tea houses

Those of you who know me well, know how much of a passion I have for tea. So, as you can imagine, I was in heaven for 10 days. Kyoto in particular is famous for its many tea houses ~ beautiful and elegant, and so in tune with nature. A world apart from the bustling coffee houses of the western world, each is a mini sanctuary. Many of the teas, I was told, are grown within miles of Kyoto. My favorites: matcha (so fresh and grassy), roasted tea (toasty and complex), and brown rice tea, known as genmaicha (earthy and comforting). I brought home tins of the latter, along with a mild sencha...and a hand made tea bowl of course. Anyone for green tea?