food and drink: kyoto specialties
Matcha @ Matcha & CO, Unsplash
EATING AND DRINKING: KYOTO SPECIALTIES
Matcha
As Kyoto is known as the home of the tea ceremony, the city is definitely a great place to enjoy matcha tea. You can try this delicious tea in various locations from the touristy areas to the calmer temple grounds. Matcha is known for its intense flavor and positive health benefits. This highest grade of Japanese green tea is made from tea leaves that have been grown under special conditions, and then dried and grinded carefully to achieve the perfect flavor, nutritional content and color. If you are curious to learn more about this traditional drink, we have a more detailed matcha blog post!
Traditional tea ceremony at a private temple
Have you dreamed of joining a traditional Japanese tea ceremony? TOKI offers you an unique opportunity to privately held tea ceremony within one of Kyoto's cultural treasures, a private temple that was established in the 1600s. We provide you a VIP access to the beautiful temple, which is inaccessible to the public. The host of the tea ceremony will be held by an individual whose family has been practicing tea ceremony under one of the most celebrated tea masters for over 100 years. Read more about this once-in-a-lifetime experience of enjoying excellent Japanese hospitality here.
Vibrant green matcha tea @ TOKI
You can enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at a private temple @ TOKI
Traditional Japanese sweets, wagashi @ TOKI
Kyoto wagashi
In Kyoto you can find a great variety of wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets. Popular wagashi in the city are for example namagashi, which are small balls of rice flour, filled with sweet bean paste. There are various versions of namagashi that vary between the stickiness and moisture. Most of the Kyoto wagashi include anko (sweet red bean paste), and are often served to balance the bitterness of the matcha tea. Some sweets also have extra ingredients such as fruits, nuts, and jellies.
Wagashi making at a private temple
Would you like to make the traditional wagashi sweets by yourself? Look no further, TOKI provides you a chance to create your own wagashi confectioneries and enjoy them in a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto! You will discover the charm of wagashi while learning to create your own with one of Kyoto's most respected wagashi shops. This experience is perfect for those who would like to understand the spirit and fascination that wagashi holds and learn Japanese mannerisms. Read more about this unique experience here.
Yatsuhashi
Yatsuhashi sweets are crisp and slightly hard cookies in the shape of ‘brown roof tiles’. These highly popular Kyoto souvenirs are made from sugar, rice flour, and Japanese cinnamon (nikki).
Boiled Tofu (Yudofu)
A famous dish from Kyoto, which is made of only water, tofu, kelp, and dipping sauce. Yudofu was born in Kyoto out of shojin ryori, a vegetarian cuisine that was originally derived from the dietary restrictions of Buddhist monks. When eating the yudofu, the kelp is laid on the bottom of a stewpot, after which the water and tofu are added and heated together. The tofu is then scooped out and dipped into the sauce, which often is vinaigrette based on the ‘ponzu’ soy sauce.
Obanzai
Obanzai is a traditional home-cooking meal of the Kyoto region, which consists of various smaller dishes, including fresh local vegetables. As Kyoto is famous for its fresh vegetables, this dish is definitely worth a try!
Saba sushi
The saba (mackerel) sushi is a traditional sushi dish in the city. Originally it was made of salt-covered fresh mackerel, and eaten only on special occasions locally. Nowadays the mackerel is marinated in vinegar and then pressed with rice to create this special type of sushi. Saba sushi is enjoyed for its combination of the sourness of vinegar and fattiness of the fish, which makes the flavor tasty and unique.
Nishin Soba
Nishin soba became popular at the end of the Edo period. It is a dish that includes soba (buckwheat) noodles, shiitake mushrooms, herring filets, sugar, soy sauce, dashi, mirin, and sake. Nishin soba can be enjoyed both warm or cold, depending on the season. Kyoto has lots of soba restaurants for the visitors to try this delicious dish!
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