On this day, I enjoyed a large serving of Mutton Biryani at Spice Curry Restaurant Yotsuya Branch. Afterwards, I searched on Tabelog to find a spot for a break, and that's when I came across Mohini. I had actually visited this place once before, exactly 2 years ago, but back then it was closed for dining due to the pandemic. However, after checking the reviews, it seemed like they had reopened, so I decided to visit again. Just like last time, I walked from the Yotsuya 2-chome intersection on Shinjuku Street towards Yotsuya 3-chome station, turning left before reaching Dragone Yotsuya. This is the road I usually take when heading towards Coffee Nikki. I walked down this road for a while, and then turned into a dead-end road between residential buildings. The building at the end of this road was Mohini. It's a building where the residence and the shop are connected, with the entrance to the shop on the left side. When I arrived at the shop, it was about 15 minutes before the scheduled opening time at noon, but the "OPEN" sign was already displayed. I noticed a senior woman coming out from the gate on the right side of the residence, pushing her bicycle, about to leave. As soon as she saw me, she called out to the man who was doing gardening work behind her, saying "There's a customer." This man turned out to be the shop owner. He gestured for me to come in, so I opened the door on the left and entered the shop. The interior of the shop was still dark, as the lights were not on yet, and I was the first customer. The shop owner, who entered the shop after me, turned on the lights. The kitchen was at the back right of the small shop, with the cash register counter right in front of the entrance, and a variety of teas displayed behind the counter and in the back of the shop. There were 6 two-seater tables made of Hokkaido solid wood "Tamo" in the shop, with "MOHINI" engraved on the backrest of the chairs. I chose a table in the middle of the front wall, where I had a clear view of the interior. Jazz music was playing softly in the background. I quickly looked at the menu that the shop owner brought me. There were 16 types of straight teas served in a pot, but I decided to go for the rarely seen Chinese Tea Lapsang Souchong for 580 yen (tax included). For dessert, I chose the seasonal Pumpkin Tart for 400 yen (tax included) from the two available options. The shop owner warned me about the unique flavor of Lapsang Souchong, asking if I was okay with it. It had been over 10 years since I last had Lapsang Souchong, and its distinctive smoky flavor was quite appealing. It brought back fond memories of the time when I was into Chinese tea. The first cup was light in color and flavor, but the last cup was rich and had the best taste. The Pumpkin Tart was homemade and not too sweet, complementing the flavor of the Lapsang Souchong. I don't know if the shop owner made it himself or if it was made by the lady I saw earlier, but it was delicious. The next customer arrived a little after 12:10. Surprisingly, this female customer also ordered Lapsang Souchong. The shop owner was surprised, as this was quite rare. According to the shop owner, there are times when they don't serve Lapsang Souchong for a whole month due to no orders, so this was unusual. While looking at the teas displayed in the shop, the shop owner kindly explained them to me. He was particularly enthusiastic about the brewing process of the tea. The shop's leaflet also mentioned that the key points were to pour hot water into the cup first and gently slide the tea bag in, cover the cup with a lid and a cloth or towel, let it steep for 2 to 3 and a half minutes, and gently remove the tea bag when the time is up (without shaking or squeezing it). When I mentioned that I used a metal tea infuser instead of tea bags to brew tea, he strongly recommended using empty tea bags from the market to brew loose tea leaves. He explained that using a metal infuser would affect the tea's flavor due to the metal smell. The next morning, when I had my usual Lupicia flavored tea, I remembered the shop owner's advice about using a metal tea infuser and decided to switch to using empty tea bags.

The sound of the owner crushing ice for the customer who ordered iced tea can be heard in the background of the jazz music playing in the shop. It's a peaceful afternoon atmosphere. Order: - Mohini Straight Tea - 580 yen - Baked Cheesecake - 400 yen The hot tea is served in a proper pot after steeping for about 5 minutes, allowing you to enjoy the aroma of the tea leaves. The tea in the impressive pot is enough for 3 cups. It's not only delicious but also great value for money. The cups, pots, and saucers are all beautiful. Miscellaneous: The shop is located between Yotsuya and Yotsuya Sanchome, a little before Coffee Diary on the main street. The interior has about 6 small tables for 2 people. The walls are lined with tea cans, showcasing the owner's dedication. The friendly and attentive owner will share various information about tea. Although they are not currently offering it, there used to be a Small Afternoon Dish menu with sandwiches, scones, and pound cake. It sounds like a fun set.

