Today was the long-awaited event at Yurakuen, where you can buy their special green roasted tea. Yurakuen only sells this tea at their main store and at Takashimaya's Taste Selection event. While the main store is famous for its roasted tea available only on Saturdays, another specialty is the green roasted tea, exclusive to Takashimaya's event. The tea is lightly roasted to create a refreshing and delicate flavor. Originally, it was prepared by geishas in Gion to serve to customers. I learned that the tea is lightly roasted to avoid interfering with the taste of food. I had the chance to sample some teas, all of which were light and flavorful without being overpowering. I usually find gyokuro too strong, but the gyokuro from Yurakuen had a rich flavor with a refreshing finish, making it very enjoyable. After dinner, I tried their new tea, which had a beautiful light green color and a refreshing taste, perfect for early summer. The prices were reasonable, with the green roasted tea priced at around 1300 yen for 200g, the special roasted tea at around 1600 yen for 100g, and the new tea at 1000 yen for 50g or 2000 yen for 100g. The Takashimaya events will be held in Osaka on June 9th and in Nihonbashi Takashimaya in Tokyo from May 31st for a week. I recommend trying their teas even if just for the samples.

The other day, I visited the main store near the city hall for no particular reason. I was mostly drawn in by the can of bird and animal caricatures, it was a casual interest. Normally, I work on weekdays, so I visited on a Saturday and I was the only customer. The service was polite, they even served me tea (which was delicious), and they explained everything to me in detail. I ended up buying the Hojicha Kōetsu and went home. There was also a Hojicha that is only sold at the main store on Saturdays, but I chose the Kōetsu which is available anytime. When I got home, although I usually only drink coffee, with the autumn chill in the air, I decided to make some hojicha. As soon as I opened the can and cut open the vacuum pack, a deep, delightful aroma filled my nostrils. I could feel my facial muscles relaxing. I thought to myself, "Is hojicha always this fragrant?" The hojicha I made in a 100-yen store teapot was surprisingly delicious. The encounter with Kōetsu was a blissful experience. Since then, I have been bringing hot Kōetsu in my water bottle to work every day. The 86g can was gone in no time. I suddenly felt the loss of Kōetsu. So, on my way home from work, I bought some premium hojicha from another famous store at Otabi Kyoto (100g for 540 yen), but I was shocked by the difference in taste. (Is it bad that I can't enjoy the premium hojicha from here? I panicked a bit.) The deliciousness of Yūzakuraen's tea has made it hard for me to enjoy other teas. The next day, I found out that they are also available at Takashimaya, so I went to Yūzakuraen at Takashimaya B1 on my way home from work. This time, I bought the bagged Kōetsu (90g for 864 yen) and returned home relieved. This way, I can buy it anytime on my way home from work, not just on Saturdays! Thank you, Takashimaya. I'll have to replace my 100-yen store teapot because the important aroma of Kōetsu leaks from the lid when pouring. I'll be visiting often.