The charm of Japanese tea is that you can savor both umami and bitterness with a fresh aftertaste. Other than before and after meals, tea is just right for when you want to switch your mood during breaks at work or studying. Adding some sweets will transform your ordinary break time into a heavenly moment. Sweets that match Japanese tea are not necessarily just Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets). Since Japanese teas have a diverse range of individuality in sweetness, bitterness and shibumi (complexity), various confectionary is unexpectedly a good match. We’ll introduce some interesting pairings of Japanese tea with sweets here.

01. Premium Organic Yame Sencha Green Tea with Castella

Castella, a long-time, oven-baked favorite in Japan. Made with eggs, sugar, and coarse sugar, it has a moist texture and sweetness. For this rich, egg-flavored baked confectionary, we recommend our Premium Organic Yame Sencha Green Tea with its slightly less bitter and gentle taste. A perfect amount of sweetness and clear freshness fills your mouth after you drink the tea and this is just the right match with the rich sweetness of Castella. The deep green color of green tea is also beautiful, and looks gorgeous in contrast with the egg-colored Castella.

Premium Organic Yame Sencha Green Tea is available here

02. Organic Matcha with Japanese sweets

Minazuki is made by steaming a white uiro-mochi base topped with sweetened azuki beans. In Kyoto, it is a traditional Wagashi (Japanese sweets) that is eaten to pray for good health. For its chewy texture and gentle sweetness, our Organic Matcha Green Tea, with its gorgeous umami that spreads throughout, is the perfect match The higher the quality of matcha, the stronger the aroma. It also has a more balanced taste and less shibumi. The gentle sweetness of Minazuki will draw out the rich aftertaste of our Organic Matcha Green Tea. Enjoy the affinity between traditional Wagashi and Matcha!

Organic Matcha is available here

03. Sakura Green Tea with scones

You get a waft of the gorgeous aroma of sakura when you have a sip of Sakura Green Tea. Using organic tea leaves grown in Japan as a smooth base, it is distinctive because of its fruitiness that makes you imagine beautiful sakura cherry blossoms. Traditional English scones are just right for this flavored tea. The crunchy texture and mild sweetness of this baked confectionary that can also be a light meal is the best match to savor the luscious flavor of sakura. Sakura petals float on the surface when you pour hot water, so gazing at its delicateness would also help you feel refreshed.

Sakura Green Tea is available here

04. Hikari, a Legendary Tea from the Skies with BEIKO

In addition to the elegant aroma of tea leaves, “Hikari, a Legendary Tea from the Skies” has deep umami and sweetness that is perfect for sweets with a light texture. For a full-bodied tea that is heavy like soup stock, confectionaries that have a bit of saltiness or spiciness are a better match than those with a strong sweetness. Simple Senbei (rick crackers) and Kakinotane (spicy persimmon seed-shaped crackers) made from rice flour will fully draw out the sweetness of the tea. Drink the tea chilled to enjoy an even more refreshing experience. The smooth aftertaste is optimal for switching your mood.

“Hikari, a Legendary Tea from the Skies” is available here

BEIKO Organic brown rice crackers (salt flavor) is available here

BEIKO Organic Kakinotane is available here

05. Organic Yame Hojicha with carrot cake

Organic Yame Hojicha has a smokier taste compared to Sencha because the roasting process eliminates the components that have bitterness. Since Hojicha cuts down on the oiliness in your mouth, it is just right for rich meat dishes and stews, but it is also recommended for hearty Western confectionary like carrot cake. The rich taste of cake is lightened and enhanced by the fresh aftertaste of Hojicha. Enjoy its relaxing and gentle aroma at your next break.

Organic Yame Hojicha is available here

We introduced a variety of pairings, ranging from those with a feeling of traditional “Wa (Japanese)” to fusions of Western and Japanese styles. Hope you find your favorite pair!