Kyoto is the land of matcha green tea – matcha lattes and ice cream are just the tip of the iceberg, because now matcha pizza is on the menu!
It wasn’t long ago that matcha green tea on a pizza would have been blasphemy, but times have changed. It turns out the bitter but soothing taste of matcha can go on just about anything, including savory foods!
Matcha Pizza with a view!
I visited Itoh Kyuemon cafe just around the corner from Kyoto’s famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
The outdoor seating area is absolutely magnificent, allowing you to enjoy your food and drink in the serene atmosphere of a traditional Japanese Zen garden.
Now onto the pizza! From the very dough itself which had a distinctive green color to the topping of matcha powder over a cheesy, tomato base, it was a hybrid combination of international delicacies.
I quite liked the combination of bitter green tea powder with the tomato cheese flavors. It was like having a delicious pizza with a little extra nutritional value.
Matcha Float, Latte, and more!
Of course, Itoh Kyuemon is more than just a matcha pizza parlor, but also features a vast menu of matcha green tea desserts.
Their highlight items seemed to be matcha parfaits, but I opted for a standard matcha latte float.
The milk was extremely fresh and the green tea flavors were rich and strong. Though if I were to be honest, the prices were a little much for the drinks themselves, but well worth it for the garden seating!
A Perfect Afternoon~
All-in-all, it’s definitely worth visiting Itoh Kyuemon cafe at least once if you’re here in Kyoto on vacation. It has a wonderful Japanese Zen vibe while also letting you try rare matcha green tea-flavored foods. Definitely an amazing time you’ll remember with your loved ones!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!