How to Enjoy Authentic Uji Matcha Latte at Morihan Tea Square, Osaka

This time, I visited Morihan Tea Square in the Hankyu Umeda Main Store in Osaka and indulged in an Uji Matcha Latte!

source: Morihan Official Home Page

Let me tell you about the incredible taste and aroma of “authentic,” freshly prepared matcha in my very first food review.

The tea farmers, retailers, and tea houses that support Japan’s traditional tea culture are facing challenging times. One way we can help is simply by enjoying tea ourselves. And, I believe, spreading its charm to others is just as important, don’t you think?

Authentic Uji Matcha at Morihan Tea Square, Osaka

I recently visited Morihan Tea Square Umeda, located on the B2 floor of the Hankyu Umeda Main Store in Osaka.

This venerable Uji tea brand, Morihan, offers a highly curated selection of just three takeout options! There’s the “Renewed Morihan Green Tea,” the “Matcha Latte made with freshly whisked matcha,” and the “Soft serve ice cream with an extra pour of matcha.” Even with only these three choices, customers often find themselves struggling to decide!

My goals for this visit were twofold:

1. To savor Morihan’s recommended matcha drink, the “Uji Matcha Latte.”
2. To get a look at Morihan’s recommended teapot, “CHASTA.”

source: Morihan Official Home Page

I arrived at the store around 3:30 PM.

The previous customers, a family of four, had just picked up their green teas and seemed to be heading to the eat-in space on the same floor.

For my Uji Matcha Latte, the staff actually prepared the matcha right in front of me using the very teapot I was interested in, the “CHASTA.”

五感で味わう 急須 CHASTA ( チャスタ ) | プレゼント ギフト 透明急須 透明 急須 茶器 おしゃれ 洗いやすい 日本製 国産 オシャレ モダン 和モダン クリア 茶器 トライタン 割れにくい 取っ手無し 取手なし 漂白 網 茶こし 小さめ 割れない急須 きゅうす 茶道具 価格：3,300円（税込、送料別) (2025/6/19時点) 楽天で購入

【茶器/茶道具　茶筅（茶筌・茶せん）】　茶筅　八拾本立（八十本立/80本立）　谷村翠華園　谷村彌三郎作又は竹栄堂（久保省三）　国産　奈良高山製品　 cyasenn ちゃせん ちゃ チャセン しゃかしゃか シャカシャカ 抹茶 まっちゃ maccha matcha 粉末 茶道 価格：5,218円（税込、送料別) (2025/6/19時点) 楽天で購入

The young female staff member, with excellent posture and graceful movements, provided a wonderful example for me on how to whisk tea myself.

Since the floor wasn’t too crowded, I got permission from the staff to enjoy my Uji Matcha Latte right at the counter.

The taste was absolutely delightful, and what’s more, the refreshing sensation after drinking it was simply irresistible – it felt like it cleared my head completely! As the flyer suggests, the Uji Matcha Latte offers three ways to enjoy it, giving it a great value.

First, I savored the rich matcha flavor from the top layer. As I drank it, my body felt light and airy, and the refreshing aftertaste was incomparable to any tea I usually drink.

Next, it was time to “mix the milk and matcha to enjoy the richness.” Be careful here; if you don’t mix it well enough, you might end up with the unfortunate situation of “drinking powdery milk.” I actually skipped this stage and…

I highly recommend the final, “super sweet” way to drink it!

1️⃣ First, add one complimentary gum syrup packet, mix well, and drink this “sweet matcha latte”…

2️⃣ Then, add another gum syrup packet for a “super-sweet matcha latte”! It’s surprisingly sweet, yet you’re left with a strange sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, feeling like you’ve consumed something incredibly good for you.

source: Morihan Official Home Page

While I was enjoying my matcha latte at the counter, one by one, foreign-looking male customers stopped by the shop, pointed at the menu, and ordered green tea.

It truly reaffirmed for me that tea culture is widely recognized as a “Cool Japan” cultural icon. Come to think of it, it’s famous that Apple founder Steve Jobs was also an admirer of the tea ceremony and Zen, isn’t it?

Morihan Tea Square Umeda isn’t a place where staff greet you in traditional attire or where you sip tea from ornate, expensive bowls. Think of it more as a “matcha stand bar.” It’s even more casual than Starbucks, allowing you to simply and purely enjoy the deliciousness of premium matcha, free from the formalities of the tea ceremony.

While there seem to be matcha cafes all over the world, I don’t believe any of you have yet experienced the refreshing feeling after drinking the “Uji Matcha Latte” served at Morihan Tea Square Umeda. So, if you ever find yourself in Osaka, please make your way to Morihan Tea Square on the B2 floor of Hankyu Department Store.

What Makes Morihan Special?

Established in 1836, Morihan has walked hand-in-hand with the history of Japanese tea. We continuously strive to produce high-quality Japanese tea, building upon tradition with innovative creativity.

