Drinks

What is Oshiruko (Red Bean Soup with Rice Cakes)?

Oshiruko, or zenzai, is one of the desserts we crave during a cold winter. By the way, do you know what the difference is between oshiruko and zenzai? Actually, they both vary depending on the region and can be defined in many different ways. Therefore, when people who are reading this article hear about oshiruko or zenzai as mentioned here, what they’ll picture in their minds may differ according to the part of Japan they call home. Contents: Oshiruko is Excellent Dessert Oshiruko’s Supporting Cast Oshiruko Recipe Fun Recipe of Oshiruko Oshiruko is Excellent Dessert Generally, in the Kanto region a soup dish contammg “bean paste” made of red beans is referred to as shiruko, whereas in the Kansai region […]

What is Nagaimo (Japanese yam)?

Nagaimo is a root vegetable from the family Dioscoreaceae. There are three major groups of yams generally referred to as “yamanoimo” (Dioscorea japonica): yamanoimo, jinenjo (Japanese yam), and daijo (water yam). Yamanoimo have been consumed in Japan since the olden days. Contents: About Nagaimo (Japanese Yam) Nutritional Value of Nagaimo Handling Nagaimo How to cook Nagaimo? (Japanese Yam Recipes) Tofu Salad with Avocado and Mountain Yam Recipe Nagaimo-no-buta bara maki (nagaimo wrapped with boned pork ribs) Recipe Deep-Fried Nagaimo Recipe Nagaimo Negi-yaki (green onion-grilled nagaimo) Recipe Nagaimo Juice Recipe About Nagaimo (Japanese Yam) Raw grated nagaimo has a unique sticky texture. Nagaimo transforms plain rice and noodle dishes into special treats such as mugitoro-gohan (a bowl of boiled rice and […]

What is Japanese Sake?

Japanese sake is a unique alcoholic beverage, and it is deeply rooted in the culture and climate of Japan. Contents Discovering Sake Sake Brewing Hot Sake & Cold Sake Seimai (Rice Polishing) Paring Sake and Food How to use Japanese Sake for cooking? Discovering Sake Its tradition and the future Japanese sake can be argued that it’s an expression of the Japanese people and their history. On the other hand, more and more people in other parts of the world are discovering sake, and its popularity is growing ever more rapidly. What makes sake so unique is that it is both a very Japanese product at its core while becoming a worldwide phenomenon? It is surely not only the flavor […]

What is Amazake?

In Japan, amazake (hot sweet sake) is sometimes served during the New Year’s visit to a shrine or the Girls’ Festival in March. Contents: Sweet Hot Drink, Amazake How to cook Amazake? Recommended Amazake Products Sweet Hot Drink, Amazake Many of Japanese remember drinking a cup of hot amazake on a cold day around a bonfire, and feeling energy welling up inside us. Surprisingly, however, amazake is a seasonal word for summer. During the Edo era there were merchants who hawked amazake as a nutritional supplement during summer to people who were prone to exhaustion or lost their appetite due to the intense heat. Amazake contains 20% or more of glucose and is a rich source of the vitamins so […]

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a powdered green tea. Since olden times, it has most commonly been prepared and served in the form of tea ceremonies. Contents: What is Matcha (Green Powdered Tea)? The History of Tea Cultivation of Tea Matcha tea benefits Recipes with matcha green tea powder Matcha Soy Milk Dessert Recipe Smooth Matcha Pudding Recipe Matcha Ice-cream Recipe Easy-to-make Matcha Kinak Shake Recipe What is Matcha (Green Powdered Tea)? Like the saying, “nichijousahanji,” which means everyday occurrence includes the kanji for tea “cha” and rice “han”, tea has been a most vital and irreplaceable part of our daily lives since ancient times. Tea is known as an aromatic beverage, generally prepared and enjoyed through the combination of tea leaves with […]

What is Green Tea?

Tea is known as an aromatic beverage, generally prepared and enjoyed through the combination of tea leaves with hot water. Contents: What is Green Tea? Green Tea Process How to brew delicious tea? Best Japanese Green Tea Brands Desserts Packed with Catechin What is Green Tea? General questions about tea 1. How much caffeine is in tea? It depends on how the tea has been brewed, but generally 8 fl oz. of green tea contains about 30 to 50 mg of caffeine. The longer the tea leaves have been fermented, the greater their caffeine content will be. Therefore, oolong tea and black tea contain more caffeine than green tea. 2. When should I drink tea to get the most benefits? […]

What is Daikon (Japanese Radish)?

Daikon (Japanese radish) is a typical winter vegetable. Even though it’s available throughout the year, winter is when daikon is at its tastiest. Besides being tasty, daikon has many therapeutic properties. So, organically grown daikon would be the better choice. Contents: What is Daikon Radish? Daikon Radish is an Outstanding Digestive Aid and Improves Blood Circulation. To Get the most out of Daikon Radish, Apply the most Suitable Cooking Method to Each Part. Don’t Waste the Skin! Leaves are Also Very Nutritious! How to Cook Daikon Radish? (Japanese Daikon Recipes) What is Daikon Radish? Organic Daikon – Let’s enjoy every part of it! The most widely known Japanese daikon radish is the Aokubi daikon. It has a less peppery flavor […]

What is Japanese Vinegar?

Contents: Recommending vinegar consumption Vinegar TRIVIA (Is vinegar good for you?) How to use Japanese Vinegar? Recommending vinegar consumption During the summer months, it seems that many people complain of fatigue, using up more stamina than usual, and feeling out of sorts with no cause. This is said to be due to our bodies’ becoming acidic because of changes in modern eating habits. It is known that the body’s natural healing power is strongest when the body maintains a slightly alkaline state. In other words, those whose physical constitution is slightly alkaline are less vulnerable to fatigue, disease and/or injury because of an enhanced natural healing power. Conversely, those whose bodies are acidic have their natural healing power compromised, becoming […]

Soy milk is delicious!

Contents The nutritional and health benefits of soy milk How to cook soy milk? The nutritional and health benefits of soy milk Recently, soy milk has drawn increasing attention from health-conscious people. Because it is plant-derived, it’s low in fat and has zero cholesterol. For people who want the health benefits of soybeans but don’t actually want to eat them, soy milk is a great alternative because it lets you take in all the abundant nutrients of soybeans efficiently. Its most notable nutrient is soy isoflavone, which plays an important role in maintaining hormonal balance and preventing osteoporosis. Soy milk is also rich in B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, and minerals. One glass a day can support the health of people […]