Ippodo Tea

Definitely the best and cleanest matcha in town. Everything is authentic in this place, from the traditional preparation of the matcha to the different imported products that you can buy.
Here you understand the difference in taste between the quality of various matcha powders and what types of beverages it can be made with it. The staff is very friendly and helpful. And if you are interested in making your own matcha at home, there’s no better place to learn from!

Walking into Ippodo is like walking into a Japanese zen location. There is a sudden hush and you forget the rush, hustle and bustle of the city. Upon entrance, you will notice the warm woods. The tea bar is to your left. Your master tea maker will assist you in your selections. You want watch mesmerized as he expertly whisks your matcha to order. You can even buy the matcha whisks if you desire. On the left of the bar, are the selections of loose leaf and tea bags for purchase. I purchased several gift sets which have a mix of gyokuro, sencha, and hojicha in individual tea bags. To go, I had a thin matcha which was amazing. Forget the powdery matcha you think of at Teavana. This is rich, dense and smooth green tea matcha magic. Stop by to be transported from the city noise and honor the time-​old tradition of tea.

As a chain from Tokyo, they have good tea. The gyokuro and sencha tea were good, but the matcha soy latte was mediocre at best. My 1 star review was due to how inconsiderate they were. Being an avid fan of green tea, I brought my dad who just had bilateral knee surgery here. He was using a cane, and tired. I asked them politely to let my dad sit for 15 – 20 minutes while drinking his tea. I understand that they do not have any seating area, and a to go only store; but to refuse lending us a chair just for my dad, is unacceptable. There was a restaurant in the same building which not yet opened, and has plenty of seating, yet they do not allow us to seat there nor borrowing a chair from the restaurant. I am extremely disappointed with this store’s service and hope they will try to improve upon it.

I ordered iced light matcha and it was incredibly well made/​blended. If you’re not fond of any bitterness you should still try it. Despite the bitterness, it wasn’t strong and it didn’t take away from the matcha so don’t worry. I also love how well the man whisked the matcha because I didn’t taste the powder at all. I’ve had circumstances where I could still taste the powder which would leave a bad after taste, but this wasn’t the case here. I highly recommend this cute place!
The tea place isn’t a sit in so if you’re looking for a tea house I’d recommend Cha An (but still give this place a try! You won’t regret it)

This is the best tea in NYC — as a picky tea drinker, this is my to-​go to place. The teas are all high quality, made with care, imported, and beautifully presented. It’s a bit pricey, but is justified given the high quality.
It’s a tiny storefront with no seating, but the atmosphere is peaceful and the people extremely helpful.
When I was in Japan at a tea ceremony, I asked our tea master for name brand, high quality tea recommendations. The first recommendation was Ippodo.

Walked in here after having lunch in the area to grab tea to go and was pleasantly surprised. The place was very nice, and the staff was kind and friendly. I sampled their seasonal matcha which was smooth and rich, and the matcha soy latte I ordered was great. They had gift options and bags of tea for sale as well. I would definitely like to go back and try their sit down options.

We had the usucha thin matcha, where you get 50 cents off when you whisk it yourself. I feel like they should charge to whisk it yourself, since it’s so much fun to do so: P
But yes, the tea was great and the place is nice! Also on a side note-​I liked how they had oil blotting paper in the bathroom-​how awesome is that? Now if only other clubs/​restaurants could do the same!

A few friends and I met up here to try out the tea. It tasted pretty good, but was really pricy. Also, the staff were just OK — not super friendly but not rude. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to come back here.

