Around this time, third wave coffee has become a hot topic. Similarly, in the world of black tea, attention is focused on the third wave, "single origin" tea leaves purchased directly from the place of origin, after passing through the first wave "tea bags" and the second wave "overseas brand tea leaves". I'm gathering.


Koenji's tea specialty store "Gclef" plays a part in the third wave of the tea world. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the store's opening, we are offering a commemorative dessert menu in the cafe space. I immediately experienced the big wave of "delicious tea and sweets", which is bigger than any other wave and catches our hearts!


■ I came to Koenji Gclef
Exit the north exit of Koenji Station and enter the Junjo Shopping Street on the left side of the front.


Going through the shopping street, you will discover Gclef in about 3 minutes. The red tent is a landmark on the chic green outer wall.


Inside the store, you can find an array of red tea packages purchased directly from the farm. In addition, Chinese tea, Taiwanese tea, Japanese tea, a wide variety of jams, mugs and tea ware are also available. BGM is a calm classic that fits the name of the store "Gclef". However, there is no formal atmosphere, and the clerk is friendly with the customers.



There is a cafe space in the back of the sales floor where you can enjoy tea and desserts.


■ 10th Anniversary Menu
The 10th anniversary menu you are looking for is a dessert plate made with black tea. A set of 1,570 yen for choosing your favorite tea on a plate with three desserts. The black tea I chose this time was "Seasonal Picked Strawberry Royal Milk Tea". You can order for an additional charge of 220 yen. "Tea-made dessert plate" is a limited-time menu until March 27, and "Seasonal picked strawberry royal milk tea" is a limited-time menu until April 10.


◆ Seasonal picked strawberry royal milk tea
Black tea is served in a pot, and the clerk pours it into the cup in front of you. "Seasonally picked strawberry royal milk tea" is spring tea Nilgiri and fresh strawberry royal milk tea. Comes with fresh cream with strawberry sauce. First of all, just as it was poured.



The sweet scent of black tea rises from the slightly pinkish spring-like gentle color of milk tea. Strawberries have a soft scent, and the main scent is black tea. When you eat it, the soft sweetness spreads. From the name, I imagined a strong sweetness and richness, but this seems to be suitable for dessert.


Add fresh cream to the second cup. The richness of cream is added to the darkened black tea over time, giving it a deep taste. In consideration of those who are not good at strong taste, there is also a service of "Sashi milk" instead of "Sashiyu".


◆ Dessert plate made with black tea
There are 3 types of desserts beautifully arranged on one plate. Chocolate cakes, glass desserts, fruit and cream millefeuilles, all of which use black tea.


Chocolate cake has a rich taste like raw chocolate. The surface is designed with a treble clef, which means the store name Gclef. Earl Gray tea leaves themselves are mixed into the dough, and you can enjoy the vivid black tea scent and the crisp texture accent.


The glass dessert is Darjeeling's granita and jelly. Darjeeling picked in the summer is used, and you can fully enjoy the characteristic muscat-like fragrance "Mascatel". It is a fruity and refreshing dish with a pleasant contrast between the cool and crispy granita and the texture of the plump and soft jelly.


The gorgeous millefeuille has two layers of flavor based on the crispy puff pastry. The first layer is sweet and sour and refreshing with raw strawberry, berry sauce and mascarpone cream, and the second layer is fragrant and rich with roasted apple, hazelnut and black tea custard cream. Both are a combination of smooth cream and juicy fruit, but they give a different impression.


■ Gclef's popular secret!
Interview with the store manager, Mr. Azusa, while tasting the tea in the store. I was able to hear about the feelings and commitment to black tea that only a specialty store can offer!


◆ What is the 10th anniversary menu?
En-eating: Who thought of the 10th anniversary menu?

Mr. Azusa: "We brushed up what our pastry chef had in mind while tasting it with the owner."

Eating: Please tell us the concept of the menu.

Mr. Azusa: "It's a dessert menu unique to a black tea specialty store. Different black teas are used for each of the three types of desserts, and all of them are popular products that are only available at our store."

Eating: What is the most notable part of the plate?

Mr. Azusa: "Is it the place where the tea leaves themselves are contained in the chocolate cake? Please enjoy the black tea that is on the front, not as a secret ingredient."


◆ What kind of black tea has been praised by the English people?
Gclef's black tea was awarded the "great taste award" at the British Food Fair. In 2013, the spring picking "Minami Sayaka Ankaka" from Miyazaki Prefecture was awarded, and in 2014, the spring picking of Assam from Nahorhabi Farm was awarded.

En-eating: Can you introduce us to the two award-winning black teas?

Mr. Azusa: "Yes. Minami Sayaka from Miyazaki Prefecture was developed by our shop in collaboration with a farmer in Miyazaki Prefecture. It is deeply fermented and has a fruity scent."

En-eating: The domestic black tea that you were involved in from production won the award.

Mr. Azusa: "I was happy that it was recognized overseas, but more than that, the customers of our shop who drank Minami Sayaka were amused and impressed that they were making this kind of black tea." By saying that, I was motivated to continue making various types of black tea in the future. "


Mr. Azusa: "Assam is characterized by its bitterness, sweetness, and sharp taste. Our shop handles a lot of tea leaves from farms with a high organic consciousness, and this is also one of the Nahorhabi farms. "


◆ Gclef is the third wave of the tea world!
Speaking of "third wave", "single origin". Gclef told me the reason why he is particular about "single origin".

En-eating: Why does Gclef mainly deal with "single origin" purchased directly from the farm, not tea from famous brands?

Mr. Azusa: "Branded black tea was born by mixing various tea leaves to cover the poor water quality in Europe and other countries. In Japan, where the water quality is originally suitable for black tea, it is not necessary to mix it. By putting the name of the farm as it is on the tea leaves instead of the brand name of the blended tea, I hope to bring the customer closer to the tea maker. "


◆ What kind of "third wave" can you bring home?
I want to drink delicious black tea even at home! So, I learned about the types of tea that Gclef handles and the differences between them.

En-eating: How many types of tea are there in the store?

Mr. Azusa: "Currently, we have about 60 types of tea, including Chinese tea and Taiwanese tea, but the product lineup will change steadily according to the season."

En-eating: You can always meet seasonal black tea when you come. There are 10 types of Darjeeling alone ...?

Mr. Azusa: "The taste of black tea at the same time and production area differs depending on the farm. Also, even at the same farm, the taste differs depending on the type of tree being cultivated, so they are treated as different brands."


◆ Thank you for the story that is as tasty as black tea!


Gclef celebrates its 10th anniversary. The reason why we continue to stick to single-origin tea leaves is that we want to bring the people who make and drink tea closer together. Not only was it delicious, but it was a shop that offered clear black tea that could be seen through to the people who made it and the farm.

In addition to the Koenji store, Gclef has a Kichijoji store with a continuous line and a Mejiro store specializing in tea leaf sales, which is popular with Mejiro Madam. Currently, the Kichijoji store is offering "Spring's No. 1 Parfait". It's a parfait where you can enjoy 12 kinds of harmony, centered on fresh strawberries and seasonal black tea Nilgiri. The price is 1,850 yen with tea. The offer period is until April 24th.