Who Serves Foamy Matcha Tea?

[charliemyboy]

From time to time I get a craving for foamy matcha tea as served in tea ceremonies in Japan, but the only matcha tea I've gotten here was not served foamy. I'm not looking for a tea ceremony, just a restaurant or tea house (preferably but not necessarily on the Peninsula) that serves foamy matcha tea. A search of this board using "matcha" has not provided an answer. Any suggestions?

I'd also be interested in hearing from those who make it themselves about your local source for matcha and paraphernalia plus any tips on making it.

[Stephanie Wong]

I called L'Amyx Tea Bar - sells it, but has no whisk on site to serve in the traditional manner.

L'Amyx Tea Bar - Piedmont Avenue
4179 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
[e-mail]
(510) 594-TEA2

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L'Amyx Tea Bar
4179 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

[Windy]

There is a cafe product called Pirate's Chai (not sure why) made with matcha. It is foamy. Unfortunately it's also sweetened and what you'll find if you order matcha anywhere but a real tea shop.

Samovar has real matcha, although I've never tried it there. Only the matcha brownies, which are very good.

Winnie Yu of Teance has written about why she doesn't serve matcha (poor quality, or good quality but very high prices).

Green Gulch does serve matcha at its tea ceremonies, although that's not what you're looking for.

Please do post if you find anything.

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Teance
2531B 9th St, Berkeley, CA

[Morton the Mousse]

I think Teance's policy has changed. I was in Teance 2 weeks ago and I saw someone order a matcha. They brought out the broom thing and foamed it up and everything. They also sell matcha and matcha kits for preparation at home. All of their tea is expensive, but I'm not sure about pricing. They're in Berkeley, so probably not convenient for the OP.

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Teance
2531B 9th St, Berkeley, CA

[Windy]

If Winnie will make it, Teance would be a great place for a bowl of matcha. I never liked Japanese green teas prepared at home until I learned what I was doing wrong.

It looks like next Friday's class is on Japanese green teas:
http://www.teance.com/Classes_Events_...

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Teance
2531B 9th St, Berkeley, CA

[charliemyboy]

Thanks for the suggestions. Samovar's website describes their matcha as "hand-whisked to a heavenly froth" so I have at least one option.

BTW, what have you learned about how to prepare Japanese green teas at home?

[Windy]

Not starting with enough tea.

The result was pale and weak, so I kept steeping, and then it was horribly bitter.

Same problem with delicate green teas that had been in the cupboard too long.

[gnomatic]

If you are interested in Japanese Tea, Urasenke Foundation's monthly Open Hearth (in North Beach), might be of interest to you.

http://www.urasenke.org

If you are interested in preparing matcha at home. You can get the whisk, bowl etc at Ichiban Kan or Daiso in Japantown. (There is also a new Daiso on Market @ 2nd). You can get matcha at Nijiya Market.