I’ve always wanted to try an authentic traditional Japanese green tea and for a first time visit, this place left me an impression of what a high-​quality tea was suppose to taste like. There were many matcha/​teas to choose from, and after asking the lady (tea maker) for a recommendation, I went with the usucha which was a thin matcha and I have to say the taste was very fine and good. Also, it was nice to see the tea making process right in front you. Although the prices are bit on a pricey side for a small cup, nothing beats the taste of its high quality tea. So try it out when you can!
P. S. This tearoom is just a take-​out meaning unlike other tearooms/​cafes you cannot sit/​lounge to sip your tea

Just an update that they no longer have the sweets anymore. Uji-​shimizu is also delicious but they won’t have it for much longer

This is a small green tea shop in two combined restaurants, Kajitsu and Kokage. I was walking on this street after lunch, and found this place fortunately. Ippodo is an authentic Japanese green tea shop from Kyoto. Although there are many places sell Matcha (powdered green tea) flavored drinks nowadays in NY, other place can’t serve matcha as authentic and aromatic as this place’s.
I was so impressed that they wisk hot matcha in front of you like traditional tea ceremony. Maybe for some American, this pure hot matcha taste too bitter because we don’t usually add sugar to high quality green tea. Many Japanese love and appreciate this bitterness.
However, I was craving for something sweet on that day, so I decided to try sweetened cold matcha drink.
This was a right choice. This drink cintains shaved ice. It was so refreshing. As I expected, it was so aromatic and perfectly sweetend so that the aroma woudn’t be ruined by sugar. They sprinkled matcha powder on the top and that added more aroma. My friend and I became a big fan of this place. We even went back there for another cold matcha drink next day.

Lovely place for matcha tea enthusiasts, interesting for newbies
The shop is at garden level. Walk fast you might miss it. There is no seating as other reviewers mentioned but the waiting space is nicely decorated and pretty calming. There is now a sister restaurant in the same space so the tea shop is actually acting like the foyer.
As someone who never had matcha tea I find the flavor mildly pleasant. It has a slight seaweed flavor and a nutty taste but not overwhelming or bitter. The serving size is small.
The place seems very authentic (my friend says it is a chain store with many branches in Japan and Taiwan). For the price of a mixed drink at Starbucks you can try something unique.

I adore this place. It’s pricey considering the size of the drink you are getting (no more than 12 oz, maybe even less), but worth every dime if you are a matcha enthusiast.
This girl is obsessed with matcha, as you might be able to tell from my reviews. I usually make it at home, but I’ve never quite perfected the craft, so I made the journey to Ippodo to watch how someone who knows what he’s doing makes an iced matcha.
Everything is to-​go. There is an assortment of matcha drinks on their menu (iced matcha, hot matcha, matcha shot — called thick matcha, matcha latte, matcha slushy, etc.). I chose the thin matcha iced and my mom got the matcha almond latte iced. I learned quite a deal watching him prepare the matcha and asking how he got it so foamy. It looked easy as he whisked the matcha. Turns out, you need to get the right ratio of matcha to water (generally, more matcha makes it easier to whisk into that bright green foaminess) and the water has to be sufficiently hot at around 180 degrees F.
I was expecting my matcha drink to be exquisitely bitter, but instead, it was exquisitely energizing. The whole subway ride back to my apartment was probably one of the best I’ve ever had (that’s saying something in NY). Felt calm, but wide awake and happy. The next day, I made my own matcha using the technique he described – still not quite there yet, but it was a noticeable improvement!

Decided to check this place out since it was just a stone’s throw away from my hotel. Take note that this is not Starbucks that you can sip your matcha while surfing the web. The place is just a counter where you order and have your tea to go. The sit down area is for the Japanese restaurant only.
I opted for the thin matcha and it was good. I loved the 6oz cute Japanese themed tea cups. It is pricey.

Legit matcha and other quality teas. The guy making it was also taking it very seriously. I felt like I was back in Japan for a moment. It was very natsukashii.
I love all things matcha. I crave the bitter grassiness of it. My husband jokes that I am like a cow wanting to eat grass. I don’t want sugar to spoil it. After asking a few questions about the different types of matcha available, I went with the Koicha, a thick matcha that was super concentrated. There was only a couple inches in my paper cup, but in those two inches was more flavor than you’d get in a venti cup of tea at Starbucks. It was even grassier than the tea ceremony stuff. I was in heaven, but just to warn you, if you’re used to sweeter drinks, you’re probably going to hate this stuff.
Not to worry! There are other options. They have an iced matcha drink that was described as sweet. I’m sure it’s on the Japanese level of sweet, but still. Also, there was a wonderful smokey roasted tea from Kyoto, Iribancha that tastes like you’re drinking liquid smoke. My husband loved it, and I liked it almost as much as the matcha.
Watching the tea be individually brewed is also part of the experience. My only complaint is that there is nowhere to sit and enjoy your tea. It’s pretty much all to go here. I’m just happy this tea is even available though. If they had this place in Philly, I’d probably be broke. If you appreciate Japanese tea, be sure to stop in next time you’re in New York City.

MATCHA! I love green tea. I love that they have so many options! I love that they make it in front of you. I love that they do stamp cards! I had their thin matcha today — so refreshing, so bitter, so wonderful. Next time, I’m definitely getting the thick matcha! Also, they take credit cards. No place to sit so take your green tea to go!
I’m definitely coming back…

Hands down the most authentic Japanese tea in the city. It’s a very small store. Don’t be fooled by the tables in the back, those are for Kajitsu. Ippodo only occupies the small counter space in the front and therefore, it’s a to-​go tea shop. Ippodo is actually an almost 300-​year-​old Japanese company and this location is its first store outside Japan. Teas are cultivated in Kyoto, and this region is well-​known for producing some of the best green tea in Japan.
Here, Ippodo serves tea like sencha, matcha, gyokuro, hojicha, and iribancha in to-​go cups, as well as bulk bags and utensils and tools to prepare matcha at home. They also serve matcha lattes. The people that prepare the tea do so with great care and attention to detail. I ordered a matcha and the woman who prepared my tea did so with such thoroughness, making sure that everything was brewed at the right temperature, for the right amount of time, and even sniffing and tasting to ensure that the smell and taste was just right. I was very impressed by how meticulous she was in preparing the teas. And when I drank it, I could tell it was very different to other Japanese teas I’ve had in the States.
My only wish is that they had sit-​down tables so I could enjoy my tea there. Prices per cup are a little more than what people are used to paying for when it comes to tea, but it is well worth it. You can’t get a more authentic, more carefully brewed tea than at Ippodo. I would come back anytime I’m in NYC for Japanese tea.

Long after the whole matcha hype has died down and it is no longer trendy, this place will still be considered one of the finest places to score tea in the city and still offer a drink worth extensive praise.
I understand that this shop’s headquarters are in Kyoto and upon entering you can certainly tell. The entire place has really beautiful, authentic Japanese décor as well as a really elegant table where they make the tea.
The matcha here is certainly the best I have ever had outside of Japan. When I came I got the lighter version (Usucha), which I was happy about since they make it quite thick here. The matcha itself is an eye-​poppingly bright green with a floral taste and an amazing vegetal aroma. They make it so thick and frothy it is almost like a milkshake, except that it is just powdered tea and hot water. It is was just exceptional and they offer it to go, which is a big plus.
Make sure to get a punch card when you leave because if you try the tea here, chances are you will want to come back.

Tip: They have stamp cards now!
This place is not your regular japanese tea place. They specialize in matcha teas, which is a must get if you do come. I got the unsweetened version, which many may find bitter. So as a tip, get the sweetened matcha even if it’s a bit more in calories. It’s more yummy. After you place your order, you can watch the tea scientists in their lab coats create your drink in a matter of minutes. Love the experience and will be back.

As an avid green tea/​matcha lover I HAD to come here. I loved the place. It was so authentic. The moment I walked in I had forgotten I was in NYC and I felt like I was in Japan.
I had the ushucha, which was the most popular and purest matcha. The server was very friendly, approachable and knowledgeable about matcha. I can’t believe Ippodo has been around for over 300 years!!! Straight out of Kyoto!
I love that the server shows you how the matcha is made and makes it fresh in front of you. Like previous reviewers said, very ceremonial.
It might seem a bit pricey for a small quantity but remember quality over quantity.
I took a sip and WOW it was like a green tea bomb in my mouth. Heavy, rich, dark matcha flavor at a boost. It is a bit bitter I admit and there is a bitter aftertaste as well but the flavor was so rich.
I definitely need to come back to try the rest of the drinks here. I felt more refreshed and energized after the ushucha. If this matcha thing becomes a habit I might get my own kit and start making my own!
P. S. They also accept credit cards! Woohooo!