MANDARACHA - 曼荼羅茶 — Restaurant in Kyoto

my favourite hidden tea gem in kyoto: tea studio mandaracha 🌱🍵

speaking of highlights in kyoto (and there were so many) one experience stands above the rest: my visit to tea studio mandaracha ❤️

i first heard about the place through tea groups and couldn’t be more grateful for the recommendation. expectations were already high, given all the praise — but mandaracha still managed to exceed them.

the studio is run by alex, a former engineer who first fell in love with tea in china and later in japan. with a typically precise, almost technical approach, he has been studying, sourcing, and experimenting with japanese teas for years. but what makes the place shine is not just alex’s knowledge — it’s his openness and passion. he answers every question with enthusiasm, shares stories about the estates he works with and brings rare teas back into circulation.

even his tea card impresses: maps, graphs, and concise notes on japan’s tea geography — a thoughtful little tool that helps you taste with both brain and senses. in japan they say 神は細部に宿る kami wa saibu ni yadoru – “god dwells in the details” 🌱🙏

for my session today, i was delighted to find a red gaba tea. im big fan of gaba but usually don’t encounter it very often, especially currently in japan! it’s a pity cause gaba tea itself has a fascinating story. it was invented in japan in the 1980s by dr. tsushida to create a tea rich in gamma-aminobutyric acid (gaba) - a natural compound that calms the nervous system, lowers blood pressure and supports relaxation. the method involves processing tea leaves in a nitrogen-rich, oxygen-free environment, which encourages gaba to accumulate in the leaves.

surprisingly though japan pioneered the technique, gaba never took off domestically. japanese tea culture is still dominated by green teas and gaba from green varieties doesn’t develop the same richness as in oolong or red teas. instead the technique found new life in taiwan, where gaba oolongs became popular and are still widely produced today. also vietnam slowly picks up and last gaba i showed you, was made there with taiwanese know-how ❤️

alex’s japanese red gaba from shizuoka is also very special. it’s rare, complex and deeply soothing — with layers of taste. i honestly lost count of how many brews i had (around ten for sure!) and by the end i felt like i’d had both an evening satori and a feast for the senses. small hidden paradise - in a cup 😁🙏

the gaba and few other small gift samples i took also with me for my growing tea collection - looking forward to taste all of those too.

so yes; if you are tea lover in kyoto mandaracha - is the must see place. can’t recommend enough - my kyoto tea highlight...

"The teahouse in Kyoto, MANDARACHA, a place where you can experience the bliss of life"

A place that cheers me up every time I go there. In my life so far, it has always been a cafe. These days, it is exclusively at MANDARACHA, a Japanese tea house in Higashiyama ward, Kyoto.

The owner is French. Many of the staff are also foreigners. The wonderful thing about this teahouse is the hospitality of the owner and the staff, not to mention the wonderful drinks and sweets they serve, and the wonderful space. I am a person with special spiritual abilities, and every time I visit this place, I am healed with all my might. I also enjoy a wonderful cup of tea that fills my soul to the brim, enjoy a pleasant, fleeting conversation, and always leave the teahouse feeling invigorated and refreshed.

MANDARACHA is located near Kenninji Temple, a famous tea temple in Kyoto. The store is not very spacious, but it is just right for me. To be able to visit this teahouse every time is a true blessing in life.

To all the people of the world who visit Kyoto, please visit this teahouse, which is full of clean air and who love and cherish the culture of Japan and Japanese tea more than the Japanese do. Here you will find a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, warm hospitality, wonderful and delicious tea and food, and above all, a truly relaxing and wonderful time.

MANDARACHA in Kyoto is one of my favorite places in Japan. I hope that many more wonderful people from all over the world will visit them in the future.

Lastly, I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to the owner and all the staff who are always so kind to me!

Thank you for...

5 stars amazing experience!!

We got recommended by a French tea seller in Japan and we absolutely love it. The French owner Alex is fluent in Japanese and has deep knowledge about tea. He taught my husband so much about where the tea is coming from and what tree/plant is originated from. From my husband, who is quite picky about the tea, I’m happy to hear that he said he loves it. The owner also provides vegan desserts which surprised us because it’s a rare find in Japan and the quality is high. We are really amazed that he is able to make vegan crème brûlée herself as well!

For me, I’m super happy to meet Shih-ting, the Taiwanese staff, who also knows lots about the Taiwanese oolong tea. She introduced the differences of each patiently. She provided great services and refilled tea 3-4 times for me. This is the first time in Japan that I can truly taste the genuine Taiwanese oolong tea and flavor really resembles the tea my uncle back in Taiwan. It actually eased my home sick a little bit. I also had a handmade vegan moon cake that I think is a pretty special treat.

Thank you both for this fantastic experience, we were really happy and we would definitely love to visit this beautiful tea house again...