Talking Tea

Today at Talking Tea we’re in Montreal beginning our exploration of this city’s vibrant tea scene. Our first stop is Cha Do Raku, a new tea house and shop in Montreal’s Plateau district. Cha Do Raku (it means “decadence of tea” in Japanese) and its owner and founder, Shiho Kanamaru, have already made a name for themselves through the highly regarded teas offered through Cha Do Raku’s online store. Today we visit Shiho in her new shop and chat about how she realized her dream of a tea space that embodies the spirit of doraku, a simple, relaxed enjoyment of tea. Some of Cha Do Raku’s most talked-about teas are “icho”, an unusual, slightly oxidized green tea from Japan. Shiho talks with us about some of these teas, how they compare with other Japanese green teas and with Taiwanese oolongs, and best methods for brewing them. Cha Do Raku also carries high quality matcha, and Shiho shares a little-known preparation technique she discovered for bringing out the aroma and sweetness of matcha. More on Cha Do Raku, inc