* AI Translated
The highly anticipated collaboration menu between Uji Matcha specialty store Gion Tsujiri and Saint Marc Cafe is back again this year! Starting Friday, June 20, 2025, these special items are available at Saint Marc Cafe locations nationwide. This year, in addition to the popular "Premium Choco Cro," Saint Marc is introducing a richly flavored matcha smoothie and parfait. A FUN! JAPAN editor got an exclusive, in-depth sneak peek and is here to bring you a detailed taste test report!
* All prices include tax.
Matcha Fans Rejoice! The 5th Collaboration with Kyoto's "Gion Tsujiri" This Year
The tasting event took place at a Saint Marc Cafe test kitchen located in Tokyo. The space, equipped with the same cooking tools and laid out just like a real cafe, is the forefront of Saint Marc Cafe's development, where countless popular menu items have been born.
This collaboration with "Gion Tsujiri," which has been highly acclaimed every year, is now celebrating its fifth anniversary. Matcha's popularity has soared globally in recent years, and we're sure many of our FUN! JAPAN users are big fans too! Among matcha brands, "Gion Tsujiri" stands out as a long-established company founded in 1860, boasting 20 stores across 9 countries outside of Japan, making it a truly global brand. Knowing that their Uji matcha is generously used, my excitement as a matcha lover is through the roof!
The Developer Reveals: "Here's What Makes This Year's Matcha Collaboration Different!"
First up, a Saint Marc Cafe product development representative gave us a detailed introduction to this year's collaborative menu. Without a doubt, the biggest news is the addition of the "Kyo-Matcha Smoothie" and "Kyo-Matcha Parfait" to the lineup.
Saint Marc Cafe is known for its strong commitment to making all its bread and sandwiches, including the famous "Choco Cro," by hand in-store. This "handmade in-store" spirit is also evident in this year's collaboration menu! They even meticulously prepare the Uji matcha sauce and Uji matcha jelly for the smoothies and parfaits right in their cafes. And of course, the "Premium Choco Cro Kyo-Matcha" will be served freshly baked. During the tasting, we even saw a demonstration of the fragrant Premium Choco Cro being baked, allowing us to truly appreciate their dedication.
Time to Taste! How Does This Year's "Premium Choco Cro Kyo-Matcha" Taste?
We started our tasting with the "Premium Choco Cro Kyo-Matcha" (390 yen). As expected from a freshly baked item, it had a wonderfully crispy texture.
Inside, we found a generous amount of rich, gooey Uji matcha chocolate and Uji matcha cream. It wasn't just sweet; the elegant bitterness characteristic of matcha spread delightfully, creating a flavor that would impress any matcha lover.
By the way, what do you think those small white and pink grains on top are? They're actually "Bubu Arare"! (colorful rice crackers) Kyoto is famous for "bubuzuke" (ochazuke, or tea over rice), and they've used this as a topping. Not only does it add a cute touch to the appearance, but when baked, the arare becomes even more fragrant. This, combined with the crispy pastry and the rich matcha chocolate and cream, added a wonderful accent to both the texture and flavor. It's truly a "premium" item, showcasing attention to every detail.
Visually Stunning! The Flavorful "Kyo-Matcha Smoothie"
Next up, we tried this year's new product, the "Kyo-Matcha Smoothie" (720 yen). Just look at the beautiful gradation created by the Uji matcha sauce drizzled around the rim of the glass and the vivid green of the smoothie! They really focused on making it "photogenic."
You might think it would be too sweet with soft-serve ice cream, but one sip will tell you there's no need to worry. While it has a rich, authentic matcha flavor, the overall sweetness is perfectly balanced, making it so delicious you'll want another sip right away.
Saint Marc's soft-serve ice cream itself is already delicious, with a strong milky flavor that, needless to say, pairs perfectly with matcha. You can order the smoothie without soft-serve, but we definitely recommend getting it with!
A Luxurious Array of Japanese Delights! The "Kyo-Matcha Parfait"
Lastly, we enjoyed the "Kyo-Matcha Parfait" (720 yen). Like the "Kyo-Matcha Smoothie," this was also added to the lineup this year. It's a visually stunning parfait that not only boasts the deep flavor of matcha but also features a luxurious arrangement of traditional Japanese sweets.
First, let's talk about the dark green matcha jelly, handmade in-store. It lives up to its rich appearance with an intense matcha flavor and subtle sweetness. This balance makes it an excellent match for the accompanying red beans! The pleasant bitterness of the matcha and the gentle sweetness of the red beans create a beautiful harmony in your mouth.
What's more, the chewy mochi dango on a skewer adds a delightful touch to the parfait. This parfait is sure to satisfy not only matcha lovers but also fans of traditional Japanese sweets.
Gion Tsujiri Matcha Collaboration is for a Limited Time Only
All the products we introduced today truly allowed us to savor the full charm of Gion Tsujiri's Uji matcha. You can enjoy these special items for a limited time only, from Friday, June 20, 2025, to Thursday, July 24, 2025. Matcha lovers absolutely must not miss this opportunity!
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