nana’s green tea, the well-known Japanese green tea and matcha specialist, is opening its second Hong Kong branch on 21 June 2024, at the the vibrant new shopping hub THE SOUTHSIDE in Wong Chuk Hang.
Showcasing the contemporary Japanese lifestyle and mindful hospitality spirit of omotenashi, the green tea specialist will offer a charmingly sweet collection of specialities, signature parfaits, soft-serve ice cream, and other classic Japanese desserts and light savoury dishes.
To celebrate the opening, nana green tea has a sato-Nishiki cherry dessert, which is available until 10 July 2024, and a trio of yuzu creations will also be on offer starting 1 July 2024.
Brought to Hong Kong by Cafe Deco Group, nana’s green tea is one of the largest matcha-branded café chains in Japan. The new Southern District outlet extends the total count to 83 branches – 70 across the homeland and a further 13 internationally, in Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, the United States and Canada, including the 2 in Hong Kong.
“We are delighted to expand our reach to Hong Kong Island with the opening of a second café and bring more smiles to the faces of our valued Hong Kong customers,” says nana’s green tea founder Mr Kazuto Kutami. “Through our delightful offerings and modern take on Japanese tradition and the tea ceremony, we are committed to expressing the true meaning of Japanese hospitality and food culture.”
Hailed as the rubies of summer, juicy Sato-Nishiki cherries from Yamagata Prefecture shine in Cherry Tea Jelly Delight (HK$68), served only at THE SOUTHSIDE until 10 July 2024 to mark its opening.
The sweet-sour essence of the prized shiny red fruit infuses a generous scoop of cherry sorbet, which tops layers of soft serve, cream cheese, sponge cake and whipping cream. Tangy black tea jelly is found at the bottom, and fresh cherries decorate this joyful, limited-time treat.
Three new yuzu concoctions add to the seasonal fruity pleasures are launching on 1 July 2024. The aromatic, lemony-lime Japanese citrus balances floral sweetness with a hint of bitterness, making it a refreshing favourite in the heat of summer.
Yuzu jelly, jam and sorbet are all at the heart of Yuzu Parfait (HK$108), Japan’s classic dessert full of other indulgences – warabimochi, whipped cream, sponge cake, genmai cornflakes and vanilla soft serve, topped by fresh mint. Yuzu Soft Serve (HK$45) is a must for lovers of Japan’s characteristic soft and creamy ice cream. Presented in a sweet, crispy cone, vanilla soft serve is smothered with yuzu sauce and enhanced by shiratama dango – glutinous rice balls – and mint leaf decoration.
For the ultimate yuzu rush, the two seasonal delights can be enjoyed with sips of Yuzu Mojito (HK$42), a thirst-quenching cooler blending mint, yuzu sauce, sugar syrup and soda water.
The glorious green colour, aroma and mellow mouthfeel of hand-ground matcha powder give nana’s the edge over other green tea chains. The essential ingredient of many speciality drinks and desserts of the house, it is sourced from Yamamasa Koyamaen, a historic tea manufacturer in Kyoto Prefecture.
In a technique perfected over 200 years, traditional grinding in stone mills maximises the matcha flavour while retaining its original essence. The characteristic melt-in-the-mouth feel has a refreshing bitterness as green aromas develop on the palate.
Besides matcha, other premium green tea brews of sencha, genmaicha and hojicha (roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal) are served. Using more than 10 types of tea leaves from Kyoto, Kagoshima and elsewhere, major supplier Baisa Nakamura carefully identifies the characteristics of each tea leaf, finely adjusts the temperature and rolling method, and brings out its full flavour.
Highlights of an expansive beverage list include Matcha Latte (HK$45/Hot or Iced), Hojicha Latte (HK$45/Hot or Iced), Azuki Latte (HK$45/Hot or Iced), Black Sesame Latte (HK$45/Hot or Iced) and Matcha Frappe (HK$52). Rich and creamy Matcha Azuki Shiratama Latte (HK$48/Hot or Iced) is a house signature made with premium azuki (red bean) sourced from Obihiro City in Hokkaido. Hojicha Kuromitsu Jelly Latte (HK$52/Hot or Iced) is capped with whipped cream and kuromitsu (Japanese black sugar syrup).
Matcha Soft Serve Latte with Chocolate Crunch (HK$52) combines matcha latte with vanilla-flavoured soft serve and chocolate crunch. Roasted tea aromas and creamy vanilla feature in Hojicha Soft Serve Latte (HK$52).
Parfaits come in 8 luscious preparations, including Matcha or Hojicha Nama Chocolate Parfait (HK$98) enriched with vanilla soft serve, azuki or hojicha white bean paste and silky nama chocolate, and Matcha or Hojicha Shiratama Parfait (HK$88) with the glutinous-rice balls adding gooey contrast to the smooth ice cream. Matcha or Hojicha Warabimochi Parfait (HK$88) finds the traditional chewy Japanese delicacy of warabimochi dusted with nutty kinako (roasted soybean flour), drizzled with kuromitsu, and topped by vanilla soft serve.
Crunchy wafer cones filled with Japanese soft serve offer a welcome chill in the height of summer. Additional sweet delicacies can be discovered inside the cone, such as Matcha Soft Serve with Shiratama and Azuki Sauce (HK$45) and Matcha Soft Serve with Matcha Chocolate Cake (HK$45).
Other favourite desserts are matcha or yuzu-flavoured Cheese Cake (HK$48 and HK$52, respectively) made with Australian cream cheese and Roll Cake (HK$48-HK$52) with tea-flavoured cream. Shiratama Zenzai and Matcha Shiratama Zenzai, Kinako Warabimochi and Matcha Warabimochi – all priced at HK$58 – are also popular.
Headlining a curated selection of tempting savoury dishes are classic donburi and udon with a modern twist – starring Chicken Soboro Onsen Egg Don (HK$88), Marinated Tuna, Avocado with Grated Yam Don (HK$148), Soy Milk Dandan Udon (HK$108/Hot or Cold), Pork in Yuzu Pepper Udon (HK$98), and Soy Milk Cream Prawn and Tomato Udon (HK$128).
The a la carte menu, available all day, will be supplemented by dedicated lunch sets at a later date. The new branch also offers nana’s adorable chocolate gift boxes (HK$168 for 16 pieces) enclosing smooth, creamy nama chocolate in flavours like matcha and hojicha.
Defying the conventions of a café chain, nana’s green tea interiors express originality, playfulness and a unique sense of location. The Wong Chuk Hang branch spans 1,400 sq. ft, seating up to 50 people under a serene contemporary pergola made of light wood. Dappled patterning on the ceiling nods to nature’s bright beauty.
nana’s green tea debuted on the Tokyo dining scene in 2001, styled as a modern Japanese tea house offering exquisite matcha-flavoured drinks, desserts and savoury dishes in a blissful atmosphere.
Originally called Green Tea Café, it adopted its more auspicious current name in 2006 in honour of founder Kazuto Kutami’s daughter, Nana, and to highlight the auspicious connotation of the number seven in Japanese culture.
For more information, please visit www.cafedecogroup.com.