Shanghai is crazy about Japanese matcha. Pretty much every coffee and dessert shop has something matcha flavored. And big tea house brands Nana's Green Tea and Tsujiri are opening up at almost every major shopping mall you can think of. Still, for the Japanese green tea purists, top-notch stuff is still hard to come by. Especially in the kind of place where adults can sit down, enjoy a proper cup of tea, and talk quietly. Good news for them: Ikaruga on Changle Lu is a tea house worth seeking out.

*** Ikaruga has open for about two months now. Owned by a young, local couple, it's concealed in the quieter, or should I say, kind of dead side of Changle Lu. If it weren't for all the exquisite tea products and shiny gadgets that illuminate the shop's window, it's hardly noticeable. Both came from a banking background. The husband, Will, quit his job and is doing Ikaruga full time. He speaks good English and makes informative, objective comments about his tea. The touchscreen menu has translation capabilities, too, for non-Chinese speakers. The front counter hosts an impressive array of cups, bowls, and pots -- none of them the same make. I'm sure each one has a story. Also squeezed into this little first floor space space is a hodge-podge of expensive coffee machines, grinders, speakers, even keyboards... Coming hand-in-hand with the obsession for tea accoutrements is the dedication to traditional Japanese tea. For now, Ikaruga offers two types of green tea: sencha and gyokuro; and three kinds of matcha: tenju from Marukyu Koyamaen, tennouzan and ogurayama from Yamamasa Koyamaen. Sencha is steeped twice, made like pour over coffee, and served separately in two cups. Matcha can be thick or thin, with or without milk depends on the varieties. It's highly recommend not to add anything in your matcha, for a more aromatic, fresh taste. Ikaruga has a casual, well-decorated tea room on the second floor. It can host five to seven, and is evocative of that typical, serene Japanese simplicity. For those who prefer a bit more privacy, there's a small attic with tatami on the third floor. Prices for tea varies from 25rmb sencha to 95rmb tennouzan (thick). With it's seaweed aroma and distinct flavor matcha might be an acquired taste for some people. It's also a bit pricey, but you're paying for the classic authenticity of the experience. Japanese specialty coffee brand Horiguchi is also on offer as well. They have Horiguchi No.1, No.7 and Ethiopian's Harar, also served in tea bowls. Priced from 30rmb to 38rmb. When asked by the amateurish me, about where to look for good Japanese matcha among these big cooperate brands. Will answered with a bit hesitation: "I'll say Tsujiri. They are a very old matcha brand. But they seem to compromise a bit for the Chinese market, and make their matcha sweeter." *** Ikaruga is at 121 Changle Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu