Photo/Illutration An Ouchi Matcha powdered green tea set, center, and the Goaisatsu-cha (greeting tea) product series offered at Kyoto Goencha's Teramachi outlet in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward (Kenichi Shinozuka)

Editor’s note: This series showcases what we are calling “kawaii” (cute) items made locally in the iconic Japanese city.

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Local tea shop Kyoto Goencha began exploring new ways to present and enjoy Japanese tea about five years ago.

The business started working on innovative tea products by the initiative of its owner, whose grandparents also sold tea in Kanazawa.

The company’s most popular product is Goaisatsu-cha (greeting tea).

It offers a single tea bag enclosed in a tiny card, similar to a greeting card.

The cards display illustrations, and about 400 phrases for different feelings and occasions, such as: “Hope-something-good-will-happen tea.”

Goencha uses tea leaves grown in Ujitawara, Kyoto Prefecture, for its products.

If you are in the neighborhood, you can pop inside and make use of a photo stand-in set up inside the shop.

Address: 541-4 Tenshoji-Maecho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto.

In June, the shop is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Visit the store’s website at (https://shop.goencha.com/).

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