Located at Taipower Building MRT Station Exit 5 (台電大樓捷運站5號出口), Heiankyo Japanese Tea House (平安京茶事) is the latest dessert spot in town to specialize in traditional Japanese sweets and foamy matcha, the powdered green tea used in Japanese traditional tea ceremony. Everything from the noren curtain at the entrance to the minimalist rock garden reminds one of Kyoto, where matcha culture was said to have originated.
The tranquility of the impressive wooden interior contrasts with the busy street outside. Customers, mostly middle-aged women, graciously spooned matcha ice cream from bamboo containers (NT$300), seemingly enjoying each mouthful in silent pleasure.
Flipping through the picture menu, I ordered the chiginoshiro set (NT$350). The set is a delightful concoction of textures: the melt-in-your-mouth creaminess of matcha ice cream in harmony with in-season strawberry, chewy Japanese dumplings (團子) and chunky red bean paste. A pot of freshly brewed classic sencha (煎茶) or genmaicha (玄米茶) — green tea with toasted brown rice — comes served with this order. Unlike matcha, which is in powder form, sencha is made by adding boiled water onto unshaded green tea leaves. Sencha is bitter but goes extremely well with cold sweets like matcha ice cream (NT$120 per scoop) and parfait (NT$300).
Photo: Nancy Liu
My friend from Tokyo, usually not a big fan of frozen desserts, had aoarashi (NT$350), a serving of matcha jelly with red bean paste and dumplings. Though he found it similar to those served in Japan, I thought that the paste lacked sophistication and the jelly could have been firmer.
The matcha tea with mochi (NT$250) is an ideal set menu for those curious to see an abbreviated form of the tea ceremony. Staff at a preparation counter carefully whisk hot water and matcha powder together with bamboo and then serve.
On a second visit a few days later, I indulged in roll cakes (NT$150 per slice). The genmai flavored roll cake was irresistibly pleasant in presentation and taste. The cake was moist and compact, the fresh cream filling extremely rich. I had to refill my pot of gyokuro tea (NT$ 250), a higher grade of green tea also known as “jade dew,” several times to clean the palate. One slice is probably enough for two light eaters.
Photo: Nancy Liu
I strongly recommend Heiankyo Japanese Tea House to those with an interest in that country’s tea culture. The tea and desserts are of excellent quality, and there are many green tea options to choose from, including matcha milk (NT$ 150), matcha au lait (NT$200) and matcha latte (NT$200).
Photo: Nancy Liu
Photo: Nancy Liu
Photo: Nancy Liu
Photo: Nancy Liu
Photo: Nancy Liu
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