Alongside its made-to-order café menu items, Cha-no-wa also offers a selection of prepackaged, tea-infused baked cakes imported from Japan. True to the brand’s origins in Hiroshima, these include momiji manjū—a well-known regional confection shaped like a maple leaf, each measuring approximately 7 × 5 × 1.5 cm.

Matcha Manjū ($5.00)

This variant featured a fine crume, with a subtly grassy, vegetal note from the matcha, free from bitterness and well integrated with the filling. The red bean paste was chunky, moist, and slightly juicy, delivering an earthy sweetness that balanced the mildness of the matcha. Overall, a pleasant but restrained flavour profile.

Hōjicha Manjū ($5.00)
The hōjicha version was notably more aromatic, with the roasted tea notes holding their own against the red bean. This pairing offered a deeper flavour contrast and a more satisfying interplay between the bitter, roasted tea and the earthy sweetness of the bean paste. The cake was similarly moist, with a fine crumb, and the red bean retained the same chunky, juicy texture. A standout among the two.

Both manjū offered well-executed textures and demonstrated the harmony of tea and bean paste, though the hōjicha version delivered greater depth and aromatic appeal. These are solid examples of Hiroshima-style momiji manjū, suitable both as a souvenir and as a treat for tea confectionery enthusiasts.

These Cha-no-wa Momiji Manjū contained one piece each. They were produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.