Biscuit Day

From what I’ve been told, biscuit in UK and the one in the States are different. Actually, we use both words, but I’m not sure the definition of those.

February 28 is “Biscuit day” in Japan. Biscuit here means the one in the UK and “cookie” in the states. Anyway….I didn’t know that until I went shopping at a supermarket today, ha, ha.

According to the Japan biscuit association, a letter mentioned how to make biscuit was written by Shibata Hoan, a doctor, on February 28, 1855. He was interested in the sweets because they were preserved food, having studied its recipe. This is why the association chose this day.

As I brought it up, we call the sweets as cookie too. But there is no “Cookie day” as far as I researched. Sorry, cookie! Whatever it  is.....speaking of biscuit, I have to have tea, of course!

Special biscuit section at my local supermarket

Black Tea Salt for Ice Cream!?

Matcha-jio, matcha mixed with salt, is sometimes used for tempura, which is food. Some might have tried it already. 

Last weekend, I found Kocha-jio, black tea (powder) mixed with salt at a salt shop. I had never seen it before. What does go well with it? They said…”It’s good with vanilla ice cream.” It was too chilly to try ice cream on that day, but should I try it when it gets warmer??? Well…..

What toppings are you getting for vanilla ice cream?

More salty toppings

Deliver Their "Pride"

A shop in a department store in Osaka regularly deals with a tea master Mr Matsumoto’s six different kinds of tea. His sencha has a soothing aroma and a deep flavor. His hojicha has very refreshing toasty aroma. His wakocha (black tea) has a flowery aroma and complexity. Depending on brewing, the taste nicely changes, which is very interesting too. In addition, since all the tea in his farm is grown without any chemicals, herbicides and fertilizers, the tea is also appreciated as safe amid increasing awareness of food safety and security. 

This weekend, the shop welcomed him to Osaka all the way from Kumamoto (app 700 km away) to promote his tea. 

Mr Matsumoto  -Sakuranoen-

People usually don’t know who grows, where and how tea is produed. During his two-days promotion, people sampled some tea made by the tea maker while enjoying talking with him. As you do so, I believe, knowing the background of the products gives us the feeling of safety. Learning where they are grown and how they are produced arouses our interest. When we come to learn that the maker has the warm and friendly personality, it also gives us more a feeling of trust.

Unlike the conventional style, which tea dealers or companies buy and blend tea according to their own taste, the face-to-face sales style is more often seen these days. Tea farmers are not only tea farmers anymore. They also make a great effort to deliver their own "pride" and more. 

Bottled Tea Satisfies Your Appetite

Japan is a big bottled country. I believe you will never ever be thirsty in Japan. When you buy it, you drink it. In other word, you buy it in order to drink, right? 

But one of the leading companies, SUNTORY Holding Limited., doesn’t say that.They propose to buy to “eat”. A recipe with using their bottled Oolong tea is shown on the back of the bottle.It's for Oolong udon noodles!! 

Actually, its website has more recipes including Oolong pancake, Oolong steamed chicken etc.Now, a bottled tea seems not only to satisfy your thirst but your appetite, ha, ha. 

All pics from Suntory holding Ltd.



In case you are intereted in that....this is the web for the company.
http://www.suntory.co.jp/softdrink/oolongtea/meal/recipe.html

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