I enjoyed a relaxing time savoring the carefully brewed tea and warm scones. The staff kindly taught me how to brew tea properly, making it a valuable and enjoyable experience. Thanks to them, I've been enjoying more tea time at home. When my home tea runs out, I'll definitely visit again for another cup of tea. I got so caught up in conversation that I forgot to take a picture of the scones.

First visit in June 2022 (No.3704) I had plans to have lunch at a spaghetti restaurant, but couldn't find the place, so I decided to explore other options first and ended up here. The restaurant is located a bit off the main street, but it can be seen from the street so as long as you don't miss it, it's easy to visit. I arrived around 11:40 on a weekday and there were no other customers. The shelves in the store are filled with various types of tea, with over 150 types of tea leaves available. To avoid a too lonely atmosphere with just tea, I ordered the following: Baked Cheesecake for 400 yen, which was delicious, and a pot of Darjeeling straight tea for 580 yen. The tea was served with a cover to keep it warm, enough for three cups. While I may not be an expert on tea like I am with Japanese tea, I found the tea to be delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I walked from Yotsuya to a little tea specialty shop located in a residential area. The shop is set up in the living room of a house tucked away in the neighborhood. On this hot day, I ordered flavored iced tea and was told it was not the right choice for a tea specialty shop. I ended up ordering Lotus iced tea, scones, and tarts. The scones were a bit hard to eat though. I would like to revisit during a season when I can enjoy tea from a pod. I was on my way to the Shinjuku Historical Museum. I hope to visit again in the future.

First-time visit to a shop located at the dead end of a residential street alley. Please be careful as Google Maps navigation may lead you through the private property of houses... * The shop is located in a three-story house in a residential area, with the approach road on the opposite side of the alley blocking access. No other customers when I entered. The inconvenient location seems to be affecting business... The shop specializes in authentic tea, offering over 150 varieties from different tea gardens and picking seasons. The owner enthusiastically gives lectures on how to brew tea. * Once he starts talking, he doesn't stop... I tried: * Price: 700 yen including tax - Moonlight (Darjeeling: Cashton Tea Estate, summer harvest) Here are my impressions: - The owner recommended summer harvest (second flush) tea, which I chose. - The tea leaves are said to be picked on a full moon night, adding a fantasy element to the story. - The tea was served after steeping for about 7 minutes in hot water. - Served in a pot (enough for 3 cups), it was a great deal in terms of quantity. - The tea had a light, sweet aroma with minimal bitterness, described as having a Muscatel flavor like "champagne of teas." Overall, it was a hidden gem of a shop. I will definitely visit again when I'm in the area. Highly recommended for tea lovers.

I went to Yotsuya Tax Office! Not for pleasure, but to get a receipt for full payment (laughs). I'll have a quick cup of tea at the satin tea shop MOHINI before heading back to the office! It's quite hidden from the main street, on a side road... Do you know if the tea shop MOHINI, specializing in tea, is open? Oh, the "Open" sign is up! I opened the door and entered, the lights are on (^O^) There are various teas lined up on the wall, it's amazing. I didn't know what to choose, so I asked the master for a good smelling one, without bitterness. He recommended the Dilmah from Sri Lanka for ¥630 - it's a pot that serves about 3 cups. I added milk to the second and third cups that were brewed stronger, and it was a beautiful red tea (*^▽^*) That's what tea is all about, right (laughs)? I enjoyed the refreshing aroma (*^◯^*) The background music was quiet JAZZ, and the shop was basically empty, so it was a relaxing tea break. When paying, I was told the key to brewing tea bags at home is to let it steep properly, and not to stir it too much because it will make the water colored.

It's a tea shop run by an older gentleman. During this time, due to COVID, there was no seating available, so I purchased tea leaves. He recommended tea leaves suitable for iced tea and gave me instructions on how to brew it. He was very enthusiastic and serious about his work, and I thought it was a great shop. When I made it at home, it turned out very delicious.

We went to a restaurant in Yotsuya for dinner. We arrived a little early, so we stopped by this shop. My wife had already arrived, so I was late. But it was quite difficult to find the place (laughs). It's in a residential area, so we got lost for a while. I had a Mohini and Darjeeling with a sharp taste served straight. It's a pot service, so you can enjoy 4 cups. The owner of this place has a great passion for tea. He was explaining it in detail to another customer. We also learned how to brew tea with tea bags. Thank you for the meal.

