Flower-lovers are Tea-lovers?

An interesting survey was conducted in Shizuoka. It shows that people who love flowers also like tea. Maybe true or maybe doesn’t have to be.

Anyway….followed by the result, a tea company in Shizuoka has begun to work with some local flower shops for limited-period in order to search the possibility of expanding tea’s demand. Some flower shops sell Sencha made of “Shizu7132” variety. Surprisingly, this variety creates a distinctive aroma like Sakura leaves. Of course, the special aroma is not flavored, it’s given by Nature.

Tea with Sakura leaves aroma seemingly goes well with flower shop. It can help develop new market for tea.

-Photo by T-

 

Britain in Japan

Many many years ago, I stayed in Britain about a year. I experienced their lovely tea-life back then, coming to be such a big tea-lover. I still feel excited when it comes to English tea.

There are some English tea rooms in Osaka, and recently I’ve found another one “Torrington Tea Room”, named after a tea clipper. Both inside and outside of the tea house are really British. Most of all the British-styled tea rooms in Japan serve scones, but they don’t. Instead, they have crumpet dishes, Egg Benedict dishes and Irish stew etc. Sounds appetizing!

I had crumpet-Egg Benedict and a pot of Assam tea. In Britain, tea is usually served by a pot, but in Japan, often served by a cup, which is not enough for me. So I was so happy to have their good food with decent amount of tea. What made me happier was the Assam tea I had was great! 

This is a lovely “Britain” in Japan that satisfies my appetite and heart. I'm sure I'll come back again soon, ha, ha.

- photo by T-

Wanna lower risk of stroke?

Enjoy green tea to lower risk of stroke! Coffee does help too!

Check the below to get more details.

*BY “The Atlantic”

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/03/green-tea-and-coffee-both-associated-with-lowered-stroke-risk/274034/

Matcha for St.Patrick

St. Patrick’s Day is coming soon. Are you planning to color something green? Would you like to eat/drink something colored-green?

We don’t celebrate the day in Japan, even many don’t know what the St Patrick’s Day is, I guess. However, there are many things colored green thanks to matcha including matcha cake, chocolate, pancake, latte, snacks or whatever. I’m not sure how you color food/drinks green, but why don’t you use matcha for not only color, but your health.

Matcha snacks  -T-

311

Another March 11 is coming.  It was 2:46 PM. I was at the office in Osaka, which is far from the disaster-hit area, but I felt tremor even here. A lot of people including my brother has transferred to the disaster-hit Tohoku areas to work to help their rehabilitation. Since then, two years have passed, but still many are struggling how they live.

There was another big earthquake in Kobe, 5:46 AM on January 17, 1995, leaving more than 6,000 dead. I was in Kobe back then. My place was partial destruction, and I spend a few days at evacuation site. At the site, an old woman next to me gave me one small onigiri (rice ball) and a cup of tea, which were the first meal after the earthquake. I remember that the onigiri was rough-made, but it was really delicious. The tea was not hot enough, but I felt warm enough and relieved.

There is still long long way to go. Hope the day when people in Tohoku area can really enjoy tea and chat will come before long.




image frm web

 

How coffee took hold in tea-infused Japan!

Japan is considered to be tea nation. Is that true?

 

See Fresh Cup March issue: Grinding up tradition –How coffee took hold in three tea-infused nations -

Fresh cup (March 2013)

http://freshcup.epubxp.com/title/10767   (See the page42-)

 

 

- photo by T-

Hina Matsuri -Girl's Festival-

In Japan, March 3rd is the Girl's Festival Day known as Hina-matsuri.  The highlight of this day is to dispaly dolls called hina-ningyo (hina dolls), which are dressed in beautiful costumes and represent the Emperor, Empress and the their court. And the family celebrate the growth of their girls.

How did this custom begin? There was a time-honored tradition that people purified themselves in a river, and it developed into a rite at the Imperial Court. Later on, hitogata, a human figure made of paper or cloth, would be thrown into the sea or river to purify instead. Gradually, hinagata figure became pretty dolls, and the dolls came to be displayed instead of being thrown into the sea. This is what we do today.

Other than hina dolls, rice cakes and peach blossoms are offered. Sweet white sake is also served as a celebratory beverage to celebrate the festival for girls.

Happy girl's festival day!

hina dolls shaped-chopstick rest  -by T-