A Tea Omakase for Enjoying a Course of Teas

The word “omakase” is used so commonly in our society these days. In Japanese, omakase can be simply understood as something like the chef’s special course, and because it’s become so popular among people in their 20s and 30s, the omakase craze has spread from Japanese cuisine and Korean cuisine all the way to cafes.

In the quiet village of Yusuam-ri, Aewol-eup, there’s a tea house I often visit as a regular.

It’s a place where you can enjoy authentic Chinese pu’er tea as a course, and ever since my first visit, I drop by for tea whenever the weather turns chilly or it starts to rain. Come to think of it, isn’t a place that serves a course of many different teas basically what’s trendy these days—an omakase?

So starting today, I’ve decided to call this place a tea omakase.

Cafe

Chajip Jian23 Yusuam-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si

This is a space dedicated to tea culture, different from typical coffee-centered cafes. It specializes in a wide range of teas, including pu-erh, and offers tea omakase, tea classes, and tea ceremony experiences so you can explore tea’s aroma and flavors in depth. With a calm, neat atmosphere, it’s a great place to spend an unhurried break, and it’s designed to be comfortable even for those new to tea. If you want to slow down for a while during your Jeju trip and enjoy a special tea time, it’s well worth a visit.

플레이스 보기

Since it’s served as a course, I always sit at the tea bar, and naturally end up chatting with the owner about this and that. Sometimes I listen to explanations about tea, sometimes we talk about Jeju, and other times we just talk about life. He says Yusuam Village is his hometown, and after many turns of time, he eventually returned to it.

Suddenly, the owner brought something out, saying that fresh Jeju matcha had just come in.

He began whisking the matcha with some fascinating tea tools, and in no time a matcha latte was ready. The thoughtful touch of serving chilled wagashi like ice is a standout. Maybe it’s because of the right amount of foam, but it goes down smoothly; the flavor is nutty with a slight bitterness, and it’s clean and crisp with no sweetness at all.

After the fascinating matcha latte, he brought out the teapot and teacups he cherishes the most.

The new pot pours with a stronger stream, and the teacup painted with a phoenix lets in a much larger sip than the previous ones, making the aroma and flavor feel different.

Lost in the moment, I didn’t realize how much time had passed—soon it was time to pick up the kids. What will we talk about next…? With a promise for next time, we exchange a quiet goodbye, and I walk on through the drizzling rain.