Award-Winning History

Morihan has been honored with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the Uji Tea Competition for:

• 2021: Gyokuro (premium green tea)
• 2022: Gyokuro and Sencha (green tea)
• 2023: Sencha

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Collaboration with LAWSON

In May 2025, Morihan collaborated with LAWSON, a convenience store chain renowned for its delicious sweets. Morihan-produced matcha sweets and matcha-flavored bread were sold as limited-time offerings in stores across Japan. I even bought the melon bread, and the moment I opened the bag, the refreshing aroma of matcha was simply incredible – truly a testament to Morihan’s long-standing tradition!

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Introducing “Kiku-no-Sono” – Premium Matcha for Tea Ceremonies

Morihan products, from this traditional Japanese tea house, are exclusively available through Morihan’s official online store in Japan. There, you’ll find a wide range of matcha, from affordable options for “practice sessions” to high-end varieties used in actual “tea ceremonies.”

Among these, my top recommendation is “Kiku-no-Sono” (菊の園).

I discovered and purchased this specific matcha after it was recommended to me by staff at Morihan Tea Square Umeda, where I enjoyed the Uji Matcha Latte. This exquisite product is highly praised by tea lovers because it’s an “ochaseki-yo” (for tea ceremonies) matcha that can be used by both Omotesenke and Urasenke tea ceremony schools, yet it’s not excessively expensive. Furthermore, it boasts minimal bitterness and astringency, combined with a superior aroma, thanks to a blend chosen by Morihan’s top-tier tea masters – some of the best in Japan.

【贈り物 ギフト】宇治抹茶 菊の園（きくのその） 30g缶入 30g箱入 | 京都 お土産 抹茶 粉末 缶 箱 茶道 お茶席 京都 老舗 茶舗 本格 本格的 石臼 石臼挽 濃茶 お濃茶 宇治茶 お茶 茶 おちゃ お祝い ギフト プレゼント 日本茶 粉末茶 おいしい お祝い 内祝い 祖母 祖父 森半 価格：1,684円（税込、送料別) (2025/6/19時点) 楽天で購入

How to Buy Kiku-no-Sono from Outside Japan

As I mentioned, you won’t find Morihan’s “Kiku-no-Sono” matcha on Amazon. This exceptional matcha is available directly from Morihan’s official online store in Japan.

For our international readers, buying from a Japanese website might seem a bit daunting due to the language barrier and shipping limitations. But don’t worry, you can still get your hands on this fantastic matcha!

source: Morihan Official Home Page

Notice：Only the product in the small green box is currently available for purchase. This box contains 30g of matcha sealed in an aluminum pouch.

Please be aware of the following important notes from Morihan’s official website:

1. Due to limited stock, purchases are restricted to a maximum of 3 items per person.
2. If multiple orders are placed by the same individual, we reserve the right to cancel the orders.

Step-by-Step Guide for International Buyers

Since Morihan’s official store doesn’t typically ship directly overseas, you’ll need to use a package forwarding service. This service acts as your proxy in Japan, receiving your order and then shipping it to your address anywhere in the world.

Here’s a general outline of how to do it, using Rakuten Global Express as an example, since Morihan’s official store is on Rakuten:

1. Sign Up for a Forwarding Service:
   • Register with a reliable package forwarding service like Rakuten Global Express. They will provide you with a unique Japanese shipping address. Think of this as your personal receiving address in Japan.
2. Order Kiku-no-Sono from Morihan’s Rakuten Store:
   • Go to the Morihan Kiku-no-Sono product page on Rakuten.
   • Even though the page is in Japanese, you can often use your browser’s built-in translation feature (like Google Translate in Chrome) to get a rough idea of the content.
   • Add “Kiku-no-Sono” to your cart.
   • During checkout, enter the Japanese shipping address provided by your forwarding service as the delivery address. This is crucial!
   • Proceed with payment using an international credit card or other accepted methods.
3. Your Forwarding Service Receives and Ships:
   • Once Morihan ships your order to the Japanese address, your forwarding service will notify you of its arrival.
   • You’ll then log into your forwarding service account, select your package(s), choose your preferred international shipping method (e.g., EMS, DHL, FedEx), and pay the international shipping fees. They may also offer services like consolidation (combining multiple packages to save on shipping) or package repacking.
   • The forwarding service will then ship the matcha directly to your home address outside of Japan.

Why It’s Worth the Effort

While it requires a few extra steps, “Kiku-no-Sono” is truly worth the effort. It’s a high-quality matcha suitable for authentic tea ceremonies (Omotesenke and Urasenke styles), yet it’s reasonably priced. As I experienced, its balanced flavor, low bitterness, and delightful aroma—crafted by one of Japan’s leading tea masters—make it an exceptional choice for anyone looking to enjoy genuine Uji matcha at home.

I really hope you enjoy Morihan’s traditional matcha product “Kikuno-sono”.