Interview with the owner, Ohuchi Akiyoshi
I spoke with Ohuchi Akiyoshi, the owner of Tea Room aura.
Background of the opening
Can you tell us about the background of opening Tea Room aura?
Ohuchi (no honorifics)
I originally worked for a company, but I had a longing for a café from my experience traveling alone in Hokkaido during my student days, and I wanted to do something after my children became independent.
Actually, I started thinking about opening a café with my wife around the age of 40, and from around the age of 50, I began preparing by looking at log houses.
As for my connection to tea, I became interested in the tea leaves grown in Osa-cho, Niimi, and I attended a tea class by a person named Eiji Miyamoto, which was held at RSK Rose Garden for about three years.
Since my children were small, my wife had been baking cakes, which were very popular among her mom friends and acquaintances, so I thought about opening a shop that served tea and chiffon cake.
I started to make concrete plans for opening the café about three to four years before my retirement, but during that time, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and people around me were worried.
However, I felt that "I don't know how many years I can do this in the future," so I decided to leave my company in April 2021, coinciding with my retirement, and opened this shop in April 2022.
Commitment to tea
Can you tell us about your commitment to the shop?
Ohuchi
We source our tea from "Early Morning" in Niimi.
It is a well-known shop in the tea world, so tea lovers may be familiar with it.
The secret to its deliciousness lies not only in the tea leaves but also in the way the tea is brewed. We brew each cup carefully after receiving an order. By the way, our Earl Grey, which is popular for its aromatic quality, utilizes the natural flavor of bergamot and does not use any flavoring agents.
Our chai is a unique blend that emphasizes the aroma of cinnamon and ginger with a moderate sweetness.
Our fruit tea is adjusted so that the flavor of the tea can be fully appreciated, and it is one of our features that you can enjoy the original deliciousness of the tea no matter what you order.
Additionally, we want to provide healthy options, so we ensure that we do not use preservatives and offer safe and secure products.
For our chiffon cake, we use homemade soy milk made from organic soybeans sourced from Oita Prefecture. By making our own rich soy milk, we have achieved the ideal fluffy and moist chiffon cake.
By the way, we do not use baking powder and instead have devised a method of mixing the eggs to make it rise.
One of our commitments is that many of the ingredients used in this shop are sourced from Okayama Prefecture.
For example, the strawberries used from winter to early spring are sourced from Miyake Fruit Farm, run by a classmate from middle school, and the peaches and grapes provided from summer to autumn are also sourced directly from local farmers.
Additionally, the pumpkin used in our chiffon cake is actually grown in our own garden behind the shop, and we use flour from a local milling company and eggs from Takata Egg Farm.
A warm and inviting interior
The interior, which feels warm with wood, is impressive.
Ohuchi
This shop is a log house made from cedar from Kumamoto Prefecture, designed to convey a sense of warmth from the wood.
The shop's floor and the tables made from cherry wood were actually painted by us. We still perform daily maintenance and minor adjustments ourselves.
The shop has a fireplace, and in winter, the wood stove is enough to keep it warm.
Enjoying tea by the warm fireplace is exceptional, and it has a deliciousness unique to the cold season.
I was also charmed by the handmade feel of the menu and the interior decorations.
Ohuchi
The menu, the notices in the shop, and the stickers on the takeout packaging are actually handwritten by my wife's friend.
I feel that the warmth of handwriting, which cannot be replicated by a computer, has become one of the shop's charms.
Recommended menu items
Do you have any recommended menu items?
Ohuchi
Our recommendation is the "Cream Tea Set."
It includes a fluffy and moist chiffon cake made with homemade soy milk, scones served with handmade jam and homemade clotted cream, and a daily tea set on a plate.
If you're unsure about what to order, I recommend this.
Please send a message to the readers.
Ohuchi
Our shop has no time limit, so please feel free to come and enjoy tea slowly with your friends and family.
Dogs are welcome on the terrace, so it can also be a relaxing spot for you and your beloved pet. I recommend visiting on weekdays or in the morning when you can spend a relatively leisurely time.
We sincerely look forward to your visit.
Conclusion
After finishing the interview, I felt once again that "Tea Room aura" is not just a place to enjoy tea and chiffon cake, but a space filled with the thoughts and warmth of the owner and his wife.
It’s great to go with friends to drink delicious tea, to treat yourself to a fruit parfait, or to enjoy chatting with the owner.
The wonderful atmosphere of the shop, the tea, the sweets, and the time spent chatting with the owner are all comfortable, and I find myself lingering every time I visit.
One of the joys is to go and eat the seasonal aura parfait.
I highly recommend you to visit at least once.
Data on Tea Room aura
| Name | Tea Room aura |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-15-44 Hiroe, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 090-2095-1454 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, irregular holidays Announced on Instagram |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Possible Reservations for seats not accepted Reservations for takeout by consultation |
| Seating | 14 seats (Counter: 4, Tables: 8, Terrace: 2) |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Child-Friendly | Children and strollers welcome |
| Website | Tea Room aura |