During the Shoji Hashi era in 2020, I often visited Mohini, but after its relocation, I didn't have many opportunities to go. Finally, I was able to visit. I tried the Summer Harvest / Seasonal Tart, made with DJ-97 from the Pugri tea garden. Mohini's trading partner, Eikokuya, is an importer that values quality over brand, but this time the DJ-97 was priced similarly to the main teas of famous tea gardens, indicating a high level of competition in the market. The floral notes were subtle, but the high-quality black tea had a hint of muscatel flavor. I paired it with the seasonal tart, which was made with apples this time. It's a classic menu item, but the meticulously layered thin slices of apple made this tart much tastier than those from regular cake shops. And on Day 2, I tried the Autumn Harvest / Small Afternoon Dish. I was torn between the DJ-285 from the Pugri tea garden that I had last time and the DJ-535 from the Castleton tea garden, but I chose the latter based on the master's strong recommendation. The balance of muscatel and floral notes that emerged from the tea leaves was truly wonderful. I paired it with the lunch set for the first time, which included scones, pound cake, sandwiches, and a fruit assortment. The meticulous preparation of these items, and the fact that they adjust the portion size for the 400 yen series menu items when you order a combination of three, made me grateful. It had been a while since I last visited Mohini, but the tea was still delicious as ever. While I don't dislike chai or flavored teas, once you get hooked on the deliciousness of straight tea, it's hard to go back. In addition to the careful preparation of the cakes, they also offer interesting menu items like the Afternoon Dish, and the master's vitality that doesn't show his age is amazing. It's a fascinating restaurant. I highly recommend making time to try it out.

The location of the shop is in a residential area, in a standalone house tucked away, so it might be a bit hard to find. It seems to be a combination of a home and a shop. I visited on a rainy weekday afternoon. I love black tea and sometimes crave it uncontrollably... On this day, I was determined to have black tea! I searched for a shop on Tabelog and found out that it is a black tea specialty shop. There were no customers, which made me hesitate a bit, but I decided to enter. There was a variety of black teas lined up for sale at the entrance. I was seated at a table where I could see outside through the window at the back. There were so many options on the black tea menu, I was struggling to decide... After much consideration, I ordered a black tea. Yes, I forgot the name of the tea. (^^;) Unfortunately... As it was served in a pot, I wanted to add milk later, so I chose a black tea that would go well with milk. Since I was very hungry, I also ordered the Small Afternoon Dish for 750 yen. While the black tea was brewing, the shop owner explained in great detail about black tea, how to brew it, and so on. I thought they would say that tea bags are a no-go, but they mentioned that depending on how you brew it, you can still enjoy it, and it doesn't have to be just tea leaves and a pot. Since I was the only customer at that time, the owner seemed to enjoy chatting or have a generous service spirit, and talked a lot with me. The satisfaction level of the "Small Afternoon Dish" on the menu was very high! Highly recommended♫ It included handmade scones, pound cake, homemade jam, fruits, and sandwiches. The sweets were delicious, and the fruits were also very tasty♫ And surprisingly, the sandwiches that I didn't have high expectations for were very, very delicious...♡ It wasn't a packed sandwich, but two types of sandwiches with thin layers of fillings, ham, and cucumber. I really liked them! They were so delicious~. It had a nostalgic feeling, but I felt like the deliciousness was calculated. I was savoring it, thinking that it was probably carefully crafted deliciousness. If they were selling these on my way to work in the morning, I would probably buy them quite often. Writing about it now makes me crave it again~! The set, the taste, and the price were quite reasonable. Enjoying a leisurely cup of black tea brewed for you in this relaxed space, along with a delicious meal, and savoring the black tea slowly. It's so nice, if there was a place like this nearby, it would be so happy♫ I like making reservations in advance and having afternoon tea at a hotel lounge, but being able to spend this time spontaneously in the midst of everyday life is also great (*^^*) I had a valuable and wonderful time. Thank you for the meal♫

On this day, I had a little trouble finding my way to Mohini, a tea specialty shop in Yotsuya. It's tucked away in a quiet spot, not facing the street, giving it a cozy, homey feel. The shop is filled with a wide variety of teas from around the world, ranging from Japan to China, India, South America, and Europe. I tried the Red Thunder, a Darjeeling tea from the Gopaldhara estate in India. It had a rich nutty aroma, a balanced taste of sweetness and a hint of bitterness, with a lingering sweetness at the end. I also had the Baked Cheesecake, which was creamy and delicious. The owner, a knowledgeable and friendly middle-aged man, shared interesting information about teas with me. Overall, it was a delightful experience.

Since there was no one there, I had a one-hour lecture on red tea. I'm a good listener, so the conversation didn't end quickly. But it was delicious.

It was quietly located in a residential street. The tea was served at the perfect temperature. The scones are recommended for food. :)

A fun and cost-effective restaurant for those who are particular about their dining experience.