Tsujiri

Just when you thought you'd seen all the cult Asian dessert places in Auckland, another crowd favourite pops up on Lorne Street — this one has been especially anticipated after having its billboard out for almost an entire year.

Tsujiri Tea House is one of the most famous matcha (green tea) shops originating from Kyoto, Japan. It's a 155-year-old brand that champions the traditional Japanese tea brewing philosophy. Putting a spin on the traditional drink, Tsujiri has created an innovative menu featuring genuine and high-quality matcha products. You can find almost everything with a matcha component, from drinks to desserts, cakes and more.

The interior is elegant and beautiful, where warm and yellow lighting projects on high tables. At the back, there are round tables that are ideal for both dates and group outings. Despite having been open for almost a month, make sure you're prepared to queue for at least half an hour before setting foot in the shop.

Tsujiri shows off a delicious menu, and we were tempted by just about everything. We picked a selection so we could try the variety. The Tsujiri shaved ice (the signature) was priced at $10.80, but you get a generous serving of smooth shaved ice, topped with a range of toppings. The mixture of red bean, mochi bites as well as jellies worked well perfectly. For Tsujiri parfait ($10.80), we picked the Houjicha flavour (roasted matcha). Again, you get a little sundae cup, except this time you get soft serve ice cream instead of shaved ice. There is also a more interesting combination of different textures — the crunch from the rice crisps, the waffle slice on the top and of course, more red bean and mochi bites. The Houjicha also had a slightly bitter flavour which complemented the sweetness of the ice cream. Finally, we had the Tsujiri ice blended ($7.90) drink. It tasted like a matcha slushy, and I thought $7.90 was a bit dare.

Overall, after a full matcha experience at Tsujiri, I discovered a new passion for green tea, and I'm determined to go back to try their chiffon cakes and soft serve.