For those who love spices, the cafe for you to visit in Kichijōji is Chai Break (チャイブレイク). The Spice Chai (スパイスチャイ), made by mixing black tea with six spices, is the signatory drink there. It is another way to enjoy black tea! As a chai specialist, it also offers a couple of ways to enjoy spices!
About Chai Break
Apparently, in India, chai tea doesn’t mean spice-infused tea. If you order a chai milk tea there, it is a cup of strongly brewed tea mixed with milk and plenty of sugar. So, when you visit Chai Break, if you only order the Brewed Milk Tea (煮出しミルクティー), it doesn’t contain any spices.
But rest assured that you won’t be given a cup of overly sweet milk tea. The sugar is served separately. After all, everyone has different preferences regarding sugar levels.
If you wonder why Chai Break takes its black tea so seriously, it is because the owner, Mizuno-san, wants the locals to be drawn to the deliciousness of high-quality black tea. Drinking black tea isn’t common for the Japanese, and they lack the chances of encountering nice black tea.
Hoping to change this, Mizuno-san opened Chai Break in 2009. Instead of selling black tea, he decided to use chai as a selling point to attract attention. Once the customers know the taste of the high-quality black tea in the spiced drink, they will soon become drawn to it.
The cafe’s decor is quite unique, as the Indian black tea culture influences it. The tea bowls displayed on the wall behind the counter aren’t from a Japanese kiln. They are used in India to serve tea; traditionally, people break the bowls after they finish the tea there.
Chai Break’s Chai Drinks and Desserts
The Brewed Milk Tea is used as the base to make all the cafe’s chai drinks. As the ratio between black tea and chai is 2:1, you can surely taste the high-quality tea apart from the spices. Unlike most chai lattes sold elsewhere, the spice of Chai Break’s chai drinks isn’t too overpowering. It perfectly balances the ingredients, and the drink is mellow.
Tip: After ordering, don’t just immediately go back to your phone. Check out how your chai drink is made. It is like a small performance!
If the weather is hot, order a cup of Ice Chai (アイスチャイ). The finely crushed ice ensures that you won’t drink just ice water as you finish your drink.
For desserts, try the Ginger Milk Pudding (生姜のミルクプリン). The white pudding in the glass is made using milk and ginger, which has a spicy taste. Although the idea might sound unnatural, it is surprisingly delicious. Chai Fappe (チャイフラッペ), topped with whipped cream, is another popular summer drink.
Chalo Chalo! Chai Break
In 2023, Chai Break opened its second shop in Kichijōji called Chalo Chalo! Chai Break. It is a takeaway store in the dine-in space on the first floor of the department store, Marui Kichijōji (吉祥寺マルイ). Besides the chai drinks, homemade food and dessert menus are also available.
If you plan to visit Chalo Chalo! Chai Break, check with the staff if the Grill Wada Pao (グリルワダパオ) is vegetarian. Wada is an Indian version of croquette. Pao is the bread used to sandwich Wada.
Our Visit to Chai Break
We visited Chai Break just before we headed to Haneda Airport. While the time spent was limited, we still enjoyed the warm hospitality that Chai Break’s staff offered.
Of course, the purpose of the visit was the cafe’s Spice Chai! The process of making the drink was truly a show. The staff was even kind enough to let us film it!
The highlight of the visit was, however, something else. The staff tried their best to accommodate our special request to make us a limited edition drink, Strawberry Chai (いちごチャイ), before it hit the market. The drink was supposed to be available for takeaway on the day after our visit, which meant that we would miss it as our flight was scheduled to depart on the day of our visit.
After knowing our circumstances that we couldn’t wait till the next day, they made a few phone calls and asked us to head to Chalo Chalo! Chai Break. When we got there and let them know what we were after, the staff warmly welcomed us and gave us the drink (the 2nd photo in the IG post)!
Chai Break’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Chai Break is open daily except Tuesdays from:
- 9 am to 7 pm on weekdays
- 8 am to 7 pm on weekends and public holidays
- If Tuesday is a public holiday, it will close the next business day.
- Chalo Chalo! Chai Break is open from 10:30 am to 8 pm.
- Chai Break is a 5-minute walk from Kichijoji Station’s south exit.
Other Vegetarian-Friendly Cafes Around Inokashira Park
Inokashira Park in Kichijōji is a great urban park to enjoy nature. You can easily spend a couple of hours in this vast park. But the longer you stay, the emptier your stomach will get. Many would visit one of the cafes in and around Inokashira Park, and the great news is a couple of them are vegan/vegetarian-friendly!
Thus, refer to our Vegetarian-Friendly Cafes Around Inokashira Park to plan your visit!
Discover the Attractions in Kichijōji
Now that you know where to go for a tea break, it is time to discover the attractions in Kichijōji. The neighborhood rated “The Most Desirable Area to Live in Tokyo” is great for almost everything. It is also where the famous Ghibli Museum is located!
So, for more ideas of what to do in the area, refer to our Kichijōji article!
