Komichi Tea House in Penang
We’ve strolled past numerous matcha cafes and we’ve scrolled past aesthetically pleasing matcha latte video recipes on our feed – the powdered green tea trend has been around for ages, and it’s definitely here to stay.
While copious cafes roll out an endless stream of beverages and desserts that feature the vibrant green flavour, you’ll want to make sure you’re spending your hard-earned money on high-quality ones – none of that chalky or grainy stuff.
For Penangites, Komichi Tea House is the teahouse locals visit to satisfy their matcha and tea hankerings, be it in the form of a drink or dessert.
Being matcha sceptics ourselves, we popped by the neighbourhood’s beloved teahouse, ready for doses of earthy green-tinged goodness.
Ambience at Komichi Tea House
In 2017, Komichi Tea House was a tiny jewel box of Japanese teas and desserts that was quite literally hidden, deep within the alleyway of Lorong Toh Aka. Since the early 2024, the tea house relocated to a space that’s equally quaint, but hidden in plain sight amidst the series of colonial shophouses along Lebuh Clarke.
Stepping inside, we were drawn into the warmth and tranquillity of the snug cocoon, with rich oak-brown finishes on the furnishings and brick-hued earthen floors that add to the rustic ambience of the space.
Wooden shelves by the counter are lined with teaware. A medley of ceramics and porcelain that are barely sit idly in their spots for more than a few minutes, before they are filled with loose leaf teas and brewed, huffing out wisps of steam that dissipates to form a homely aroma in the cafe.
Seating options are sparse here, but that only adds to the intimacy and serenity that patrons are looking for when they visit the tea house.
Drinks & desserts at Komichi Tea House
With a modest and incredibly-focused menu of matcha grown in a tea farm in Japan tended by the owner’s family, we had high expectations for the quality of the matcha beverages and desserts, as well as the teas, to be second to none.
We ordered a mix of now-ubiquitous and Instagrammable to-go matcha lattes and bakes, as well as mindfully-brewed Japanese teas, to see if they’ll sway us enough to want to replace our daily cup of coffee with.
Iced Matcha Latte & Iced Genmaicha
First and foremost, the ever-so-trendy matcha latte is a no-brainer order at a matcha-centric establishment – hence the first on our list was the Iced Matcha Latte (RM15).
The standard drink features whisked-up, ceremonial-grade matcha poured over fresh milk – green swirly tendrils slowly suffusing throughout the glass.
Taste-wise, the matcha was strong, smooth, and we appreciated that it was only subtly sweetened. While we were anticipating a lusher and creamier mouthfeel – which only diminished with every sip due to the ice’s incredible melting speed – the drink was satisfying enough to keep our matcha cravings in check.
The Iced Genmaicha (RM10) was irresistible on this scorching day – pure, no-frills, and refreshing. Though, we reckoned a hot one would give us a more pronounced tea flavour.
We also ordered refillable Hojicha Tea (RM20) to share, which we surprisingly downed rather quickly. The tea was exquisite, wonderfully fragrant, and a perfect accompaniment to the sugary treats we ordered as well.
Yuzu Matcha Swiss Roll & Matcha Burnt Cheesecake
There’s no way that we were leaving the cafe without some green-hued desserts. Komichi Tea House offers a handful of homemade tempting matcha treats, but we went straight for the signatures.
The Yuzu Matcha Swiss Roll (RM16) was delightful with a soft vanilla sheet cake wrapped around a cloud of yuzu matcha cream that they definitely did not skimp on. The cream itself easily took centre stage – literally and figuratively – exuding both tangy and mellow flavours taking turns to stand out.
The ultimate treasure from our matcha adventure on this day was the Matcha Burnt Cheesecake (RM18), a more beautiful slice of green there never was.
The cheesecake was stoic and carvable enough that it can form immovable ripples once snowballed by the skiing of a spoon, yet it is light and melty enough to be rapidly scarfed – which we did.
We reveled at the matcha profile as well – earthy but not vegetal, deep but not weighty, overall heavenly.
The verdict
If we’re talking matcha, we weren’t disappointed, but we weren’t blown away either. And if we’re talking vibes, Komichi Tea House is definitely a gem to revisit if you’re in search of a soothing sanctuary that also has decent matcha-based sweets.
Address: 6, Lebuh Clarke, George Town, 10050 George Town, Penang
Opening hours: Wed – Fri 12pm-6pm | Sat & Sun 11am-6pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Contact: Komichi Tea House’s Facebook | Instagram
For more food features, here’s Dream Burger, muslim-friendly burgers at Hin Bus Depot and Tomorrow English Cafe, authentic English breakfast from Manchester in Penang.
Photography by Jia-Ju.
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia