Blossoming Brunch At Aoyama Flower Market Tea House
I have quite the fondness for fresh flowers. Splurging on these little blossoms not only puts a smile on my face but it serves as a reminder to be present and enjoy each moment because no two are the same. It's amazing how these fragile little blossoms can be so powerful.
While wandering the streets of Shibuya, I stumbled upon one of the most charming little shops, the Aoyama Flower Market. Stumbled is quite literal as I practically ran over someone standing in the lengthy queue formed outside of the shop. Of course, my curiosity was piqued and I had to know why all of these people were waiting. Hello, FOMO!
I popped down the stairs and began wandering through the flower market, which by the way, was absolutely stunning. Hidden in the back was a darling little tea house. Adorned with endless sakura (cherry blossoms) and luscious green plants, it was as magical as you would imagine (and worth the wait).
While standing in the queue (which lasted between 30-45 minutes), one of the hosts will bring a menu so you can plot out your order accordingly. Since as we were snacking on candy to keep the hunger pains at bay, we decided to order one of everything. After all, it was breakfast and lunch!
As we were escorted to our table, I felt as if we were entering the enchanted garden. Cherry blossom branches filled the space and if that wasn't enough little bouquets were placed in all the remaining nooks. All I could think of is why doesn't Nashville have something like this!
Each week the tea house features a different flower. Cherry blossom season was upon us, therefore it was only proper to feature the beautiful blooms. I wish I had the chance to visit more often as I would love to see some of my favorites (lilies, hydrangeas, roses) as the weekly feature. Could you imagine how fragrant and wonderful it would be? Ahhh... Swoon!
Let's move on to the food, shall we?
As we marveled over these beautiful blossoms, it was fitting that we sampled the Sakura tea.
Isn't it just lovely? When the server mentioned Sakura Tea, I had this preconceived notion in my mind as to what it would taste like. I knew that there would be floral notes but I envisioned a drink that was also sweet and refreshing. WRONG. Just wrong. Forget the sweetness, the tea had more of a savory almost briny aftertaste. In hopes of making the tea a bit more palatable, I dropped a cube of sugar in my cup and to be honest that only made it worse. So while the blossoms are lovely to look at, their taste leaves much to be desired.
Our next dish was toast topped with ham, eggs and a drizzle of balsamic. I can't remember the "official" menu name, probably because I was famished by the time our food arrived, but I do remember this being quite tasty. I can imagine my face had an interesting expression when this was brought to the table. Wouldn't yours? It's not often we find a hard boiled egg sliced and served on toast. But let me say, this bread was phenomenal. I am not sure what magic the Japanese use when making bread, but it's unbelievable.
Even though the next dish wasn't much to look at, it definitely put a smile on our faces. Famished from running around the streets of Tokyo, I didn't catch the name of this dish either, but it reminded me of a Croque Monsieur without all of the messiness. While this dish may appear unassuming, it was quite enjoyable.
Of course, I saved the best for last as did they. Below you will find the Seasonal Flower French Toast served with ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream. O.M.G. What an absolute stunner. Not only was this one of the prettiest dishes I had in Tokyo, but also one of the tastiest. The French toast can be a tricky dish as many people have a tendency to soak it in the egg mixture for too long, but not Aoyama Flower Market Tea House. This toast was light and flurry with almost a cloudlike texture. Ice cream is always a good idea so imagine my surprise when I realized that was hidden by one of the gorgeous flowers. While my friend and I shared all of the previous dishes, this is one that I could have devoured on my own.
If you are planning a trip to Tokyo in the near future, this is one place that I highly recommend. Aoyama Flower Market Tea House is sought out by locals and tourists alike. Not only does it provide an escape from the city commotion, but you take respite all while enjoying an assortment of teas and delectable sweets.
Until Next Time!
Tariff: Tea begins at ¥750 while bites and sweets range between ¥700 and ¥1650.
Can't Miss: Seasonal Flower French Toast was my absolute favorite dish of the meal. If I had more time, I would not miss the Flower Parfait. To be honest, I am kicking myself that we didn't order it.
Potential Pass: With Cherry Blossom season coming to a close, it's unlikely that one would encounter this menu option until next year. However, if you do come across it, I would recommend steering clear.