My Visit to Charyu by TeaGuru in Montreal
With all the hype about matcha on social media, I was excited to finally attend a workshop that dives into not just the taste, but the tradition behind it. So when I heard that Charyu by TeaGuru was hosting a matcha and hojicha workshop in Montreal, I signed up right away—and let me tell you, it was so worth it.
First Impressions
As soon as I walked into Charyu, I felt like I had stepped into a cozy tea house in Japan. The space is beautifully designed with minimalist wooden furniture and calming tones. It feels like the kind of place where you'd want to sit down, sip tea, and chat with a friend for hours.
Charyu is located on Saint-Hubert Street and is the workshop-focused sister location to their original tea shop, TeaGuru, which was founded back in 2003. The original store only holds about a dozen people, so Charyu was created as a larger, welcoming space where more people can gather, learn, and enjoy tea together.
The Workshop
For just $50, we learned how to make six different warm and cold drinks using both matcha and hojicha. That price included hands-on instruction, drinks, and Mochi—and considering how much one matcha latte can cost at a café, this workshop was honestly a bargain.
The workshop was led by Tsz Ha (Rainbow), the wife of owner Han. She was warm, knowledgable, and deeply rooted in the traditional practice of preparing and enjoying matcha. She taught us not just how to whisk matcha properly, but also how to appreciate it: to smell it, sip and make a sound as a sign of gratitude.
Here’s what we tasted:
🍋 Matcha Lemonade – Light, citrusy, and super refreshing
🧊 Matcha Frappe – Like a fancy slushy; think Starbucks, but elevated
🍵 Warm Matcha Latte – Comforting and creamy, my go-to
🍶 Hojicha Sake Mocktail – Made with fermented rice, not too sweet and very unique
🍓 Hojicha Frappe with Raspberries – Cold, slightly smoky with tart fruit and whipped cream (my kids would love this one!)
🥛 Warm Hojicha Latte with Oat Milk – Cozy, smooth, and perfect for winding down
The Extras
We also got to try mochi—and let me just say, these were the best mochis I've ever had. Soft, stretchy, moist, and packed with flavor. I need to learn how to make them because I haven’t stopped thinking about them since.
Han mentioned that Charyu offers workshops about twice a week, including tea tastings, green tea sessions, and even pottery-making classes. People from all over—including Ontario and the U.S.—visit Charyu for the experience.
Final Thoughts
If you're a fan of matcha or tea (or just curious about it), I highly recommend checking out Charyu. Whether you're in Montreal or planning a visit, it’s such a unique and peaceful space. You’ll not only taste some incredible drinks, but also learn the art and culture behind them.
They also sell all the tools and products used in the workshop, so you can recreate everything at home. I left inspired—with new recipes, new skills, and a deeper appreciation for this beautiful tea tradition.
📍 Charyu by Tea Guru 6872 Rue St-Hubert Montréal, QC H2S 2M6
