1st stop: Sunrise Mart SOHO
Otsuka Green Tea Co., Ltd is launching in NYC and celebrating at Sunrise through tommorow. They are located "in the foothills of Awagatake, Kakegawa". In 1993 they provided tea for the imperial household. They have had a bunch of awards since.
Go in the PM because I showed up at 11 am and they weren't there yet. When I showed up an hour later I had such a great experience. A very friendly man was handing out small cups of sencha. It was wonderful, light, grassy. They had a wonderful woman in traditional attire performing tea ceremony. She served me matcha and was very graceful. She even helped with my chasen technique when I told her I couldn't make bubbles like her ("whisk harder"). The Matcha was lovely and they were all very amused when I knew to make a big slurp on the last sip. I had some gelato from next door that she sprinkled some sifted matcha on "to make better". She gave me oragami that she made personally. They were all impressed by my tea knowledge (im Irish American) and they took pictures of me sipping matcha and giving a big thumbs up as I bought the sencha tin (which is beautifully painted, air tight, and can be reused) They had some packages of shincha that I really wanted to buy but I've already spent my tea money this month. I'm kicking myself for not buying it now. I did purchase a beautiful tin of shizuoka sencha for my friend for her birthday (I'm hoping to make another tea nerd) for $17.49. It was my first experience with tea ceremony. Sunrise Mart is also a wonderful Japanese market that offers groceries, wares and has a great sit down area to munch on the great meals they make on the spot
Sunrise Mart Soho
494 Broome (bet w. Broadway & Wooster)
NYNY 212 219 0099
easiest way for public transport is ACE trains (just hopstop.com it)
Even if you dont make it tomm. Sunrise mart will carry the line from now on (I will probably have to go back to get some shincha next paycheck)
2nd stop
Kiteya SOHO is a lovely womens store with real Kimono and cute little bags (many of which I am now a proud owner of
accessories, hair things, notebooks basically tchatkes . Its a wonderful store that offers cultural activites such as lessons on how to wear yukata (summer robes). I bought matcha tiramisu chocolates which sound like the most delicious thing I have ever heard of. Kiteya soho
464 Broomo st
212-219-7509
3rd stop
When you hit Broadway swing a right and stop into Pearl river market which is just an asian megamart that has basically EVERYTHING. In terms of green tea they have some tetsubins. I didnt have a chance to stop in the tea cafe but I will next time. I bought a nice cotton robe 20% off
Pearl River
477 Broadway, NYC. Tel: 212-431-4770
4th stop
Continue South on Broadway and you will hit MUJI which I only glanced through. The MOMA store has had a MUJI section for years. Muji makes a huge range of things but is a bit expensive. They carry items from pens to jeans.
MUJI SOHO
455 Broadway NYC
212-334-2002
It's an easy walk and the Sunrise Mart event is really worh the time. It's not often you get to experience tea ceremony in a supermarket in NYC!
