Ok, maybe not 'heaven' but pretty blissful if you're a fan of matcha tea, AND as long as you don't mind waiting in line for probably 30-60 minutes. Tsujiri is a Japanese brand established in 1860 in Kyoto, Japan that opened their first North American store in Toronto, so it was no wonder that there were long lines! Their menu is also quite diverse, offering Japanese tea beverages (you can get a variety of beverages that are not matcha), floats, soft serve ice cream, sundaes, shaved ice/kakigori, and pastries made using matcha tea.
After a 30 minute wait, we ordered a few things to share...and after another 20 minutes got our orders.
A quick run-down:
Soft serve matcha ice cream...the matcha flavour is nice and strong and the aftertaste is slightly bitter but the kind of bitter that is expected and enjoyed...the best in Toronto.
抹茶冰期淋...抹茶味道夠濃和很好. 後味有點苦味可是這種苦是享受的種苦味. 我覺得是多倫多最棒的抹茶冰期淋.
Matcha chiffon cake sundae...chiffon cake was light but couldn't compare to the soft serve...there are corn flakes layered near the bottom.
Matcha cream puff...filled with whipped cream and matcha cream, enjoyed and at a good price point.
Matcha latte...good, but I would have preferred stronger matcha flavour....milk was nicely frothed.
Matcha shaved ice/kakigori...very good, the syrup drizzled on the ice was top notch...but quite expensive.
Mochi/shiratama with black sesame...chewy, but I thought it was just okay and something that can be made at home.
They offer a range of drinks that include houjicha and yuzu tea that I'm sure to try in the future, but most people were getting the ice cream, sundaes and shaved ice...they are fairly unique and are soooo instagramable that it's not a surprise people are willing to shell out $8 for a cup. If you look at menus in other parts of the world (e.g. Taiwan), when you do the $ conversion, the prices are the same so it's not like they are overcharging North Americans, that is just what it is priced at. And judging from the flavour of the matcha soft serve, you do get quality.
The staff were trying to be as efficient as they could and would tell people in line when something ran out so you'd have time to come up with a backup if that said item was what you wanted originally.
TSUJIRI
"Tsujiri assures you of the highest quality Japanese teas and sweets that create a more tasteful ambience and a moment of tranquility in your life"
- tagline on their takeout bag
I would like to think there is 'a moment of tranquility' when you sip or eat whatever tea product it is, but the experience could be less than tranquil when you have hoards of people crammed into the narrow space. Seating...almost non-existent. Despite this, I would definitely come back!
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| Waiting in line to order... |
Tsujiri
147 Dundas St. W. (West of Bay St.)
Toronto, ON M5G 1C5
Why the occasional duplicate sentence written in Chinese?
One of my goals starting in 2016 is to improve my Chinese language skills so this is one way I'm going about it.
Please comment if you noticed I've totally messed up! Thanks!
Please comment if you noticed I've totally messed up! Thanks!
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