Nana’s Green Tea is a Japanese chain that puts a modern spin on matcha. While it started back in 2000, we first encountered it during a visit to their Kichijoji branch in 2014, where we tried their drinks and desserts before they expanded into more modern savoury options in recent years.
2023
It was a pleasant surprise to see a new location open in Chatswood in February 2023 as part of their global expansion.
Hōjicha Warabimochi Parfait ($17.50), featuring ‘roasted green tea jelly, ice cream, bean paste and jelly-like texture mochi’.
There’s a range of textures here, from the softness of the warabimochi to the creamy hōjicha ice cream, and from the nutty red bean paste to the crumbly hōjicha jelly made from agar. The smoothness of the vanilla soft serve and the crunchiness of the flakes complete the experience. Overall, it was reminiscent of the parfaits we enjoyed at their Japanese stores. However, it’s worth noting that there wasn’t much kuromitsu (Japanese black sugar syrup) to sweeten the unsweetened hōjicha jelly, and the presence of vanilla-flavoured soft serve and wheat flakes, which made up a good portion of the parfait, felt a bit like an attempt to add substance to justify the higher price. That said, without a direct comparison to the original in Japan, the overall enjoyment of the parfait still held up.
The Hōjicha Latte (Cold) ($6.00, with an option to upgrade to a large and unsweetened version for +$1.00) is a standout. The roasted hōjicha infused the brew with an aromatic richness devoid of noticeable grit, astringency, or bitterness. Its potency masked any dairy undertones and contributed to a richer mouthfeel.
The Nana’s Green Tea was impossible to fault by Sydney standards — the service was impeccable for opening week and the food may rival Matcha-ya in Darling Square given some time to adjust.
Nana’s Green Tea expanded their menu a few months after opening, so we took the opportunity to try some out some of the items while in the area.
Hōjicha Warabimochi Sundae ($10.50).
The hōjicha flavour was notably robust and aromatic, complemented by the velvety and creamy texture of the soft serve, which lacked excessive dairy undertones. A touch of kuromitsu introduced a multi-dimensional element that upheld the hōjicha’s vibrancy on the palate. However, the warabi mochi exhibited a somewhat dense mouthfeel, departing from the invigorating elasticity we relished in Kyōto. In contrast, the hōjicha jelly at the base perfectly encapsulated the tea’s lively flavour, boasting a texture that hovered between agar’s crumbliness and gelatin’s resilience. Its subtle sweetness harmoniously counterbalanced the soft serve’s profile.
Matcha Nama Chocolate Sundae ($10.50)
Having recently experienced the Royce’ Nama Chocolate, we were naturally drawn to this matcha sundae. The matcha-infused soft serve showcased a vibrant matcha flavour with discernible verdant undertones, expertly balanced to avoid overwhelming bitterness, thanks in part to the kuromitsu. Unfortunately, the nama chocolate pieces (3 in total) proved less satisfying. Rather than possessing the anticipated smooth creaminess, they leaned towards a somewhat dense and overly sweet consistency. After carefully navigating the initial dusting of matcha powder, which contributed a bold grassy bitterness, the nama chocolate’s texture remained somewhat stodgy and cloying. On a brighter note, the matcha jelly proved more triumphant, boasting a vivid matcha taste and delicate sweetness that harmonized effectively with the soft serve’s sugary profile.
Hōjicha Mochi Sundae ($9.50), described as containing hōjicha jelly, hōjicha soft serve, hōjicha bean paste and mochi balls.
Having heeded our past experiences and chosen to bypass the warabimochi and nama chocolate, we opted for a dessert that seamlessly melded the cherished components from our earlier visits: the delectable hōjicha soft serve, the aromatic hōjicha jelly, and the delightful shiratama dango. Slightly perplexing was the mention of hōjicha bean paste in the description, which we had encountered at certain establishments like Nakamura Tokichi in Japan. However, the reality unfolded as a red bean paste, albeit with its chunky sweetness and nutty flavour, contributing to our enjoyment nonetheless.
We’re pleased to observe the increasing presence of Japanese cafes in Sydney. However, during our future visits to Nana’s Green Tea, we’ll opt to enjoy the soft serve on its own.
Nana’s Green Tea was located at P1 Chatswood Interchange, 436 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067.
2026
Nana’s Green Tea exited the Australian market in early 2025, with both their stores in Chatswood and Rhodes becoming Cha-no-wa at the end of 2025. In 2026, the brand re-entered the Australian market with a store in Melbourne before opening a Sydney store in Haymarket in May 2026, and with it an expanded savoury offering, in the same vein as their stores in Japan.
Nana’s Green Tea is located at 3/35 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000.