Chocolate Season in Japan

Valentine’s Day is a special event in Japan. Maybe it is bigger than you think. Due to the successful advertisement of a chocolate firm, the sale of the sweets skyrockets at this time of every year. The industry enjoys about a third of an annual sales of it during this season. Taking advantage of it. many non-chocolate companies also create special chocolaty sweets. 

This year, Japanese McDonald is one of them. Their newest menu is “McChoco Potato”, which is the fries smothered in chocolate. According to the company, you can have your fries with two types of chocolate sauces chocolate with cacao flavor and white milk chocolate., which will give you “a wonderfully salty and sweet harmonious taste.” In my humble opinion….I don’t know. 

You may think Japanese people eat healthy food. That's not what all do anymore. Less rice, more bread. Less fish, more meat. Less veges, more fatty food......Our diet has changed a lot. You may see that this is a part of the reasons the consumption of green tea has been declining.

Anyway....the unusual menu will be available from January 26^th until mid-February across Japan. 

frm McDonald Japan

Film 『Matcha：An Ippodo Story』

Ippodo wins award at NYC food film festival. Beautiful!
Check it out!

http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/ff_fes/index.html

Tea + Charcoal =Veggie-Friendly

Did you know that a freshness-preserving agent can be made by bamboo charcoal and tea? I didn’t. 

I read an article about the agent produced by TANKA Co.,Ltd in Saga city, which has been sold well. Since it was put on the market last January, about 180,000 units were sold in total. They say that the agent ,mainly made from bamboo charcoal and "Ureshino tea" can absorb ethylene and ammonia, both of which can spoil food,and it keeps the food fresh much longer. 

This product is not only Eco-friendly but "consumers-friendly" because it's 100 yen per unit. In addition, "veggie-friendly", isn't it?

by TANKA CO.,LTD

Soothing Drink

My father was taken to a hospital by ambulance last Christmas. Luckily it was not life threatening, but his both hands are paralyzed. He still needs rehab to move his hands. 

In order to spend the New Year with us at home, he left the hospital. Back to home, he had a cup of Sencha made by Mom. He looked relieved and said, “It is good. Really tasty......”

He cannot even hold a teacup by himself and has to drink it using a straw. Even so, the tea soothed him. 

I knew tea makes us happy and soothing. But once again his word and face reminds me of the power of tea.