JPN: Tea House @ Kinkaku-Ji (茶所@金閣寺)

Red bean sweets with gold flakes!

I had the chance to visit the Temple of the Golden Pavilion when I was in Kyoto. Having the top two stories covered with pure gold, the pavilion is integrated within the verdant landscape in an artistic way.


After looking around, I stopped at the tea house to sample the tea set offered.


Tea Set ¥500 (~S$6.35)
Red Bean Sweets - Taste: 8.5/10
Matcha - Taste: 7.5/10

Following the art of the Japanese tea ceremony, I ate the sweets first before touching the bowl of matcha (Japanese fine powder green tea). Filled with addictively sweet red bean paste, it gave a nice powdery feel on the tongue. Upon sipping the hot matcha, I could tell that the aroma and bitterness were there. However, it was a bit diluted.


At that moment, a closer look on the sweets revealed that the sweets, adorned with gold flakes, had a figure of the pavilion carved on it.


I also took a picture of the luscious inside of the sweets. Anyway, if you're interested, the lady over there is more than willing to informally teach you how to enjoy your sweets and matcha in the ceremonial way. You can also buy the sweets to bring home.

Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Ambience: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Overall: 8/10

Given the time in the future, I'd like to visit the temple during winter.. Pika's advice: If you come during summer and can't really stand the heat, grab a nice bowl of green tea with milk shaved ice around the area! Other than that, you can also dispense a cup of Fanta melon from one of the vending machines there!



Tea House @ Kinkaku-ji
(茶所@金閣寺)

1 Kinkaku-ji cho
Kita, Kyoto
Japan
(Daily: 9.00am - 5.00pm)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)

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