Traditional Japanese tea purveyor opens shop in NYC
A Japanese green tea manufacturer with a history stretching back 300 years opened its first overseas outlet in New York City. Hailing from Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, Ippodo specializes in artisanal green tea from Kyoto and the surrounding area. Some of the teas on sale include Sencha, Bancha, powdered Matcha and Gyokuro, the latter one available in many grades, including the finest variety called Tenka-ichi, with a $91 price tag for a 50-gram bag. A range of traditional tea accessories and matcha kits complements the tea range. Product demos, tea tastings and a take-way service are all part of this authentic Japanese tea experience. Expert staff are flown in from Kyoto to help customers discover the culture of Japanese tea. Ippodo is co-located with a Japanese restaurant in a townhouse in Murray Hill. The company operates dozens of outlets throughout Japan.