On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the 8th Onden Apple Road Market will be held on Cat Street, the Onden Promenade in Omotesando/Harajuku, Tokyo. CHA-EN will be taking part as one of the exhibitors. On a promenade where the autumn breeze drifts through, we invite you to spend a quiet moment with "this year's tea," grown in the mountains of Taiwan. We would be delighted if you could pause for a little while during your stroll or shopping.
What Is the Onden Apple Road Market? | Two Towns Connected by an Apple Tree on Cat Street
There is an apple tree on Cat Street in Omotesando/Harajuku. It stands as a symbol of the friendship between Onden in Harajuku and Zakoji in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture.
The Onden Apple Road Market is a market of two towns linked by apples. Organized by the Onden Cat Street Merchants' Association and the Onden Apple Road Market Executive Committee, with the support of Shibuya City, it now marks its 8th edition.
We are honored to join this gathering, nurtured over the years by the two towns, as one of its booths. We look forward to spending the day on the street where the apple tree stands, alongside the local community and our fellow exhibitors.
About CHA-EN | This Year's Taiwanese Tea, from Our Taipei Dihua Street Store
CHA-EN is a Taiwanese tea brand founded in 2022, with its main store on Dihua Street in Taipei. We care about bringing moments of quiet space and calm to busy days, and we offer a Unique Taiwanese Tea Experience: a special, once-in-a-lifetime encounter with refined tea leaves.
For nearly every tea we carry, we visit the growers in person and check that year's climate and the finished leaves before making our selection. Even from the same region, Taiwanese tea changes its character with each year's weather and season. We do not smooth those differences away.
Spring and winter teas never taste the same. We carefully taste and select each year's finished tea before bringing it to you. Savor the tea together with its story, and you may find yourself telling someone, "This year's tea is..." That is the kind of Taiwanese tea we will bring to an autumn day in Omotesando.
Teas at Our Booth | Tea Bags, Cold Brew Bottle, and Loose-Leaf Sampler Packs
Taiwanese Tea Bags (Dong Ding Oolong and Ruby Black Tea)
Our "Dong Ding Oolong & Ruby Black Tea TEA BAG" comes in two varieties: Dong Ding Oolong and Ruby Black Tea (Taiwan Tea No. 18). Dong Ding Oolong is grown in Lugu Township, Nantou County, and is one of Taiwan's signature oolongs, known for its gentle floral aroma and smooth, rounded sweetness. Ruby Black Tea is grown around Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, and has a natural aroma reminiscent of cinnamon and mint.
We see our tea bags as "a way into tasting that year's leaves properly, even without teaware." If you don't yet own a teapot, we hope this can be your first step into Taiwanese tea.
Cold Brew Bottle and Bottled Cold Brew Tea
The "CHAHO Cold Brew Tea Bottle" is CHA-EN's original bottle with a built-in strainer. Simply add tea leaves and water, leave it in the refrigerator overnight, and you will have delicious cold-brewed Taiwanese tea. We also recommend trying it with leaves from our sampler packs.
On the day, we will offer cold-brewed Jin Xuan Oolong (Taiwan Tea No. 12) and Ruby Black Tea (Taiwan Tea No. 18) in bottles. Enjoy the aroma of chilled Taiwanese tea as you stroll along Cat Street.
Choose Your Samplers | Taste and Compare Different Taiwanese Teas
Our loose-leaf sampler packs are 5g each, and you can choose the teas you like.
Lishan High Mountain Oolong / Jin Xuan Oolong / Dong Ding Oolong / Ruby Black Tea / Honey Black Tea / White Peach Oolong / Osmanthus Oolong, and more
We will have several other teas on hand as well, so please look forward to discovering them on the day.
For example, try brewing Lishan High Mountain Oolong and Jin Xuan Oolong side by side on the same day. In moments like these, you can discover for yourself how the character of tea changes with region and elevation.
When choosing your teas, you are welcome to take a sip of Lishan High Mountain Oolong and Ruby Black Tea (Taiwan Tea No. 18).
Hot Brew vs. Cold Brew: How Aroma and Flavor Change
In general, brewing with hot water helps the aroma rise and brings the tea's outline into clear focus. Cold brewing, which extracts slowly in cool water, tends to draw out less astringency and bitterness, so the sweetness and aroma feel softer. Tasting the same tea both hot-brewed and cold-brewed should reveal another side of it.
How to Look at Dry Leaves and Brewed Leaves
Before brewing, take a moment to observe the color, shape, and aroma of the dry leaves. After brewing, we also recommend spreading the unfurled leaves on a white plate. The size and color of the leaves, and how their aroma lingers, offer clues to how the tea was grown and finished.
Learning to recognize genuine tea doesn't happen all at once. Making a habit of comparing the dry leaves, the brewed tea, and the spent leaves will gradually train both your eye and your palate.
Tips for Brewing at Home (Tea Bags and Cold Brew)
- For hot-brewed tea bags, pour freshly boiled water over the bag. Use 150 ml of water at 90–95°C / 194–203°F (let it rest for about a minute after boiling) and steep for 40 seconds. Lift the tea bag out gently for a clear, clean taste. Each bag can be steeped 3–4 times, and it is interesting to notice how the aroma and flavor shift with each infusion.
- To cold brew with loose leaves, we suggest 5g of tea per 500 ml of water, refrigerated for about 7–8 hours. Adjust the amount of tea to suit the size of your bottle. For a lighter taste, add more water or shorten the steeping time. For a stronger taste, add more tea or steep longer.
The 8th Onden Apple Road Market: Event Details
The 8th Onden Apple Road Market will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Cat Street, the Onden Promenade in Omotesando/Harajuku. The event will be canceled in case of severe weather.
- Event: The 8th Onden Apple Road Market
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 11:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Venue: Onden Promenade, Cat Street (Omotesando/Harajuku)
- Severe weather: Canceled
- Organizers: Onden Cat Street Merchants' Association / Onden Apple Road Market Executive Committee
- Supported by: Shibuya City
- Payment at the CHA-EN booth: Cash, cashless payments, PayPay
FAQ
Q. Do I need a reservation for the Onden Apple Road Market?
A. No reservation is needed. Please come to the venue during event hours.
Q. What payment methods are accepted at the CHA-EN booth?
A. We accept cash, credit cards, cashless payments, and PayPay.
Q. Will the event be held if it rains?
A. The event will be canceled in case of severe weather. Please check the official Instagram account to see whether it will go ahead.
Q. Can I enjoy the tea without teaware?
A. Yes. Our tea bags let you enjoy the tea properly, even without teaware.
Q. If I can't make it on the day, where can I buy CHA-EN's Taiwanese tea?
A. Our teas are available at the CHA-EN Official Online Shop.
We Look Forward to Seeing You on Cat Street
We, too, look forward to the day we can share Taiwanese tea with you on the autumn promenade where the apple tree stands. Please feel free to talk with us about anything, from how to brew Taiwanese tea to pairing it with teaware.