4/26/2005

What else can you do in the city with the busiest Starbucks, a whole lot of Starbucks competitors/wannabes who just rip off the logo and the drinks, and everything that comes between, millions of coffee drinkers who are always craving for something new and original, and a culture in which tea is a healthy beverage everyone should drink daily?

It’s easy once you have read the title of this post, but until now no one had thought of it. Well, Dama Teapresso has started their operations in Shinjuku now, and it wouldn’t be surprising that they start opening little corner shops everywhere soon.

Concept is simple. Dark over-infused black tea, foamed milk, and whatever Starbucks can add we can do it too. Caramel, whipped cream, whatever… Iced or hot. And you can also order normal tea and chai, but no coffee of course.

As far as taste is concerned, the tea is going through an espresso machine, but it tastes like normal tea which was left in the pot for too long. It tastes good, and it feels lighter than coffee, but if you want coffee, it won’t do. It is a taste that probably needs to get acquired. Very bitter, and kinda “adult”-taste, whatever that means. Just felt like that when i drank it.

The inside of the shop is like your usual coffee bar thingy, with the stainless steal sink, the little water tap always open to clean the utensils, little muffins next to the register etc.

The store is just outside Shinjuku station, which is the busiest station in the world as millions of commuters pass through it everyday. It is also a business neighborhood, a meeting point, and a shopping district with many department stores (including one just next to this tea shop). There is always people coming and going (and waiting) next to the shop, and as I was drinking my tea-capuccino, I just looked at all the people who stopped and checked the menu as they passed by. It seems everyone who comes across it feels “I should at least try it”. Have you? Will you? (If you love/hate it, leave a comment below with your experience.)