Coredo Muromachi store are blended by Danton himself after repeated trial runs in his studio. Everything from blending to aroma addition is done by hand. The store always has around 50 types of tea leaves in stock, all of which have been completed while retaining the original flavor of Japanese tea, and new flavors are added once or twice a year depending on the season.
Tea leaves in tea boxes are lined up in layers on the wall.
If you find a tea box with a name that catches your eye, ask them to lower it onto the counter, smell it, and sample it to find your favorite cup of tea.
The day of our visit was still chilly. So, we were served "Baked Apple," a flavored tea made by blending roasted green tea leaves with dried apples and ginger. Its clear golden color and understated Japanese tea flavor, with a well-balanced aroma and deep flavor that comes later, make it enjoyable with your eyes, nose, and mouth, almost like wine. Apparently, this "Baked Apple" is delicious not only in hot water, but also when boiled in milk.
Roasted Apple, a roasted green tea-based flavored tea
Natsumikan, a green tea-based flavored tea, is Ocharaka's best-selling product. The citrus aroma and refreshing taste are the secret to its popularity with both men and women, and it is recommended to brew it with hot water now, and cold water in the summer.
"Natsumikan," a green tea-based flavored tea that's recommended for those new to flavored tea.
Meanwhile, the lineup of unique flavors you won't find anywhere else is sure to pique your interest, including "Mocha," a roasted green tea base flavored with coffee, "Chocolate Mint," a blend of chocolate mint, and "Yakiimo," a slightly sweet flavor and aroma blended with the herb stevia.
Mocha, a roasted green tea-based flavored tea, is a blend of tea leaves and coffee beans.
In addition to selling in stores, Ocharaka also provides flavored teas to restaurants in the Hotel Okura, as well as resorts such as Hoshinoya Karuizawa and Kai Enshu, as Japanese teas that go well with meals, similar to the French culture of pairing food with wine. The Atre Kichijoji store just opened on February 2nd, so why not enjoy a life with tea at Ocharaka?
In recent years, domestic supply has been gradually declining, and in order to expand the potential of Japanese tea, Ocharaka opened its first store in Kichijoji in 2005 as a gateway to new tea lovers. Since then, he has developed original flavored teas, infusing green tea and roasted green tea with aromas unique to Japan, such as fruits, flowers, mugwort, and kelp, proposing and promoting a new way of enjoying Japanese tea not only in Japan but also around the world.
Stephane Danton
The flavored teas housed in tea boxes lined up on the wall of the Coredo Muromachi store are blended by Danton himself after repeated trial runs in his studio. Everything from blending to aroma addition is done by hand. The store always has around 50 types of tea leaves in stock, all of which have been completed while retaining the original flavor of Japanese tea, and new flavors are added once or twice a year depending on the season.
Tea leaves in tea boxes are lined up in layers on the wall.
If you find a tea box with a name that catches your eye, ask them to lower it onto the counter, smell it, and sample it to find your favorite cup of tea.
The day of our visit was still chilly. So, we were served "Baked Apple," a flavored tea made by blending roasted green tea leaves with dried apples and ginger. Its clear golden color and understated Japanese tea flavor, with a well-balanced aroma and deep flavor that comes later, make it enjoyable with your eyes, nose, and mouth, almost like wine. Apparently, this "Baked Apple" is delicious not only in hot water, but also when boiled in milk.
Roasted Apple, a roasted green tea-based flavored tea
Natsumikan, a green tea-based flavored tea, is Ocharaka's best-selling product. The citrus aroma and refreshing taste are the secret to its popularity with both men and women, and it is recommended to brew it with hot water now, and cold water in the summer.
"Natsumikan," a green tea-based flavored tea that's recommended for those new to flavored tea.
Meanwhile, the lineup of unique flavors you won't find anywhere else is sure to pique your interest, including "Mocha," a roasted green tea base flavored with coffee, "Chocolate Mint," a blend of chocolate mint, and "Yakiimo," a slightly sweet flavor and aroma blended with the herb stevia.
Mocha, a roasted green tea-based flavored tea, is a blend of tea leaves and coffee beans.
In addition to selling in stores, Ocharaka also provides flavored teas to restaurants in the Hotel Okura, as well as resorts such as Hoshinoya Karuizawa and Kai Enshu, as Japanese teas that go well with meals, similar to the French culture of pairing food with wine. The Atre Kichijoji store just opened on February 2nd, so why not enjoy a life with tea at Ocharaka?
【Store Information】
Ocharaka COREDO Muromachi Store
2-2-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo COREDO Muromachi 1 Basement 1F
03-6262-1505
Business Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
Ocharaka Atre Kichijoji Store
1-1-24 Kichijoji Minamimachi, Musashino-shi, Tokyo Atre 1F
Business Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
Ocharaka COREDO Muromachi Store
2-2-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo COREDO Muromachi 1 Basement 1F
03-6262-1505
Business Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
Ocharaka Atre Kichijoji Store
1-1-24 Kichijoji Minamimachi, Musashino-shi, Tokyo Atre 1F
Business Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
